City Council Candidates Field Questions from the Chamber

The hosted a candidate forum Wednesday night sponsored by , The Gas Company, Athens Services and the

After answering questions about the , , , the candidates where tested on performing under pressure. The challenge: To answer each of the questions below with no more than one sentence.

1. Name one unfinished City project that will be your priority:

Incumbent Mike Ten

Returning Pasadena Avenue and Monterey Road to a two-direction cross—the way it was before.

Incumbent Richard Schneider

Extending the nature park.

Chris Glaeser   

Repaving our residential streets.

Alan Reynolds   

Repairing our crumbling infrastructure.  

Art Salinas   

Completing the downtown redevelopment project.

Ernie Arnold

I'm going to complete the downtown redevelopment project too!

Bob Joe

Working on our infrastructure and completing the downtown redevelopment project.

David Margrave

Rezone and redevelop the senior housing and the Ostrich Farm.

Marina Khubesrian

Fix the Rialto.

2. What's one failing of the current City Council that you hope to fix?

Incumbent Richard Schneider

It's an interesting question.One failing is what I talked about originally—about harmonizing the building and zoning codes in the general plan.

Chris Glaeser            

I would ensure someone with civil engineering experience would be on City Council.

Alan Reynolds           

Transparency and interactive with the community in general.

Art Salinas

Communicating with the residents on what we are doing with our projects—like the Fair Oaks project, which is a very sad example of lack of communication.

Ernie Arnold

Inconsistency and lack of transparency. 

Bob Joe

We need to bring integrity and transparency to City Council.

David Margrave

Spending too much on public employee wages and benefits.

Marina Khubesrian

Failing is not having enough gender diversity on the Council. That will bring people together.

Incumbent Mike Ten

Empathy or understanding for difference of opinions.

3. Will you oppose the 710 Extension tunnel proposal?

Chris Glaesar

Yes.

Alan Reynolds

Yes.

Art Salinas

Of course.

Ernie Arnold

Yes.

Bob Joe

Yes.

David Margrave

Certainly.

Marina Khubesrian

Yes.

Incumbent Mike Ten

Only after the environmental review.

Incumbent Richard Schneider

Yes.

4. Which two candidates in addition to yourself will you vote for on November 8?

Alan Reynolds

My vote is still available. I am waiting to decide on who I will select.

Art Salinas

I think that is private for all of us. And I will reserve to answer that until after the election.

Ernie Arnold

I can work with directly anyone on Council, but I do believe in a private ballot.

Bob Joe

I can work with anyone who will be the new City Council.

David Margrave

I will vote for my friends (waves to the whole group).

Marina Khubesrian

I'm not going to totally cope out. I do have one of my votes decided—and that will go to Dr. Schneider, because I believe he does have proven leadership and I'd love to work with him. The other one is still up for grabs—so anyone has a chance, and I can work with anyone else here.

Incumbent Mike Ten

Interesting. I'll submit one. I've always thought in the long term Ernie Arnold would make a great council member. Even though we differ on different things, I think he's a great member of the community. So, one of mine would be Ernie.

Incumbent Richard Schneider

I think we all run individual campaigns, and I don't think we have to endorse other candidates. 

Chris Glaeser

I think it's critical we see what has happened in the past and work together as a new council—no matter what our values and views are—because we don't want anymore of these closed door council meetings.

Check back with Patch for more from the event. In the meantime, a video replay of the chamber forum is available here.