Debate Among Four City Council Candidates
Four Port Angeles City Council candidates debated at yesterday’s meeting of the Port Angeles Business Association. Edna Petersen, Peter Ripley, Max Mania and Rick Burton discussed economic development and government transparency, among other topics.
Max Mania stressed the natural beauty of this area and the tourism this could generate: “We have so many blessings. We need to maximize those resources and turn it into the gold that I think just lies there.”
Rick Burton said the city could promote this area as a travel destination by coordinating better with other local governments: “I understand tourism isn't a year-round thing. It's one of the assets we have.”
He also dismissed most environmental issues: “When it comes to that ecology stuff, I think a lot of it is bunk, to be honest. I think it's another way for the federal and state governments to draw more money away from small cities like us.”
Edna Petersen spoke in favor of providing $10,000 in lodging tax revenue to Kenmore Air. Kenmore is required to use this funding for advertising to promote this area as a travel destination. She said: “That's what helps save a business. Business retention is easier than bringing a new business to town."
Peter Ripley established a link between government transparency and the likelihood of businesses keeping their shops in town. He said:
“I think the key phrase here is transparency. There are clouds of perception that decisions have been made behind closed doors and out of the public eye. I would recuse myself from any executive session that does not adhere to strict adherence to the RCW [the Revised Code of Washington] on executive session.”
The behind-closed-doors decisions he referred to include: selecting Kent Myers as city manager; creating the Port Angeles Harbor-Works Development Authority; and the agreement with Nippon Paper Industries USA on the environmental cleanup of Port Angeles Harbor.
And speaking of Harbor-Works: Edna Petersen said, “With the development of Harbor-Works, we are as close to moving forward than we have ever been, with everybody having a say in the process.”
Rick Burton said the city needs to work with the tribe to make sure no tribal artifacts are unearthed. He also said: “I don't see spending a whole bunch of money on Rayonier until Rayonier does their portion of what needs to be done.”
Max Mania seconded that the city needs to ensure Rayonier’s fiscal responsibility when it comes to the cleanup: “Less is more is probably going to be the realistic view.”
Peter Ripley said: “I think we have to do what is necessary in getting the property cleaned up.” He also said the city should encourage more cruise ships to dock in Port Angeles and that the waterfront should have a railroad again.
Max Mania stressed the natural beauty of this area and the tourism this could generate: “We have so many blessings. We need to maximize those resources and turn it into the gold that I think just lies there.”
Rick Burton said the city could promote this area as a travel destination by coordinating better with other local governments: “I understand tourism isn't a year-round thing. It's one of the assets we have.”
He also dismissed most environmental issues: “When it comes to that ecology stuff, I think a lot of it is bunk, to be honest. I think it's another way for the federal and state governments to draw more money away from small cities like us.”
Edna Petersen spoke in favor of providing $10,000 in lodging tax revenue to Kenmore Air. Kenmore is required to use this funding for advertising to promote this area as a travel destination. She said: “That's what helps save a business. Business retention is easier than bringing a new business to town."
Peter Ripley established a link between government transparency and the likelihood of businesses keeping their shops in town. He said:
“I think the key phrase here is transparency. There are clouds of perception that decisions have been made behind closed doors and out of the public eye. I would recuse myself from any executive session that does not adhere to strict adherence to the RCW [the Revised Code of Washington] on executive session.”
The behind-closed-doors decisions he referred to include: selecting Kent Myers as city manager; creating the Port Angeles Harbor-Works Development Authority; and the agreement with Nippon Paper Industries USA on the environmental cleanup of Port Angeles Harbor.
And speaking of Harbor-Works: Edna Petersen said, “With the development of Harbor-Works, we are as close to moving forward than we have ever been, with everybody having a say in the process.”
Rick Burton said the city needs to work with the tribe to make sure no tribal artifacts are unearthed. He also said: “I don't see spending a whole bunch of money on Rayonier until Rayonier does their portion of what needs to be done.”
Max Mania seconded that the city needs to ensure Rayonier’s fiscal responsibility when it comes to the cleanup: “Less is more is probably going to be the realistic view.”
Peter Ripley said: “I think we have to do what is necessary in getting the property cleaned up.” He also said the city should encourage more cruise ships to dock in Port Angeles and that the waterfront should have a railroad again.
