Council hopefuls square off at event
Local candidates speak out at Chamber of Commerce session
By Katie Pizza
Argus Observer
Tuesday, October 7, 2008 11:03 AM PDT
Ontario — In one of the few forums available before the November election, Ontario City Council candidates were on hand at the weekly Ontario Chamber of Commerce meeting at the SizzlerMonday.
During the event — mediated by Ontario Chamber of Commerce President Mark Alexander — each of the five City Council candidates used three minutes to tell audience members a little bit about themselves.
Candidate David Sullivan was first to speak at the session, and he highlighted the fact he was raised in Ontario and graduated from Ontario High School. Sullivan, who has previously served on the council, also ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 1996.
“I’m here today because I am concerned about our city,” he said.
Sullivan said he was concerned because the city has been battling the same issues for eight years. He also expressed concern about the council’s spending habits and “knee-jerk reactions.”
“I’m running for City Council because I want an opportunity to restore confidence in our city government,” he said.
Norm Crume spoke next. Crume also emphasized the amount of time he has lived in Ontario and referred to his Ontario High School graduation. Crume said he did not feel the city should continue to look at the proposed 1 percent sales tax.
“The citizens of Ontario said no by over 70 percent,” he said of the measure.
He said that percentage let him know a majority of Ontarians feel the same way he does. He spoke highly of Ontario’s gang enforcement/ reduction officer, but said “more will have to be done.” He also said if elected he would work to create a juvenile detention center. Crume said he would like to be elected “to help Ontario to be the city we all want and deserve.”
City Council candidate Charlotte Fugate talked next. Fugate said she was born and raised in Alaska and shot her last moose when she was 16.
Fugate said she would like to see Ontario be “a safe and prosperous place to live,” and she believes the best way to do that is with strong leadership.
“City government is all of us,” she said. “It should not be us verses them.”
She also talked out about the council’s lack of action regarding the revenue committee’s idea, presented in July and the five years it took to bring system development charges to fruition.
“If elected I’d love to see the council work together more,” she said, asserting it seems like every council member has a separate agenda.
Incumbent Lewie Allen spoke next, who said he went to high school in Vale and earned his two-year degree from Treasure Valley Community College before working with Ore-Ida.
Allen spoke highly of the Snake River Transit System and lauded area agencies that came together to make the project a success.
“If I’m elected I’ll try to do my best to make industry grow and think of the police, fire and all the citizens of Ontario,” he said.
Incumbent John Gaskill was last to speak and said he met his wife in Ontario and now has five children and eight grandchildren. He also spoke highly of the venue, asserting it allowed citizens to get a sense of what each candidate represents.
Gaskill said his time on the council has been a privilege and honor. He also said council work must be “collaborative.”
“Not everyone on the council agrees,” he said. “We all have our opinions, but, in the end, we come together for the common good.” Gaskill said he supports a safe community, a good quality of life for everyone and stability for the community. The hour-long session is not the only time voters can meet with candidates. Another candidate forum is slated for 7 p.m. Monday at the TVCC Weese Building.
