Candidates take different stands on BC issues

By Cassie Tomlin

Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009 | 1:27 p.m.

Nine City Council hopefuls disagreed about many things at the first candidates forum Monday night, but they agreed about one thing: The issues that will define this race for two City Council seats are Boulder Creek Golf Course, city debt and land sales.

All said they support continued growth of the Eldorado Valley's Energy Zone, while the issue of growth at the city's airport was more divisive.

A June municipal election will select two new City Council members to replace Councilman Mike Pacini, who cannot run again because of term limits, and Councilwoman Andrea Anderson, who said she is retiring.

Most candidates noted this election could mean a sea change in the way the city does business if it eliminates or retains the existing majority and minority voting factions. Council members Linda Strickland and Travis Chandler were elected two years ago promising change. Pacini and Anderson have backed the status quo.

The nine candidates who attended the forum were Matt DiTeresa, an operating engineer; Chris Gatlin, who owns a local painting and trailer rental business; retired Boulder City Library Director Duncan McCoy; Anthony Pakula, who retired from Hoover Dam; Jim Reed, a retired Boulder City Police officer; Joe Roche, who runs a recycling business; Planning Commissioner John Schleppegrell; former City Councilman Bill Smith; and Cam Walker, a project development director.

Tim Clifford, a business consultant and general contractor who earlier this month declared his candidacy for council, did not attend and could not be reached for comment.

Before a crowd of more than 100 people at the Boulder City Library, they answered questions from moderator Richard McHale, who this year has organized community discussions called B.C. Facts on Mondays before City Council meetings.

McHale asked if the candidates would close Boulder Creek Golf Club, one of two municipal courses struggling financially. The council last year retroactively set up a payment plan and interest on an $8.7 million loan taken from the Utility Fund to build the course.

DiTeresa, Reed, Roche, Smith and Gatlin said they'd ask voters whether the city should close the course.

McCoy, Pakula, Schleppegrell and Walker said they supported the golf course but suggested further studying its finances.

McHale asked if candidates would support more services, amenities and growth at the city's airport, which in recent years has grown from supporting only private planes to hosting four tour operators.

DiTeresa, McCoy and Walker said they'd support moderate and responsible growth. Reed said he would be cautious, and Schleppegrell said he would back more clean, green airport-supporting industry there.

Roche said he wouldn't support any growth, and Smith said he wouldn't unless there was an advantage for the community at large.

Gatlin said he needed more facts about the airport, and Pakula said he'd trust the Airport Advisory Committee with such decisions.

McHale said nine years ago, the city's debt with principal and interest was $1.5 million, and it's now $120 million, including a $25 million due to the Southern Nevada Water Authority for a third pipeline into Lake Mead to secure water supply to the Las Vegas Valley.

McHale asked candidates to say in one word if they would support land sales to reduce long-term debts.

DiTeresa said he leans to "no," Reed said "eventually," Roche and Smith said they'd ask the voters and the rest said they would support land sales.

None of the candidates said they would replace City Manager Vicki Mayes or City Attorney Dave Olsen, when McHale asked, but DiTeresa, Gatlin, Reed and Roche said if the council's direction changes in June, the board should consider such a move. Smith said a working relationship between the current council, Mayes and Olsen "doesn't exist," and he would hope to change that without replacing the two.

McHale had planned to ask candidates whether they would change Redevelopment Agency grant requirements and questions of morale, accountability and transparency, but ran out of time.

Cassie Tomlin can be reached at 948-2073 or [email protected].