Elsinore City Council candidates answer questions, discuss Measure F

Election season is in full swing in the city of Lake Elsinore. City Council candidates are walking door-to-door and banners and yard signs are up. A candidates’ forum, featuring two incumbents and three contenders competing for two council seats, was hosted by the Lake Elsinore/Southwest Riverside County NAACP branch#1034 on Saturday, September 23, at the Altha Merrifield Lake Elsinore Branch Library.

It was the fourth time the local NAACP branch organized an election forum. “It gives the community a place to hear what the candidates are talking about and what they are supporting,” said Mary Venerable, member and former officer. The branch has been active in the area for the past 30 years, she said.

Each candidate gave an opening and closing statement and answered randomly selected questions. The questions covered several issues such as public safety, city finances, business growth, job creation and recreation.

“That is the advantage of a democracy. We can think our way and vote our way,” said branch president Loraine Watts, who moderated the discussion and asked the candidates the written questions submitted by the audience. “We want to have knowledge of our candidates,” she said at the end of the forum.

The two incumbents, Councilmen Daryl Hickman and Thomas Buckley, are running together again, as they did when they were first seated on the council five years ago as reform candidates. Both stressed the differences in the city since they took office in 2001. A balanced budget, road improvements, an increase in property values and a lower crime rate were some of the examples they gave. City hall is now more accessible to the public and no longer closed on Fridays, they said. Councilman Hickman said better traffic circulation is one of their main priorities. He described the widening of city streets and improvements to freeway interchanges such as Railroad Canyon Road, with a late penalty on the contractor for delays. He cited his persistence in finally getting a traffic light for the Summerhill neighborhoods, which he advocated for five years.

“First of all, I think we’ve done an excellent job growing our commercial and retail sections,” he said. “I think the big boxes [Home Depot, etc.] are taking care of what we need,” referring to the revenues to pay for road improvements and community enhancements. He said he wants to revitalize the Historic Downtown area like the Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego. “I’d like to accomplish a lot more. If you like where you’re at now compared to where you were in 2001, there’s a big difference.”

“Being a city councilmember… means paying attention to the residents’ needs and doing what is right, or what you believe is right,” said Councilman Buckley. Like Councilman Hickman, he agrees one of the main projects on the city’s agenda should be the revitalization of the Historic Downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. “I think is… core to making sure that no neighborhood is left behind.” This would include a proposed new civic center with a combination city hall, library and post office. He also described two- or three-story downtown buildings with multi-use functions coexisting as retail shops on the bottom floors and residential housing above.

The city is working with other cities, counties, state and federal government agencies on various projects, he said. The joint efforts have saved the city money, helped build bridges of cooperation and dramatically improved the image of the city, he explained.

“For 118 years… [Lake Elsinore] has had an extraordinary amount of potential and I think for the first time the city is finally living up to its potential,” he said.

Their challengers, Phil Stephens, Carole Feeney and Connie Soto, also declared their qualifications and desire to win a seat at the council dais.

Soto referred to her Hispanic heritage and sensitivity to the needs of minorities. “I have met many residents in our community and minorities make up a large percentage of the population,” she said. “I want all citizens represented.”

Soto was also vocal about her opposition to the Lake Elsinore Pump Storage [LEAPS] project. She described her vision for gondola rides to a set of islands in the middle of the lake for all to enjoy.

Fighting crime is a top priority, she said. “A safe city means major businesses and retailers will want to come to Lake Elsinore. These businesses will create new jobs and new revenue,” she said. The new revenue will help pay for fire and police protection without raising taxes, she explained.

Lack of shopping, lack of community gathering places and the need for an interactive city Web site to help new residents transition into the community are concerns. Soto also believes all city committee members should be elected to avoid cronyism.

Carole Feeney has been a resident of Lake Elsinore for more than 17 years and is finally realizing her dream of running for city council. She thinks new improvements and new development should benefit all of the city. To enhance the lake, improvements should be made to the lake facilities, she said.

As the winner of a woman’s motocross class in 2002, Feeney is also familiar with the recreational activities the city has to offer. “Part of [the Grand Prix] has dwindled down,” she said. “Proper advertising would be instrumental in promoting them.”

Diamond Stadium is underutilized and needs more recreational activities, such as concerts and other events, she said.

When asked how she would improve race relations, she responded with the need for holding community-wide events with diverse speakers.

“I’ve wanted to [run for council] for 12 years already. I’ve watched the city grow,” said Feeney. “I promise… that I will consider the interest and wellbeing of the citizens of Lake Elsinore.” She said she is planning to canvass the city and bring residents’ concerns to the city council.

In his opening statement, Phil Stephens said he believes he can assist in moving the city in a positive direction. “We need… foremost to keep our money in this town… because the more money that stays in this town… the more this town will prosper.”

Public safety is on his list as an important component on the city’s responsibility for its citizens. He noted the increase of sheriff’s deputies in the last few years to keep up with the population growth. Additional law enforcement would be paid by development.

“And development is something that will come to us when the city gives the developer the message that this is the place to be, not the last place to be,” he said.

Additional funding will also help provide infrastructure improvements and recreational facilities for the residents, he said.

The audience also heard the candidates’ views on Measure F — the city-wide ballot measure asking whether the city treasurer should be appointed. They were in unanimous agreement encouraging residents to vote “No” on Measure F.

Current City Treasurer Peter Weber, whose term will not be impacted by the voters’ decision on Measure F, was asked by organizers to explain why he is opposed to it. He was elected in the 2003 election and has two more years to serve.

“The only person the treasurer answers to, really, is the voters,” said Weber, who is also a Lake Elsinore homeowner. He described his efforts as an independent treasurer overseeing the city’s finances by requesting additional documentation and requesting audits of controversial homeowners bond payments.

“We do need the independence, we do need the oversight and we do need the treasurer to be a homeowner,” said Weber.

All of the candidates agreed.

“It’s extremely important that the residents of Lake Elsinore hold as much of the power in the city of Lake Elsinore as they possibly can,” said Councilman Buckley.

Both Hickman and Stephens likened the lack of an elected city treasurer keeping an eye on the city finances to “the fox guarding the henhouse.”

“Peter has saved us a lot of money,” said Councilman Hickman. “I see the need for some kind of oversight in that position.”

“Being elected, you provide transparency in that,” said Feeney. “[The voters] have put their trust in their vote.”

One member of the audience made a short statement announcing her support for Measure F. In a recent phone interview, a former member of the mayoral electoral reform committee in 2004 which examined the issue of whether the city treasurer should be appointed or elected explained the committee’s unanimous recommendation that the position be appointed. “The committee said that a person who is going to be in this position should be a credentialed financial professional with commensurate experience,” said Ruth Atkins. Whether appointed or elected, the city treasurer’s function is to follow the laws of the state of California, she said.

In a disclaimer at the end of the forum, branch president Watts said the branch is required to remain neutral in the city council race. However, the branch is able to take a position on ballot measures and invited Weber to provide background and explanation for their opposition to Measure F.