‘Change’ is a key theme for council candidates
Five candidates running for slots on Ontario City Council

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Currently, the city has applied for a $995,792 loan from the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department to create 2,180 feet of water and sewer extensions, storm drainage improvements, five fire hydrants and improvements for Northwest Fourth Avenue from Dorian Drive to the Yturri Beltline in order to make that part of the city more attractive to potential buyers.

 If the loan is approved by OECDD, the city would have to contribute $110,644, which is 10 percent of the total loan, before paying off the balance.

However, Candidate Charlotte Fugate, 67, said she believed the city should have a business committed to the idea of relocating to the area before “they go and do that.”

“I’m just wondering if we should go out and borrow all this money when things are getting so tight,” she said.

She also said that if she were elected to the council she would have “just one vote” and would have to work with other council members in order to enact changes.

Candidate David Sullivan, 44, also said he believed there should be changes to how Ontario’s finances are handled.

“I would revamp our spending procedure,” he said.

Sullivan said he would work to accomplish this by giving the budget committee more input during “off-years.”

He also said he would work to get the council to “stop spending our contingency.”

He said he is a “strong advocate of financial responsibility.”

Candidate Norm Crume, 53, said he would like to ensure the council does not impose the 1 percent sales tax without first consulting voters.

“I would just like to work on building solidarity and teamwork to better Ontario,” he said.

Candidate John Gaskill, 62, said he was unsure about whether or not he would bring about any possible changes.

“I don’t know if I would bring a big change,” he said. “Because I’ve been there so long.”

He said he was sure that other candidates have changes that they would like to see.

“As time goes by, there are going to be changes,” he said. “The city changes, and city government is just a reflection of that.”

More about the candidates:

— Sullivan previously served on the City Council from 1995 to 1998 and also has eight years of experience serving on the Treasure Valley Community College board of directors.

He has also owned his own business for 13 years. He was raised in Ontario and graduated from Ontario High School. Sullivan also ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 1996.

— Allen went to high school in Vale and earned his two-year degree from Treasure Valley Community College before working with Ore-Ida. If re-elected, this would be his second term.

— Crume has owned his business for 20 years and was one of three candidates who ran for Jim Mosier’s vacated council position on the elected board in June.

— Fugate co-owns a bed and breakfast in Ontario and has served on the Ontario Budget Committee for three budget cycles. Fugate has also served for six years as director of the Four Rivers Cultural Center and retired about four years ago.

— Gaskill has lived in Ontario for 41 years. Gaskill was nominated to serve on the City Council after LeRoy Cammack vacated his council seat to become mayor in 2000. Gaskill was elected later that year and re-elected in 2004.

Gaskill also ran for mayor and was defeated by Mayor Joe Dominick in 2006. He also taught American history and government classes at Ontario High School for 32 years before retiring.

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