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Eureka
City Council race:
Candidates mostly agree
A guide
to propositions 2002
Eureka City Council race: Candidates
mostly agree
by
GEOFF S. FEIN
The Eureka City Council race
has had some twists and turns, with one candidate dropping out
and another getting arrested on supsicion of domestic abuse.
But when it comes to the issues,
the race has been unremarkable.
While the candidates for Wards
1, 3 and 5 come from differing backgrounds and have their own
distinctive styles, they are in accord on most things. They all
agree, for example, that ridding neighborhoods of drug houses,
encouraging economic development and making Eureka beautiful
are important. And with the exception of Charles Smith, candidate
for the 1st Ward, they all support Measure X, which would extend
the city's 3 percent tax on utilities, phone and cable television
service. The tax funds police and fire services.
What does set at least some
of the candidates apart is how much money they've raised. To
date, Charlene Cutler-Ploss, who is running in the 3rd Ward,
has brought in $23,486. That's almost 10 times as much as her
closest challenger, Jeff Leonard. Peter Tidd and Brian Payton,
the other two candidates in the 3rd Ward race, do not plan on
raising more than $1,000 each.
Payton was arrested Oct. 11
on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic abuse and held for a week
in Humboldt County Jail. However, he plans to remain in the race.
He was released late last week on his own recognizance.
Mary Beth Wolford is the top
money-getter in the 1st Ward race. She's raised $5,227 compared
to her lone opponent Smith, who has raised less than $1,000.
Mike Jones, who is running against
Steve Anderson in the 5th Ward, has raised $2,380. Jones entered
the race when two other candidates, Joel Agnew and former Councilman
Lance Madsen, decided not to run. He felt there should be more
than one choice for the voters. Oddly enough, Jones now finds
himself the lone campaigner in the 5th Ward. Anderson dropped
out of the race last month; however, his name will remain on
the November ballot. If Anderson wins and does not want to become
a councilman, he must resign from the office. The mayor will
then appoint Anderson's replacement, pending the council's approval.
Voters may also not be aware
that while each candidate represents a specific ward, they are
all elected at-large. A candidate could actually lose in his
or her own ward but still be elected to the council by voters
citywide.
 Charles Smith
AGE: 34
OCCUPATION: Computer network support and Internet consulting.
BACKGROUND: Smith is a fifth-generation Humboldt County
resident; he is a veteran of the U.S. Navy, served on the U.S.S.
Forrestal in the Persian Gulf War; served on the College of the
Redwoods student government and on the California State Association
of Community Colleges; served on the Humboldt County Grand Jury
in 1996 and 2002.
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS: Smith does not intend to raise
or spend more than $1,000.
ISSUES/VISION: Smith wants to establish community forums
to get residents involved in brainstorming to solve problems
in the ward and throughout the city. He is particularly concerned
about crime, drugs and economic development. He said the city
does not give enough consideration to the maintenance costs of
projects and wants to set up a fund to cover such costs. Smith
would like to change the city's charter to bring back primary
elections.
MEASURE X: Smith said the utility tax is unfair to businesses,
and that businesses have been overpaying the tax.
BIG-BOX RETAIL ORDINANCE: Smith said he is not opposed
to large retail businesses. He declined to comment on the proposed
ordinance because it is still making its way through the Planning
Commission.
ANNEXATION: Smith said the city should annex outlying
areas in order to create more land for affordable housing.
WATERFRONT DRIVE: Smith said he was opposed to construction
of Waterfront Drive because of the $9 million price tag and potential
lawsuits from environmental groups. |
 Mary Beth Wolford
AGE: 70
OCCUPATION: Director of the Humboldt Senior Resource Center
in Eureka.
BACKGROUND: Former Superintendent of Schools for the Simi
Valley Unified School District in Ventura County and the Byron
Union School District in Contra Costa County; presently on Eureka
Preservation Commission; alternate on Redevelopment Advisory
Board; board member of Humboldt Arts Council and the Eureka Heritage
Society. She recently accompanied Mayor Nancy Flemming to Nelson,
New Zealand, as an official delegate for Eureka's sister city
program.
