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Candidates make their case
Ballot measures debated during local election forum
By TY BEAVER
H&N Staff Writer
Ensuring continued service. Meeting the demands of growth. Goals for the future.
Candidates for elected city offices and proponents of local ballot measures made their cases to voters Tuesday during a Candidate’s Night forum hosted by the League of Women Voters.
Those supporting measures for bonds or additional tax levies said they understood the financial hardship facing voters, but maintained that funds are needed to balance stretched budgets or prepare for growth.
Candidates detailed what they would do if elected, while proponents and an opponent of the proposed home rule charter discussed whether the present or a new form of government would best serve county residents.
Klamath Community College expansion
Gerald Hamilton, KCC president, cited the school’s need for specialized teaching space such as science labs and medical training classrooms. Enrollment is up 21 percent from the 2007 fall term.
“We are as big as we’ve ever been,” he said.
The school is asking voters to approve a $7.7-million bond that would cost property owners 11 cents per $1,000 in assessed property value.
Hamilton said he knows voters are facing tough economic times, but approving a bond measure would allow KCC to take advantage of matching state funds.
Klamath County Fire District No. 1
Jim Wenzel, fire chief for Klamath County Fire District No. 1, said though the region has grown, tax revenues have not kept up with rising operating costs or decreasing Medicare reimbursements for ambulance services.
“We’re kind of on a fixed income like everybody else,” he said.
The district’s tax levy would cost property owners 34 cents per $1,000 in assessed property value, generating about $4.45 million.
The district has not asked for an additional tax levy in its entire 60-year history. Passage of the five-year tax levy on the ballot would allow the district to rebuild its reserves and give the local economy time to recover and start growing again, building up tax revenues, he said.
County Emergency Communications District
Jeanine Dilley, director of Klamath County Emergency Communications District, said her operation is already functioning below the recommended number of dispatchers needed for the area’s call loads and uses outdated equipment. She also cited rising expenses.
“We still have the same staff we did in 1995, and that’s not doable,” she said.
The district’s tax levy would cost property owners 18 cents per $1,000 in assessed property value, generating more than $750,000 per year.
The district also adjusted its request for tax dollars based on the economy and after taxpayers voted against a similar measure in May.
Home rule charter proposal
Dan Golden, assistant director of the county’s juvenile department and a member of a political action committee opposed to the charter, criticized the charter proposal developed by a citizen-led group.
He said it would limit voter input, create more bureaucracy and expand taxing authority. Motivation for the charter initially came from a consideration to recall two other commissioners, he added.
Charter supporters, rancher Bill Kennedy and county assessor Reg LeQuieu, denied any recall attempt and instead said commissioners John Elliott and Al Switzer declined to work with them. LeQuieu said the charter would not raise taxes or make county government more expensive.
The assessor also attacked a comment made by Switzer more than a week ago regarding paying commissioners who waive county health insurance. Switzer had said other county employees would demand a similar arrangement, costing the county up to $1 million a year.
LeQuieu said Switzer brushed off concerns in the past that county employees would demand pay raises when commissioners and other elected officials received pay raises and other employees did not. Switzer denied ever making such a statement.
The assessor added that Gail Whitsett, wife of state Sen. Doug Whitsett, R-Klamath Falls, discovered a state statute that does allow the health benefits of commissioners to differ from those of other county employees. Doug Whitsett was among the group who developed the charter.
Klamath Falls mayor’s race
Mayoral incumbent Todd Kellstrom said the city has increased services and had a growing economy. The city has a good credit rating and a stable budget. When asked about continuing northbound flight service from the city airport, he said marketing and monitoring is necessary.
“In my 16 years as mayor, the city has done well,” he said.
Kellstrom criticized his opponent, Bill Adams, for a past comment suggesting the city be dissolved. Such a possibility threatens law enforcement, parks, the airport and the Air National Guard Base at Kingsley Field, he said.
Adams, a city council member, said the city isn’t fiscally conservative enough and he’d like to see more emphasis on parks and roads than on law enforcement. Continued northbound service from the airport should rely on demand for it instead of being subsidized by the city, he said.
“It’s not up to the city to provide for the whole county,” he said.
Adams also criticized the use of eminent domain and said his comment on dissolving the city was a talking point, stemming from his frustration with conflicts between city residents and those living in unincorporated areas.
Klamath Falls City Council, Ward 1
Two-term incumbent Trish Seiler cited her work in improving Moore Park and the Stewart Lenox and Gatewood neighborhoods during her tenure. She also added that she’s supported the newly constructed memorial in Veterans Memorial Park downtown.
She said she’d work toward more collaboration between the city and the county in her next term.
Challenger Jeff Woodwick said he is a Klamath Basin native who currently works for Jeld-Wen as a product designer. He said he and Seiler are alike in that they both want to serve the community but differ politically. He particularly wants to work toward more fiscal conservatism in the city’s budget.
Klamath Falls City Council, Ward 2
Incumbent Bud Hart said he’s optimistic about the city’s future. The city and the county cooperate well currently and he’d like to see that continue.
The councilman added that he would focus on street improvements, code enforcement and streamlining land use planning in his next term.
Challenger Jeff Ritter, a real estate broker, said his experience in the private sector gives him an edge. The city council can mean well, but there is a general lack of understanding on business-related issues, he said.
