11 ,, ra - October 10, 2012 VOUR COMMUNITY Page 5
Election 201.2: City Council candidates offer views
(Editor's note: Here are short
profiles of some of the views and the
backgrounds of the nine candidates
for four seats on the Sweet Home
City Council in this year's election.
They are listed alphabetically. Be-
cause Andrew Allen has not lived in
Sweet Home for at least the last year,
he is unable to qualify for the ballot
under city rules that require candi-
dates to live in the city for at least
a consecutive year before running.
However, he is continuing his cam-
paign for City Council as a write-in
candidate, which is allowed.)
Andrew Allen, 30
Education: Sweet Home High
Class of 2001, Boise State Univer-
sity - BS Finance 2008
Occupation: Entrepreneur
(Two Dam Bagel and Bread Co.)
Previous civic and volunteer
experience: Sweet Home: Chamber
of Commerce Board member, City
of Sweet Home Parks and Budget
Committees, High School Track
and Cross Country Assistant Coach
(Coach Keebler), Sweet Home Trails
Group Board Member/Marketing;
Sweet Home Running and Track
Club coach. Past experience in La
Grande: Main Street Economic Re-
structuring Committee Chair, Urban
Renewal Advisory Commission.
What do you hope to accom-
plish? I want us to create better sys-
tems and networks between the var-
ious groups within the greater Sweet
Home area. We have resources, we
just need to create better means for
citizens and groups to access and
utilize them. The citizens of Sweet
Home have many ideas for how to
improve our town (economically,
socially, recreationally) and our city
should be a resource for ideas to de-
velop within.
The difference with me is I'm
already working on projects with
the city along with networking be-
tween various groups (Sweet Home
Chamber Board, City Budget and
Parks Committees, Sweet Home
Trails Group and I coach track and
cross country at Sweet Home High).
I'm not waiting for someone to elect
me. In fact I jumped in with both
feet in January and haven't stopped
since and don't intend to slow down
any time soon.
Role: Our goal should be to cre-
ate better means for ideas (events,
businesses, community activities) to
become reality. One way is to sort
out our community's resource spi-
derweb and to present information
based on goal (creating a new event,
group or business start-up, business
expansion), so that citizens have a
clearer path to follow.
This requires networking and
relationship building between city
council and our community resourc-
es (SHEDG, Chamber, SHARE,
Linn County, US Forest Service,
etc.).
Economic Revitalization:
Economic growth happens by new
ideas and means for existing ideas,
products and services to reach a
marketplace.
The city needs to serve in main-
taining infrastructure and develop-
ing economic "paths" so ideas have
both a base to develop upon along
with assisting businesses (existing
and future) in utilizing local resourc-
es and infrastructure. But the city
cannot be expected to create some- "
one else's idea or dream. We're here
as support, not to hold someone's
hand, and we must be concerned
with upholding
rules that pro-
tect the general
population.
Chicken
Ordinance:
I understand
people's con-
corns on both
sides since
many people Allen
living in a city
don't want the sounds and smells of
a country farm around their house,
but I also believe that individuals
should be allowed to grow/raise
their own food. I believe the com-
promise should be a limit based on
backyard size to limit the issue.
Blighted and Vacant Struc-
tures: In short, ifa property becomes
detrimental to the general well be-
ing or health of the community, it
needs to be addressed. We do live
in a community, and I firmly believe
in the theory of "broken windows"
in which the context of one prop-
erty spills Over into the image of the
neighborhood, community feel and
eventually economic vitality (going
back to economic growth and yes
there's evidence that context drives
the economy).
Admittedly, we need to work
with landowners; but if pressure is
needed to force a change, then the
city should be able to apply it. Ask-
ing someone nicely to clean up their
act only goes so far but it should be
our first approach and no, we're not
paying someone to do what they al-
ready should be doing as a citizen.
Sign Code: Did not respond.
Charitable Budgeting: As
a member of the 2012-13 budget
committee, I thought that was a little
ridiculous, considering the city's fi-
nancial situation and would like to
note, those recommendations did
not come from the city and were not
presented in this year's budget cycle
(for good reason).
