In case you missed it, these are the questions and answers from the forum held Thursday August 3, 2007 by the People for the USA. There is a link to the Sun’s article about it (that’s where the q/a came from) and a link to the video on the County 77 website.
Link to the Video on Yuma County 77The six candidates for Yuma City Council: Cody Beeson, Jack Kretzer, Leslie McClendon, Raul Mendoza, Richard Ortega and Bernadette Presloid. Each candidate answered the same 10 questions. These are their answers:
1. If property taxes were rolled back, how would you fund a budget shortfall?
McCLENDON: I would really like to research that a tad bit more before I give you an answer.
MENDOZA: It would be like robbing Peter to pay Paul. You have to do some financial creativity.
BEESON: Why don’t we redraw the budget and maybe get rid of a few of the things that eat up excessive money?
PRESLOID: I think I would need some more time to look at this issue.
ORTEGA: The county is the one that ignores the property taxes.
KRETZER: Property tax cap were capped at 2005 to allow a 2 percent increase, the city generally levies the highest property tax levy, not because they need the money … they can set your property tax levy without your permission.
2. In your opinion, are small businesses treated in equal fairness as big business?:
MENDOZA: I don’t think there is an unfairness.
BEESON: No, there is not fairness. I am actually small business. We are not treated as fair as larger ones investing millions, but I wouldn’t say a small business is being mistreated.
PRESLOID: I think often time big businesses are offered incentives to locate here. We need to watch to keep our small businesses in the community, especially those that have been here for years and years.
ORTEGA: No, on the fairness – you look around 4th Avenue you see a lot of businesses closed down, small restaurants compete with chain restaurants, shopping center on 32nd had to move to the new mall. No, they are not getting treated the same as big business.
KRETZER: The role of the city isn’t to help small business or big business. The role of the city is to set a level playing field. The city doesn’t treat everybody the same, but they should.
McCLENDON: I feel that small businesses are not treated equally. I am a small business and I do feel the big crunch. I do feel that when we take a look at that, we should give incentives to small businesses becaues they are the bread and butter of our community.
3. The city has proposed a 2 percent hospitality tax to be extended another 25 years and increase to 2-1/2 percent, do you agree with that?
BEESON: I see a need for that tax. I see how it will grow our community. I do not see the increase; if we raise it, it will be hurting us.
PRESLOID: I think we do need more things for our youth to do after school in the summer, I agree with letting it continue, but not to increase it.
ORTEGA: No, I am not in favor of the 2-1/2 percent tax or the 2 percent tax – the ones that it is hurting are the ones that go out and eat in the restaurants.
KRETZER: 2 percent is good tax, 2-1/2 is a bad tax, I am going to vote no and I hope you do to.
McCLENDON: 2-1/2 percent is not necessary, I do agree with keeping the 2 percent.
MENDOZA: I do agree on raising the taxes, it is 2 percent – we are going to have it now at 2-1/2 percent. Yuma does want more businesses and more services, but we do not want to pay for those services. It is a global market, costs do go up, I will vote yes.
4. The Yuma Convention Center has more than 1,200 booked days, what do you see as its future?
PRESLOID: I think that the convention center has offered a lot to the people, however, I think we have outgrown the kinds of things we can have for the convention center.
ORTEGA: The civic center came about in the 1970s, it was supposed to bring in big events and I haven’t seen it. It has been a waste of money. It does not generate any money to help the city. It is a burden on the city.
KRETZER: The event center that is being proposed is gong to take all the action out of the civic center to make the event center work. The current city council wants to abandon it. They say it’s old and worn out. I think it is good for the community. I think it serves a purpose for the community,
McCLENDON: Our ideas of having that civic center were large and we were hoping in that area where we were going to build it would draw hotels, that didn’t happen. But I do think that civic center did the city some good and I would like to see it continue. There are many things we can use and utilize the building for. I do see it does need to be updated.
MENDOZA: I think the city civic center was great at the time when it was built in the ’70s. We have outgrown the facility. It should maybe refurbished. The civic center is way too small.
BEESON: I think 1,200 booked days is an example for the need for something else to take the pressure off of that. I think the civic center will remain active.
5. Where do you stand in regard to the attempted Gila Mountain annexation?
ORTEGA: The city has not yet given us a good answer on why they want to annex property that is under government control. The only thing I see going up there is more buildings.
KRETZER: Why does the city want to annex the Gila Mountains? No one knows. I will vote no.
McCLENDON: I am also against the annexation. I don’t feel the need that the city wants to get involved in that.