Labels: Edna Petersen, Max Mania, Peter Ripley, Port Angeles City Council candidates Port Angeles Business Association, Port Angeles economic development, Port Angeles government transparency, Rick Burton
posted by Tom Harper at 12:37 PM
7 Comments:
Um, where would we put a waterfront railroad? On the trail? Wouldn't that defeat the nature tourism part of things? (That trail is a draw; the marathon and bike event does bring in people from out of town.) Also, how will we pay for a railroad? I'd say the first thing to do is to fix up Railroad Ave. There's been some good first steps, but there needs to be more.
I'm glad to hear someone say that nature tourism is only part of the equation. Seems like in previous years people in P.A. put too much into that. Most importantly, we need to build a nice place for people to live, and an easy place for businesses to work. We need to retain our talented kids (whether the kids build rockets or fix cars) and bring in people with money.
And transparency. Oh yeah, we need that. Otherwise it just looks like the same ol' Powers That Be are doing whatever the hell they feel like and the rest of us who live and work here be damned.
Sigh.
"Debate"? Hardly anything more than candidates stating their own position on some issues. Nothing actually debated. No moderator, no points argued nor defended. Just stated positions.
More talk about "jobs". Gimme a break! A few years ago (when the nation and region was in a "boom" economy), there was a job fair held to try to fill the OVER 500 good paying jobs in Port Angeles that went un-filled month after month at the areas' top companies. The human resources depts all told me that few applicants could pass the pre-employment drug tests, and the few that could would quit after the first paycheck or two.
So, businesses open and close in Port Angeles, month in and month out, year after year. There are vacant storefronts and empty houses all over the area, and the primary focus of the community is to spend money they don't have on trying to develop a property with significant problems ( ancient village/burial sites) without doing any actual site assessments first, saying they need to create housing and jobs. I guess it all sounds intelligent and valid, as long as no one looks too closely.
I dunno. Why aren't any of these bright folks asking that a comprehensive archaeological survey be done FIRST, so any and all "problems" are identified BEFORE any time or money is spent with "public outreach", "public forums", studies, planning, staff time, consultants and all that tax money being spent?
Instead of paying to push a scheme on the public with the top exec getting $115,000/year, why not put that time and effort into helping the existing Port Angeles business community survive and prosper?
Geezz. Maybe I should run for council! Me and Bozo.
At the debate between City Council candidates we saw the tired, out dated, go-nowhere views espoused by perennial "candidates" Edna Petersen and Peter Ripley, the irrelevant Mr. Burton and the future of our city in Max Mania.
Max Mania stands for progress, growth, economic development and transparency in our city government. This is a candidate with a true vision for Port Angeles and the wherewithal to make our dreams a reality. He will bust wide open the corruption in our City Hall. No more hidden slush funds! No more kickbacks! No more no-bid contracts to friends and relatives!
While it's too soon to call him "City Councilman Mania," I'd suggest the other candidates drop out now to save themselves the embarassment of their collective defeat.
Yes, we'll be hearing more from Max Mania in the future ... and I don't mean just a postcard.
"there was a job fair held to try to fill the OVER 500 good paying jobs in Port Angeles that went un-filled month after month at the areas' top companies."
Where do you find these jobs? PDN only has a handful of job postings, and almost all of them are for nursing positions. Monster, hotjobs, Dice, LinkedIn, Craigslist... none of them show much for Port Angeles (amazing work from home opportunities! !OMGZ!! exempted). I already have a job, so I can't go door-to-door to ask. I occasionally troll local web sites but I don't find very much and get discouraged pretty quickly.
I hear you on the vacant buildings. Every once in awhile someone gets in the "we need to expand! Build more! It's the only way to attract businesses and people!!" mode. In the meantime, huge, highly visible areas of Port Angeles are vacant and quickly turning decrepit. I'm thinking K-Mart, that old grocery store that's now a vacant lot, that lot on Front and Chambers (and, yeah, I'm aware of who owns those two), the building downtown across from McCrorie's. Why spend money on sprawl when you can fix up what you've got?
I read an article on msnbc that reminded me of Port Angeles...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31332585/ns/us_news-the_elkhart_project/
*Special City Council Candidates Event*
In order to mark the passing of Michael Jackson, our four city Council Candidates will hold the following events:
Peter Ripley: Michael Jackson, Small Government Conservative Hero (rally at the Courthouse).
Edna Petersen: Michael Jackson Didn't Like the Farmers Market, Either (event to be held on Laurel Street, between Front and First).
Max Mania: Learn to Moonwalk In Eight Easy Lessons (held at the Fine Arts Center).
Rick Burton: I'm Going to Lose, But You Might Want to Show Up At The Rally/Event If You Don't Have Anything Better to Do (event location not yet known).
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