For future reference, I don't
have a problem with charity; but I
have to ask, were these groups pro-
viding a service on behalf of the
city before they get funding .(for ex-
ample a humane society serving as
the stray animal catcher)? Until we
have surpluses, I don't see the city
doing this again.
Raises for Non-Represented
Employees: Two things, if a pro-
gram or service was on the chopping
block, no raise would have been
given. But the budget had made all
of the cuts without losing any more
employees or cuts in services. With
this case, I believe the raises (which
were merited) should be given.
Second, we're lucky in hav-
ing a veteran group, and making a
statement because of the economy
and relative pay in the region would
have been a gamble. The employees
in question are in demand by other
higher paying cities with fewer bud-
getary issues (makes managing a
real pain) and replacing them would
have cost the city much more (train-
ing, the learning curve of our city's
situation, etc). In short, we should
not trip over dollars to save a few
nickels.
Private Property Rights:
When personal property becomes a
hazard or detrimental to the health
and well-being of the community
(documented and shown), then the
interests of the community out-
weighs that of the individual. But a
due process must be in place to qual-
ify a property as a community issue.
These should not be related directly
to economic gain (such as a devel-
oper wanting to eminent domain a
property through the city). Police
and community health should be the
primary reasons to impose fines or
restrictions.
Poliee and Library Levies:
We need to stabilize our city's fund-
ing. Last year our revenues dropped
about 15 percent, and we're expect-
ing a small drop this year while ex-
penses increase (we can't control
fuel and insurance prices). Adding
to this, if we continue running on a
shoestring budget, the city will con-
tinue to have trouble maintaining our
current infrastructure not to mention
• making investments in economic
and community infrastructure.
The League of Oregon Cities
looked at multiple ways of mending
our budgetary problems (for which
Sweet Home is the poster child
showing how" Measure Five and
subsequent ballot measures have
hurt rural towns), and I'm going to
trust them on this issue. Anti-tax
people, get over it, we have a city to
run that you benefit from.
Lighting Ordinance: I'm
against the darkening of city streets
simply because I'm for the safety of
those who walk, run or bike (kids
especially). Also, the costs imposed
by this ordinance seem unnecessary,
especially since other light sources
can penetrate property lines.
Marybeth Angulo, 45
Occupation: Third/Fourth
grade teacher at Oak Heights El-
ementary School, Sweet Home
School District 55
Education: 1985 graduate of
South Salem High School; 1989
Bachelor of Science in .Education
at Western Oregon University; 2010
Masters of Curriculum and Instruc-
tion in Education at Portland State
University.
Previous civic and volunteer
experience: Previous board mem-
ber, Sunshine Industries; young rep-
resentative, School of Christian Mis-
sions with the Methodist Church of
Sweet Home; leader, Junior Choir,
SHUMC, one year; third- and
fourth-grade youth camp dean at
Suttle Lake United Methodist Youth
Camp, three years; nursery volun-
teer, Vacation Bible School teacher,
worship team member, First Baptist
Church; and Site Council and PBIS
team member, Oak Heights Elemen-
tary School; City Council member,
two years.
What have you accomplished
during your tenure? I have spent
the last two years "learning the
ropes" in city government. I was
the newest member on the coun-
cil for quite a while and spent that
time learning the process of how
ordinances were passed, goals set
and budgets passed. I was thrilled
to be a part of the budget process to
see just how and where the money
is spent. My accomplishment was
helping to make sure that the city of
Sweet Home had a balanced budget
in which to operate and enacting ap-
propriate legislation that would pro-
tect the health, safety and welfare of
the city.
What do you hope to accom-
plish? As an educator within the
Sweet Home School District for the
past 22 years, I have a heart for the
youth of this community. My goal
as a city councilor is to pursue, ex-
pand, and promote continued posi-
tive activities for the youth in our
The Questions
The answers from the candidates are in response to the following)
• Incumbents: What have.you accomplished during your tenure?
• Everyone: What do you hope to accomplish? Why should we vote for you
in particular?. What sets you apart from the other candidates?
