BC council rivals question hopeful’s job history

By Mike Trask

Wednesday, March 4, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Boulder City Council candidate Joe Roche’s campaign finance statement is raising questions from opponents about his employment history.

On the financial disclosure statement he filed Feb. 17 with the Boulder City clerk, he identified American Shredding Inc. as his source of income, even though the president of the company said Roche was terminated Dec. 9. The president, Steve Sutta, declined to discuss specifics.

Roche said he was a victim of the economic downturn when the company laid off several managers at facilities around the state.

He said he disclosed all income over the previous year. A secretary of state spokesman said Roche did the appropriate thing and that the form is meant to disclose income, not specifically employment.

This comes two weeks after residents questioned Roche’s involvement with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada. On his Web site the candidate claimed to be a member of the organization’s board of directors — even though he resigned from the position last year.

Roche said the questions about his job and community involvement are a sad indicator of the small town’s politics.

“It’s really pretty petty,” he said.

Roche is a well-known candidate, having campaigned against a petition to recall two council members, Travis Chandler and Linda Strickland, last year.

He also opposed a special tax that would have supported Boulder City Hospital.

Roche is one of nine candidates running for two council seats. Councilman Mike Pacini cannot run for reelection because of term limits and Councilwoman Andrea Anderson has decided not to run for her third term.

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At one point there were 10 candidates — but Tim Clifford has dropped out.

Clifford, a business consultant and general contractor, told supporters he could not run because of family obligations.

He had come under scrutiny almost immediately after filing to run for office because he had never registered to vote in Boulder City.

Clifford told the Sun that when he arrived in Boulder City three years ago he did not grasp the issues.

He said he did not register last year during the presidential race because he “decided to stay bipartisan and neutral.”

The candidates still in the running are: Roche; Cam Walker, a project development director who has the support of former Clark County Commissioner Bruce Woodbury; Bill Smith, a former council member who has been critical of city government; Chris Gatlin, a local businessman; John Schleppegrell, a Planning Commission member and retired land manager; Matt Di Teresa, an operating engineer; Duncan McCoy, the recently retired city library director; and Jim Reed and Anthony Pakula, both retired police officers.

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Henderson is considering raising its water and sewer rates in an attempt to coax residents to conserve.

The changes would result in a $1.75 monthly increase for average residential users, said Kathleen Richards, a spokeswoman for the city utilities department.

“That’s pretty reasonable considering people pay $4 for a cup of coffee,” she said.

The City Council will vote on the changes March 17.

The changes would increase sewer rates by 5 percent, from $18.63 per month for a single-family home to $19.56.

Richards said the increase will pay for increased electric and chemical costs.

The city is considering changing the water rates by adjusting its tiered system.

Residents using less than 14,000 gallons per month will see no increase.

Those in the third tier, 14,000 gallons to 25,000 gallons per month, will pay $2.72 per 1,000 gallons, a 10 percent increase. That tier previously began at 16,000 gallons per month.

The highest users, those using more than 25,000 gallons per month, will face a 20 percent increase, to $4.15 per 1,000 gallons. That tier previous began at 30,000 gallons per month.