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS: Raised $5,227. Largest contributor:
$250 from Maureen Woods-Krinsky, educator from Oxnard Union High
School District. Notable contributors: Wendy Wahlund/Ben Shepherd,
$100; Robin and Cherie Arkley, $100; David and Charlene Ploss,
$100; Joseph Vellutini, $150; Dolores Vellutini, $150.
ISSUES/VISION: Wolford works with many seniors who lack
a support network because their children have moved away for
better jobs. She said Eureka must do more to keep young people
here.
MEASURE X: Wolford said she supports Measure X. She warned
that if it is defeated, then the City Council will have to decide
how Eureka is going to make up the loss of $1.1 million to the
city's General Fund.
BIG-BOX ORDINANCE: Wolford expressed opposition to the
ordinance, and said she doesn't want Eureka to become as restrictive
as Arcata. Wolford said it wouldn't be wise to close the door
on major businesses interested in coming to Eureka.
HOUSING: Wolford said the City Council is going to need
to look at creating more moderate-level and entry-level housing
programs that help families who are above the poverty level to
become homeowners. Homeowners create more stable communities,
she said. |
 Jeff
Leonard
AGE: 38
OCCUPATION: Runs his own commercial photography business.
BACKGROUND: Former McKinleyville High School teacher.
CAMPAIGN FINANCES: Raised $2,387. Largest contributors:
Dolores Vellutini, $200; Joe Vellutini, $200; Dennis Reinholtsen,
$200.
ISSUES/VISION: Leonard billed himself as a pro-business
candidate. He expressed hope that the number of businesses in
Eureka would grow over the next four years to help end reliance
on the utility tax. He would like to see Eureka become a high-tech
incubator, a place for start-up businesses to develop and grow.
BIG-BOX ORDINANCE: Leonard questioned the claim that the
ordinance would negatively impact the business community. The
spirit of the ordinance is not to put up road blocks to keep
out large businesses, he said, but to allow Eureka to negotiate
with businesses that might want to come here. He said there is
nothing in the city's General Plan or in its zoning ordinances
that addresses what happens when someone wants to build large
retail businesses.
ANNEXATION: He said annexing areas such as Cutten and
Myrtletown would benefit Eureka because it would increase its
population and thereby make the area more attractive to businesses
looking to move here. But he pointed out that any annexation
effort must begin with residents who live in the areas slated
for incorporation; they must give their imprimatur before the
City Council can approve an annexation, Leonard said.
MEASURE X: Leonard said he supports continuing the utility
tax because it funds vital city services. Other revenue sources
within the city don't stack up to what the utility tax raises,
he said.
PUBLIC SAFETY: Leonard said the police handle the same
volume of calls as San Luis Obispo, the central California coastal
city with a population of 70,000. The council will have
to look at ways to help bolster the police department to handle
the workload, he said. |
 Charlene
Cutler-Ploss
AGE: 35
OCCUPATION: Self-employed, preserves and archives photographs.
BACKGROUND: Vice-president of Keep Eureka Beautiful; volunteers
on the Eureka Design Review Committee; served on the boards of
the Eureka Heritage Society and College of the Redwoods Foundation.
ISSUES/VISION: Wants to see Eureka flourish as a commercial
center while retaining its historic neighborhood character.
BIG-BOX ORDINANCE: While Cutler-Ploss described herself
as pro-growth, she said the big box ordinance is going in the
right direction. The ordinance will not keep businesses out,
she said.
ANNEXATION: She said annexation is a good idea if those
in the outlying areas want it. Eureka could also take advantage
of state funding if the city's population were to increase to
50,000, Cutler-Ploss said. Finally, annexation would also aid
in traffic planning, Cutler-Ploss said, as Eureka would gain
control over streets that are contiguous to residential and commercial
areas in the city.
MEASURE X: She expressed support for continuing the utility
tax for four more years. If the measure should fail, the next
council will have to look at cutting services, she warned.
WATERFRONT DRIVE: Cutler-Ploss expressed a number of concerns
with the proposal to build a road on the western edge of Eureka
that would run alongside PALCO Marsh. She questioned, for example,
whether Waterfront Drive would really reduce traffic on Broadway.
She also raised concerns about the design and the cost of the
road. Nonetheless, she said she would not take a firm position
until the environmental impact report is completed in 18 months. |
 Brian Payton
AGE: 29
OCCUPATION: Payton recently resigned from his job as cook
at the North Coast Children's Services.
BACKGROUND: Payton was a teaching assistant at the Redwood
Unified Preschool; he was involved in an unsuccessful attempt
to recall councilmembers Maxine Hunter Meeks and Jack McKellar
in 2000.
ISSUES/VISION: Payton said Eureka must strike a balance
between taking care of Old Town and meeting basic infrastructure
needs, such as keeping streets and alleys in good repair. He
said he has contacted the high-tech computer firms Intel and
Hewlett Packard about relocating to Eureka. Children's issues
also need more attention, Payton said.
CAMPAIGN FINANCES: As of Oct. 18, Payton had not filed
any campaign disclosure forms with the Eureka City Clerk's office.
ANNEXATION: Payton said Eureka should annex outlying areas
because of the growth occurring there.
BIG-BOX ORDINANCE: Payton was critical of the ordinance,
saying that businesses need more leeway in Eureka, not less.
He said he doesn't want all retail businesses concentrated in
Bayshore Mall.
NOTE: The District Attorney's Office agreed to release
Payton from jail last week because he had no previous criminal
record. According to Deputy District Attorney Worth Dikeman,
Payton got into a shoving match with his wife after they disagreed
about how to discipline their children. Payton is being charged
with a misdemeanor since no serious or permanent injuries were
inflicted. |
 Peter Tidd
AGE: 37
Occupation: Designer of role-playing games.
CAMPAIGN FINANCES: He does not plan to raise or spend
more than $1,000.
ISSUES/VISION: Tidd wants to address the needs of the
poor and those suffering from substance abuse. He said one way
to reduce the number of destitute people in Eureka is to create
jobs.
ANNEXATION: He said he supported annexing Cutten, Myrtletown
and King Salmon.
CRIME: Tidd proposed boosting pay and training for Eureka
police officers. He'd like to see the city crack down on the
manufacturing of methamphetamine and at the same time offer treatment
programs for addicts. |
 Mike Jones
AGE: 55
OCCUPATION: Commercial insurance agent.
CAMPAIGN FINANCES: Raised $2,380. Largest contributor:
David Ogden $2,021.
ISSUES/VISION: Port development is a priority for Jones,
who said he wants to establish a freight container and a ship
repair yard. If elected, he said he would push an anti-lawn-sign
ordinance.
ANNEXATION: Jones said annexation of Cutten, Myrtletown
and other neighboring unincorporated areas would increase Eureka's
clout.
MEASURE X: He said he supports the utility tax but would
like to see it eliminated in four years. |
A guide to propositions 2002
California's initiative process
gives voters the opportunity to vote yea or nay on seven propositions
Nov. 5. Among them: three bond measures, two initiatives earmarking
money for specific projects, one constitutional amendment and
a change in voting rules.
Prop. 46: Housing and
Emergency Shelter Act: $2.1
billion bond issue funds low-income housing projects, first-time
homebuyer programs, homeless and battered women's shelters. Widely
supported, except by conservatives who see it as yet another
tax and spend venture.
Prop. 47: Kindergarten-University
Public Education Facilities Bond Act:
Provides $13.05 billion for construction and improvements of
school facilities including matching funds for Eureka City Schools'
Measures S and T. Who would vote against schools? The same folks
who oppose Prop. 46.
