Council candidates debate

Here's the story that was submitted for Wednesday's edition under some really tight deadline pressure. Expect more detail to be posted on SB Now over the course of then day Wednesday.

By Andrew Edwards
Staff Writer
SAN BERNARDINO - City council candidates squared off during a Tuesday night forum to argue why they - and not their opponents - should get residents' votes.

The San Bernardino Area Chamber of Commerce hosted Tuesday's forum and accordingly, questions pertaining to business and economic development
dominated the night's conversation.

Candidates answered questions on subjects including the prospects of San Bernardino attracting new employers, making City Hall a more business-friendly environment and
enhancing the city's image.

Candidates also touched on the perennial issues of public safety and
graffiti reduction.

This year's slate of City Council races features six candidates vying for three seats on the dais. In each race, an incumbent faces a single challenger.

The Nov. 3 ballot will feature the following contests:

- In the city's 1st Ward, which includes downtown and part of the Westside, incumbent Esther Estrada faces challenger Virginia Marquez.

- In the 2nd Ward, which includes the neighborhoods around Perris Hill Park and north of downtown, incumbent Dennis Baxter faces challenger Jason Desjardins.

- In the 4th Ward, which comprises San Bernardino's northeastern neighborhoods, incumbent Fred Shorett faces challenger Joe Arnett.

The Mayor's Office will also be on the Nov. 3 ballot. That race features incumbent Pat Morris, City Attorney James F. Penman and contractor Rick Avila.

All six council candidates participated in Tuesday's forum and answered questions while seated at the City Council dais at City Hall where only three of them will earn four-year reservations after the votes are tallied.

As befits San Bernardino politics, a few fiery exchanges punctuated Tuesday's forum and the challengers were more likely to go on the offensive.

For example, when Marquez responded to the first question - which asked candidates what they would do if they had the full council's support to address on of the city's major issues, Marquez accused Estrada of not being difficult to contact.

"My opponent is unfortunately unavailable and inaccessible," Marquez said. "I'm disappointed as a constituent as a candidate."

Estrada responded by saying she would answer the question directory and proceeded to say that she supports the pursuit of a new civic center where city and San Bernardino County government would do business on the current site of Carousel Mall. She also called for a greater police presence downtown to help attract businesses.

"Secure it with police to keep the hoodlums out or in jail," Estrada said.

Other moments when candidates faced off directly included Desjardins' charge that Baxter compromised public safety by recently voting against a ban on parolee housing and Arnett's criticism of Shorett's vote to agree to budget cuts that reduced staffing on some Fire Department engine companies from four to three crew members.

Both issues have been brought up previously during the campaign. Baxter's reply was to restate his view that the parolee housing ordinance will not work and is not likely to survive a court challenge. Shorett also repeated his assertion that he would like to
restore funding to the Fire Department but that the money to do so is not in the city's hands.

Besides the disagreements, the candidates actually shared many ideas.

There was a universal call to toughen penalties for vandalism by punishing juvenile taggers' parents and imposing strict restitution and community service penalties. Arnett offered a unique twist on the subject matter by proposing that convicted taggers clean up illegally dumped garbage instead of painting over tags.

"Old tires getting picked up means a lot more," said Arnett, who noted that he wants to deny vandals the satisfaction of painting over their rivals' graffiti.

Another point where candidates voiced near-universal agreement was the idea that the city should attract new business by cutting fees and the utility usrs tax. Estrada, however, cautioned that politicos proposing to end or reduce a tax should be willing to ask the public to weather a corresponding reduction in city services.

Other ideas expressed Tuesday included the following:

- Estrada proposed the city use local resources to build fountains and waterfalls across the city.

- Marquez called for the creation of a business advisory council.

- Baxter said he supports the creation of a "one-stop shop" for business seeking permits or licenses.

- Desjardins said he would make direct budget cuts at city management to finance four-person engine companies.

- Arnett proposed the city has potential to become a center for green industry.

- Shorett said San Bernardino politicos need to cease abrasive politics to attract new business.