Yuba City City Council race has some drama
The 2010 campaign was more heated, one observer says, but the four candidates running for two seats on the Yuba City City Council may see this race as hot enough.
Rick Walsh was the subject of an open letter signed by the other three candidates questioning his campaign tactics and statements.
Incumbent John Dukes, Kash Gill and Todd Remund took issue with Walsh about matters including a campaign mailer citing delays in building a new animal shelter.
Walsh takes issue with what he sees as a council lacking in leadership and needing new voices such as his.
John Sanbrook, a city planning commissioner, said the council election two years ago generated more interest and more campaign funds.
Still, Councilman John Buckland said the 2012 campaign offers voters the chance "to see who they want to lead the city."
He regrets that candidate Dr. Larry Ozeran withdrew but understands the demands of work that led to Ozeran's decision. Buckland said he would like to have seen Ozeran among the candidates.
Craig Starkey, appointed Oct. 16 to the council to fill the vacancy created by Leslie McBride's resignation to take a job in the governor's office, said some sparks have flown.
"I suspect it's a little bit more adversarial. But that's the way it seems with all elections today," said Starkey, who has not endorsed any candidate.
Dukes has pointed to Yuba City's solvency when other California cities have declared bankruptcy.
"We have budgeted conservatively," he said.
Gill, a councilman from 2006-10, cites his support from police and firefighters and said public safety is a paramount issue for him. Fewer police and the new state law returning more than 100 criminals for local confinement means "crime will increase."
Remund, owner of a manufacturing business, has said he has seen companies move away because of incentives offered elsewhere.
"I see a lot of frustrations with business owners," he said.
Walsh has noted the eight-year saga involving Yuba City and the county-run animal shelter and that delays in reaching a solution show leadership problems.
"Eight years is too long," he said.
The council election is nonpartisan with political parties playing no formal role.
CONTACT Ryan McCarthy at rmccarthy@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4780. Find him on Facebook at /ADrmccarthy or on Twitter at @ADrmccarthy.
JOHN DUKES
AGE: 58.
OCCUPATION: Financial adviser.
POSTS: City Council, Yuba City, 2008-12; mayor, Yuba City, 2010-11; Planning Commission, 2001-07; Sutter County Planning Commission, 2006-07; Sutter-Buttes Flood Control Agency Board, 2009-12.
QUOTE: "As the only incumbent in the City Council race, I am a long-time local government leader with over a decade of experience in serving the citizens of Yuba City. I live and work in this community and am a proven voice of the people."
KASH GILL
AGE: 48.
OCCUPATION: Vice president Mechanics Bank and farmer.
POSTS: Chairman of the board, Yuba-Sutter Chamber of Commerce; founding member, Yuba-Sutter Economic Development Corp.; chairman, Fremont-Rideout Health Group Foundation; former mayor and City Council member, 2006-10.
QUOTE: "Being accessible is a quality that I've always believed in. I assure the residents of Yuba City that I will always have your best interest in mind in everything that I do."
TODD REMUND
AGE: 27.
OCCUPATION: President of Baked Industries Inc.
QUOTE: "I'm tired of seeing and hearing of businesses pack up and go other places. This needs to be the place they are coming to, not leaving."
RICK WALSH
AGE: 54.
OCCUPATION: Real estate broker, Yuba City Keller Williams.
POSTS: North Yuba City Neighborhood Watch, past co-chair, active member; Sutter-Yuba Association of Realtors, board of directors, community clean-up volunteer, four years.
QUOTE: "I have built and sold two successful businesses in Yuba City, and employed over 100 local people. I will bring real business sense back to our City Council."
