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.