• What do you see as the role of the City Council? What do you see as the
role of the city government?
[] What role should the city play in revitalization of the Sweet Home
downtown and economy? . :.
IlWhat did you think about the chicken ordinance"?
• What do you think, of the current, proposal to increase regulation on
"vacant" and =blighted" structures?
• How do you think the City Councit-did with the recent sign code
revisions?
• How did you feel about the city budgeting funds last year (2011-12) for
various charitable organizations, such as Sweet Home Emergency Ministries
and the HOPE Center.9
• What about the raises granted for employees not represented by the
union, including supervisors and confidential employees, this fiscal year
(2012-13)? Following a discussion about not granting the raises at the time
due to budget concerns, the council agreed to grant the raises, which were
already outlined.in a resolution the previous year.
• How should private property rights be balanced against the interests of
the citizens' community as a whole?
• What do you think about League of Oregon Cities' proposal to place
tax levies, such as• the Police Department's, outside of the $10 per $1,000
property tax limitation for general government? What solution do you think
would be appropriate to improve stability with Sweet Home's levy-funded
police and library services?
• Coming up, the City Council will consider a Planning Commission
recommendation to implement a new lighting ordinance, potentially limiting
the output of lights and shielding light sources to keep light from crossing
propertylines. What kind of regulations would you support regarding lighting,
and what would you consider too restrictive? Do you st)ppo a "dark skies,'
approach? Why or why •not?
community.
We need more positive oppor-
tunities for our youth to participate
and become active in city govern-
ment and other service learning
projects. I would like to participate
in creating and implementing even
more successful and innovative pro-
grams for the youth of Sweet Home
through a possible partnership with
the School District and other non-
profit organizations.
I would also like to see a more
positive interaction and partner-
ship between the city and the Sweet
Home School District. Who better
to help bridge the gap but a teacher
who also serves on the council? I
would like to be that person.
My leadership qualities come
from over 20 years of teaching in
the Sweet Home School District. I
enjoy organizing, training, super-
vising and motivating those whom
I lead. I have also been found to be
honest, ethical, up front and depend-
able in both personal and business
dealings. •
I have proven that I am not
afraid to vote on what 1 believe is
the right thing to do, even if it means
going against the majority vote.
Teaching has given me the ability to
priofitize and follow through with
project demands. I am an active lis-
tener who enjoys being a creative
part of any team or solution. For
these reasons, I should be re-elected
to the city council.
Role: The role of the City
Council and city government is to
make decisions that represent the
people and the best interests of the
city as a whole. The council should
also establish general policies for
the conduct of city government,
adopt a balanced budget and consid-
er and enact appropriate legislation
that protects the welfare of the city
as well as the health and safety of
the residents.
Economic Revitalization:
The city should provide and create
a welcoming and positive environ-
ment where
new business-
es would want
to relocate. We
need to con-
tinue with the
positive pro-
motion of the
existing busi-
nesses through
the ongoing
campaign of "shop in Sweet Home."
We need to continue to make the
downtown Sweet Home an appeal-
ing area where consumers will want
to shop.
Chicken Ordinance: I did not
have arty issues with the chicken
ordinance. As long as the chickens
did not infringe on the rights of sur-
rounding property owners, then I
felt it was fine.
If property owners have a way
that they can confine their chickens
and any smell that might be associ-
ated with it, then I fully support that
concept. GuidelinEs were put into
place to make it a fair and balanced
way that allowed people who want-
ed to have chickens on their prop-
erty to have a.specified number of
chickens without it becoming a nui-
sance to the surrounding property
owners who did not desire to have
chickens•
Blighted and Vacant Struc-
tures: I am for an ordinance that
would ask property owners to board
up their vacant houses so that squat-
ters would not have easy access to
them. If they are not boarded up and
secured in some manner, that allows
people to take up residence, and the
waste that is left behind can cause
other health hazards and problems.
This then becomes an undesired
problem for the existing property
owners surrounding the residence.
Sign Code: Did not respond.
Charitable Budgeting: I stand
behind those contributions one
hundred percent! Each of these or-
• See Profiles, page 8