MENDOZA: I am not anti-annexation or pro-annexation. I am neither. We are growing, we should annex. The problem with this annexation is it is too much, too soon.
BEESON: I feel that the city or at least the citizens don’t want this. I think it is dividing the city.
PRESLOID: I am against the annexation. Mainly, the city did not get the full support of the property owners.
6. Discuss the importance of parks and recreation to the community and how would you support the facilities?
KRETZER: Why can’t we do community centers? We need a whole new city council, your current city council is picking your pocket,.
McCLENDON: I am all for the parks and recreation. I 100 percent support everything they are doing. I would love to see them build another youth center, like the MLK building (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Neighborhood Center), between 24th Street and 32nd Street.
MENDOZA: I am very pro-parks and rec.
BEESON: Parks and rec is strong. We are doing good with a lot of adult and youth activities. I would like to see a diversity of games from around the world and more lands set aside for that.
PRESLOID: I think in the past we’ve had a good park system, but then … we didn’t plan ahead for the parks. I believe in more recreational centers. I would like to see those things to keep our youth occupied after school.
ORTEGA: I think there is a lack of man power. I support another swimming pool on south side of 24th Street.
7. What is the city’s responsibility in regard to animal control? Should they fund a spay and neuter program?
KRETZER: I would prefer the county would do it. If the county wants to hire a vendor, it would be up to them
ORTEGA: I agree with Jack (Kretzer).
PRESLOID: I believe that city and county collaborating and working together is important and on this issue is a good example. We need to keep reminding citizens it is our job as a pet owner to spay or neuter.
BEESON: We should help out in that area, if we don’t, it could go to a public health issue. We should do our part and help out, at least as a city.
MENDOZA: I think the city contracting with the humane society, I think, is the appropriate way. Otherwise, county and city would develop their own animal control.
McCLENDON: I do also think the city and the county should work together on this.
8. Have you already carefully studied our city’s current budget to know how the dollars are being spent? Yes or no.
ORTEGA: No
PRESLOID: In the process of, but not totally.
BEESON: I have reviewed it, gone through it, but not as much.
MENDOZA: I don’t know where our money goes. I know budget totals for operating and capital expenses, but just the bottom line.
McCLENDON: I have reviewed it, I would like to have reviewed it further.
KRETZER: I don’t think the city council has done that. Yes, I’ve looked at the budget. No, I don’t understand it all.
9. Who are the people backing your candidacy? To what extent are you obligated to vote to accommodate those backers?
PRESLOID: I have no organization or no one backing me. I have people I have been talking with that have similar concerns, issues that I do with the city council and how the city is going. And I have no obligation to vote one way or another for anybody.
BEESON: I have friends and family and people who are active in the community backing me. I don’t have a set agenda.
MENDOZA: People backing me are the people voting for me. I do not owe anybody favors that will reflect on my voting record, if elected.
McCLENDON: I have backing me, my friends and my family.
KRETZER: I am not aware of any political action committee registered with the city of Yuma that is backing any candidate. By law, if you are backing, you must file as a PAC.
ORTEGA: The only people that are helping me are the people l am talking to in the streets.
9. What are your views on eminent domain?
BEESON: As far as the city coming in and saying: “We need to take that land?” I’d like to limit government from doing that. Eminent domain has a role, but it could easily be abused.
MENDOZA: I think eminent domain should be used as a last resource. If the property owner is compensated a fair market value … in certain cases, yes, I am for it.
McCLENDON: I do feel that eminent domain is necessary to an extent. But I do agree with Raul (Mendoza) that it needs to be fair. I do believe that it should be the last resort. It is a double-edge sword. It is is going to happen, but I think we need to control it.
KRETZER: (Voters in November 2006) passed an eminent domain cap, so the abuse is going to be lessened and there will be a system that gives property owners a little more muscle.
MENDOZA: The only one I know of now that has eminent domain is the railroad. Eminent domain was voted out last year.
PRESLOID: I think there are some areas, especially when considering growth of cities that eminent domain might need to be used, however, I feel it should be limited and only if there is no other recourse to solve a problem.
10. Do you believe you have a relationship with God and why?
MENDOZA: I raise my family in Christian values. I do not want to go into it further to maintain separation of election and religion.
McCLENDON: I am a devoted Christian. Again, it is hard to put religion and politics together.
KRETZER: Absolutely.
ORTEGA: Yes, I believe in God and that is the reason why I am still alive.
PRESLOID: Yes, I have a strong relationship with God and I do believe I conduct myself in a Christian manner.
BEESON: Absolutely and every blessing I have is because of God.