He said he would focus on making Klamath Falls a livable community during his time in office.
Candidates for elected city offices and proponents of local ballot measures made their cases to voters Tuesday during a Candidate’s Night forum hosted by the League of Women Voters.
Those supporting measures for bonds or additional tax levies said they understood the financial hardship facing voters, but maintained that funds are needed to balance stretched budgets or prepare for growth.
Candidates detailed what they would do if elected, while proponents and an opponent of the proposed home rule charter discussed whether the present or a new form of government would best serve county residents.
Klamath Community College expansion
Gerald Hamilton, KCC president, cited the school’s need for specialized teaching space such as science labs and medical training classrooms. Enrollment is up 21 percent from the 2007 fall term.
“We are as big as we’ve ever been,” he said.
The school is asking voters to approve a $7.7-million bond that would cost property owners 11 cents per $1,000 in assessed property value.
Hamilton said he knows voters are facing tough economic times, but approving a bond measure would allow KCC to take advantage of matching state funds.
Klamath County Fire District No. 1
Jim Wenzel, fire chief for Klamath County Fire District No. 1, said though the region has grown, tax revenues have not kept up with rising operating costs or decreasing Medicare reimbursements for ambulance services.
“We’re kind of on a fixed income like everybody else,” he said.
The district’s tax levy would cost property owners 34 cents per $1,000 in assessed property value, generating about $4.45 million.
The district has not asked for an additional tax levy in its entire 60-year history. Passage of the five-year tax levy on the ballot would allow the district to rebuild its reserves and give the local economy time to recover and start growing again, building up tax revenues, he said.
County Emergency Communications District
Jeanine Dilley, director of Klamath County Emergency Communications District, said her operation is already functioning below the recommended number of dispatchers needed for the area’s call loads and uses outdated equipment. She also cited rising expenses.
“We still have the same staff we did in 1995, and that’s not doable,” she said.
The district’s tax levy would cost property owners 18 cents per $1,000 in assessed property value, generating more than $750,000 per year.
The district also adjusted its request for tax dollars based on the economy and after taxpayers voted against a similar measure in May.
Home rule charter proposal
Dan Golden, assistant director of the county’s juvenile department and a member of a political action committee opposed to the charter, criticized the charter proposal developed by a citizen-led group.
He said it would limit voter input, create more bureaucracy and expand taxing authority. Motivation for the charter initially came from a consideration to recall two other commissioners, he added.
Charter supporters, rancher Bill Kennedy and county assessor Reg LeQuieu, denied any recall attempt and instead said commissioners John Elliott and Al Switzer declined to work with them. LeQuieu said the charter would not raise taxes or make county government more expensive.
The assessor also attacked a comment made by Switzer more than a week ago regarding paying commissioners who waive county health insurance. Switzer had said other county employees would demand a similar arrangement, costing the county up to $1 million a year.
LeQuieu said Switzer brushed off concerns in the past that county employees would demand pay raises when commissioners and other elected officials received pay raises and other employees did not. Switzer denied ever making such a statement.
The assessor added that Gail Whitsett, wife of state Sen. Doug Whitsett, R-Klamath Falls, discovered a state statute that does allow the health benefits of commissioners to differ from those of other county employees. Doug Whitsett was among the group who developed the charter.
Klamath Falls mayor’s race
Mayoral incumbent Todd Kellstrom said the city has increased services and had a growing economy. The city has a good credit rating and a stable budget. When asked about continuing northbound flight service from the city airport, he said marketing and monitoring is necessary.
“In my 16 years as mayor, the city has done well,” he said.
Kellstrom criticized his opponent, Bill Adams, for a past comment suggesting the city be dissolved. Such a possibility threatens law enforcement, parks, the airport and the Air National Guard Base at Kingsley Field, he said.
Adams, a city council member, said the city isn’t fiscally conservative enough and he’d like to see more emphasis on parks and roads than on law enforcement. Continued northbound service from the airport should rely on demand for it instead of being subsidized by the city, he said.
“It’s not up to the city to provide for the whole county,” he said.
Adams also criticized the use of eminent domain and said his comment on dissolving the city was a talking point, stemming from his frustration with conflicts between city residents and those living in unincorporated areas.
Klamath Falls City Council, Ward 1
Two-term incumbent Trish Seiler cited her work in improving Moore Park and the Stewart Lenox and Gatewood neighborhoods during her tenure. She also added that she’s supported the newly constructed memorial in Veterans Memorial Park downtown.
She said she’d work toward more collaboration between the city and the county in her next term.
Challenger Jeff Woodwick said he is a Klamath Basin native who currently works for Jeld-Wen as a product designer. He said he and Seiler are alike in that they both want to serve the community but differ politically. He particularly wants to work toward more fiscal conservatism in the city’s budget.
Klamath Falls City Council, Ward 2
Incumbent Bud Hart said he’s optimistic about the city’s future. The city and the county cooperate well currently and he’d like to see that continue.
The councilman added that he would focus on street improvements, code enforcement and streamlining land use planning in his next term.
Challenger Jeff Ritter, a real estate broker, said his experience in the private sector gives him an edge. The city council can mean well, but there is a general lack of understanding on business-related issues, he said.
He said he would focus on making Klamath Falls a livable community during his time in office.
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To Bills Walt Reg wrote on Oct 25, 2008 12:24 PM: