Candidates provide opportunities for voters to learn about them
RIDGEFIELD — The first of four general election voters forums was held at the Ridgefield Community Center on October 5 by the League of Women Voters of Clark County. One of the races covered by the forum was for La Center City Council position 1.
The position is currently held by Heather Birdwell-Currey, who is not seeking re-election. The candidates for the position are Doug Boff and Linda Tracy. Tracy was unable to attend the voters forum in Ridgefield, and in a later interview ClarkCountyToday.com asked her the same questions with the same time limits for response as at the forum.
Boff has lived in La Center for four years, and has a 40-year background in management in the manufacturing industry. He also served for two-and-a-half years on the La Center Planning Commission.
Tracy has lived in La Center since 2000, and has a professional background in entertainment, including owning and managing theaters. She served two terms as a city council member in La Center from 2004 to 2012.
The city of La Center could potentially face a $1 million decrease in its annual budget due to the closure of two card rooms. Both candidates were asked what they would do to replace the revenue if elected, and what city services might be trimmed should the need arise.
“Replacing lost revenue will not happen overnight,” Boff said. He said that a focus must be placed on the I-5 junction region of the town, as it is the only area zoned for light industrial use, offices and research and development.
Boff also said that expenses must be addressed and areas to improve efficiency must be found. He noted that of all city services, the police department would be the last one he would look at when considering any cuts.
Tracy said that she didn’t “believe that there will be that much of a loss in revenue.” In 2013, the card rooms had over $3 million in revenue, which fell over the next two years, Tracy said. However, by 2016, the revenue had recovered to over $3 million, according to Tracy.
Should the need to trim city programs arise, Tracy said that she would not want to reduce services like the police or public works.
Boff and Tracy had the opportunity to describe what kinds of businesses they would like to see developed in La Center’s downtown core.
“Consumer services would make sense for the downtown core,” Boff said. He noted that there is a residential-professional zone next to the core, and that it has not been successful. To have a successful downtown, Boff said that consumer businesses and restaurants are necessary.
Tracy said that a vacant building formerly used by TDS Telecom could be transformed into a senior care facility. It could also have mixed use industry in the building in addition to the care center.
“Otherwise, just small mom and pop operations are what I feel that La Center can accept and do well with,” Tracy said.
The city of La Center has enacted a moratorium on the growing or sale of recreational marijuana. The candidates were asked if they would support selling or growing marijuana in La Center.
According to Boff, many La Center residents feel that the city is an excellent place to raise families because of the schools, parks and low crime rate. Boff said that “the sale of recreational marijuana does not mix with a nice, safe, family oriented community, and I would not support rescinding the moratorium.”
Tracy acknowledged that some cities do receive large amounts in revenue from taxes related to marijuana.
“I would not be in favor of sales at all, but I could be convinced to go with a grow,” Tracy said.
The candidates were then asked to explain how they viewed economic development at the La Center junction.
Boff said that development at the junction is “vital to the economic development of the city,” especially if a downward trend in card room revenues is assumed. He said that a mix of businesses such as light manufacturing, offices, research and development and consumer services is needed to reduce La Center’s reliance on a single industry.
According to Tracy, the city needs to work to develop a hotel at the La Center junction. She also said that manufacturing needs to be developed. The junction does not have a lot of space, and a manufacturing industry does not require large spaces for parking or customers, Tracy said.
Both candidates were asked if they supported tax breaks for the remaining card rooms in La Center to assist them in staying in business.
“It would be disastrous if the card rooms were to close,” Boff said. However, he said that tax reductions should not be made immediately. The card rooms would have to show evidence of financial trouble, but if that were the case, Boff would support negotiating with the card rooms to find a solution.
Tracy said that she believes the card rooms are currently doing well, and “at this point I don’t” support giving them tax breaks. She said that she is close with the owners of the card rooms, but that until the card rooms start facing financial hardships, she does not think that tax breaks are necessary.
Boff and Tracy had the opportunity to outline three priorities for improving La Center.
According to Boff, all three of his priorities were “business, new business and new business.”
Tracy said that commercial or industrial operations needed to be attracted to La Center to gain tax revenue. She also said that the city should “take advantage of their historical background” to host events that attract people to the history of the city.
Earlier this year, La Center retained control of its sewage treatment plant, instead of entering a public-private partnership that some claim could have saved money. Boff and Tracy were asked if they believed the city made the right decision.
“It’s a sensitive subject,” Boff said. He said that he would have preferred to have had more proposed savings in the consulting firm’s proposal. According to Boff, he would have favored saving money “any way we can, as long as the quality of service were to be maintained.”
Tracy said that “it was definitely the right decision to not partake in outsourcing.” She said that as a council member, she had taken part in the city’s purchase of the treatment plant from Clark Public Utilities in 2006. She also said that the plant is being run well, and that outsourcing seemed to be more expensive when she researched the option.
