There were stark contrasts among the three candidates for Lake Forest Park mayor at a forum Monday, August 1, sponsored by the League of Women Voters at the Third Place Commons.
Former City Councilwoman Mary Jane Goss vowed to do a top-to-bottom review of City government, to find waste and inefficiencies and cut back the "bloated bureaucracy."
She said that cuts made by the current leaders have been piecemeal; and that everything needed to be looked at and cut where inefficiencies were found.
Current City Councilman and Deputy Mayor Dwight Thompson said he would listen to citizens and lead the city through tough economic times. He said he understands that "No" means "No" and citizens don’t want any new taxes. He pointed out that the City Council has not raised a single tax since the defeat of Proposition 1 last August.
Perennial candidate Stan Lippman talked about the dangers of too many infant vaccinations, of the Rockefeller Trust conspiracy, and about global warming, saying that there is nothing wrong with carbon dioxide.
Asked about their plans for their first 100 days as Mayor, Lippman said he would charter a city bank and convert City Hall to solar power. Thompson said he would go on a retreat with the City Council to start planning for the future, and Goss said she would do a top-down review and analysis of staff, saying "There will be a new attitude at City Hall."
A citizen said that they knew in 2007 that the budget crunch was coming and the city banked on the levy lid lift, which was defeated and asked the candidates how they would handle such a situation in the future? Goss said she would have open forums, citizen involvement and government transparency and that a better forecasting model needed to be developed. Thompson pointed out that two years ago, the Council cut $922,000 from the budget, and this year the Council had cut $825,000, but they still need to find more efficiencies.
Candidates were asked about what they would do in the City if money were no object.
Thompson said he would redesign Towne Centre with a mix of affordable housing and commercial space, implement the Gateway project at the south end of town, fix the flooding problems in Sheridan Beach, and take steps to make it easy for senior citizens to continue living in their homes.
Goss said that LFP doesn't need a lot of improving but she would get rid of the state highways.
Lippman said that after he set up a city bank, he would bring in a cold fusion power plant and sell electricity.
State Rep. Ruth Kagi pointed out that all candidates had talked about community. She said that the Third-Place Commons was an important factor in building community and asked candidates if they would continue to support it financially. Thompson said The Commons was the crown jewel of the City, that $100,000 of support produces 800 activities and a farmers' market and he was a proud supporter of every dollar. Goss said there was enough money in the community to keep the Commons going if there's not enough in the budget.
Goss accused the current leadership of putting Prop 1 on the August election last year so they could "slide it by the community" without notice. Thompson said the vote was in August so there would be time to develop a two-year budget for implementation on January 1.
In closing, Goss said she would listen, build consensus, and reach out to other city governments for shared services like parks maintenance and sewers. Thomas said he had the skills, financial background, and vision to lead the City and would work with every citizen to rejuvenate government. Lippman said he was weak on accounting but he would watch your money, and his goal was to know every person in LFP personally.
I don't understand Goss' proposal to do a "top-down review" of City government for inefficiencies. What if no significant inefficiencies are found? What then? I assumed the "No Tax" crowd already had some specific ideas about what needed to be changed, but I haven't heard any thus far. Where's the beef? The budget is an open record - what are you going to change or cut? We're supposed to take it on faith that she's going to do "something" after she's elected? Not a compelling reason to vote for this person.
ReplyDeleteLIkewise, the comment about the Commons seems like wishful thinking. What if there isn't enough money in the "community" to support the Commons? What then? Should the City just let it dry-up and float away? I guess so - ironic, since she's taking advantage of the forum it provides to spread her message.
Sorry, Mary Jane Goss - you fail to provide specific ideas and seem to threaten institutions (Commons) that are vital to the fabric of this community. No thanks.
Yes Ms. Goss, I know you read this so this will be addressed to you. During your tenure on the council, you seemed to have no problems voting for more programs that pulled more revenues from basic services like Public Works and Police (leaving them understaffed and needing equipment). Yet now, as a council member who left, you suddenly become the champion for lower taxes. Which is it? You live in a rather nice house valued at over half a million dollars and yet, you want to review that you were resistant to during your tenure on the council.
ReplyDeleteWhen did you see the light?
You address the buzzword of "transparency." Really? How hard was it for you, as a citizen of LFP, to go in and do a records request for information, in light that the entire city budget was posted on line and was freely available to anyone who asked. How hard was it for you to get the information you wanted so that you could show where "transparency" wasn't happening?
Your vague answers are troubling. You have no hard facts, no positive direction for the city save some platitudes that ring with some in your community and yet, somehow, gloss over your dubious and challenging history on the council.
No Ms. Goss. You are not the right candidate. You do not get my vote.