Prop. 48: Court Consolidation.
Legislative Constitutional Amendment:
Eliminates references to municipal courts as a follow-up to Prop
220 from 1998, a consolidation of the state's superior and municipal
courts. Supporters say it merely updates obsolete codes. Opponents
figure we might change our mind about municipal courts.
Prop. 49: Before and After
School Programs Initiative:
Written and proposed by Arnold Schwarzenegger, the proposition
insures annual funding for before and after school programs,
not with bond money, but by earmarking a minimum of $550 million
from the general fund. The opposition, led by the League of Women
Voters and including the National Organization of Women and the
Calif. Federation of Teachers, argues that the mandate could
be at the expense of other worthy programs.
Prop. 50: Bonds for Water
Quality, Safe Drinking Water, Wetlands Protection, etc: $3.4 billion in bonds for levies, canal lining,
water system upgrades, river parkway projects, wetlands acquisition
and restoration, desalination and safe water programs. Note that
the Sierra Club supports the bond but the Northcoast Environmental
Center does not. Why? Because the projects are mostly for Central
and Southern Calif. NEC says, "(Prop. 50) may do hardly
anything for the North Coast -- except send more of the region's
water gushing to irrigate the fields of agribusiness."
Prop. 51: Allocation of
Sales Taxes Raised From Sale of Motor Vehicles: Sets aside a portion of vehicle tax revenues for
49 specific highway expansion and transportation projects and
for new school buses. Another example of pork barrel by proposition
with money earmarked for a number of particular projects, many
of which would likely go unfunded by the cash-strapped legislature.
Opposition is led by the League of Women Voters who say the money
is locked in without regard to potential state budget constraints.
Prop. 52: Election Day
Voter Registration: Permits
eligible persons with valid ID to register to vote at any time,
even on election day, while increasing penalties for voter fraud.
Supporters say more people will vote. Opponents say there too
many loopholes that could lead to more fraud at the polls.
Information for the chart
below was collected in early Oct. by Humboldt Organized for People
and the Environment, a.k.a. the H.O.P.E. Coalition. To support
their work, send donations to H.O.P.E. Coalition, Box 385, Arcata,
CA. 95521. Call them at 826-9313, or go to www.hopecoalition.org.
|
Y = Yes N = No |
|
PROPOSITION |
46 |
47 |
48 |
49 |
50 |
51 |
52 |
| ORGANIZATION |
|
| Amer. Assoc.of Retired Persons-Calif.-AARP. |
Y |
Y |
|
Y |
|
|
|
| Amer. Assoc.of University Women-AAUW |
Y |
Y |
|
N |
|
|
Y |
| Calif. AFL-CIO (Labor Unions) |
Y |
Y |
|
|
Y |
|
Y |
| Calif. Council of Churches |
Y |
Y |
|
Y |
Y |
|
Y |
| Calif. Democratic Party |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Y |
|
Y |
| Calif. League of Conservation Voters |
|
|
|
|
Y |
|
Y |
| Calif. Republican Party |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
| Calif. Taxpayers Association |
Y |
Y |
|
Y |
N |
N |
|
| California Teachers Association-CTA |
Y |
Y |
|
Y |
Y |
|
N |
| Capitol Research Inst. (Christian
Coalition) |
N |
N |
|
N |
N |
N |
N |
| Congress of Calif. Seniors |
Y |
Y |
|
N |
|
N |
Y |
| Green Party |
Y |
Y |
|
|
|
N |
Y |
| League of Women Voters |
Y |
Y |
|
N |
Y |
N |
Y |
| Libertarian Party of Humboldt |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
|
|
| Nat. Assoc. Adv. Colored People-NAACP |
Y |
Y |
|
Y |
Y |
|
Y |
| Northcoast Environmental Center-NEC |
|
|
|
|
N |
|
|
| Sierra Club |
Y |
|
|
|
Y |
Y |
|
|
46 |
47 |
48 |
49 |
50 |
51 |
52 |
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