COUNCIL CANDIDATES BLAST COUNTY’S COVID-19 RULES
Tuesday evening’s League of Women Voters of Humboldt County forum for the three candidates vying for two open spots on the Fortuna City Council was a spectacle from the start.
The forum began with incumbent Dean Glaser stepping away from the Zoom meeting to put on a patriotic tie and proclaiming in his opening statement that “I embrace truth, justice and the American way.”
Incumbent Tami Trent, responding to the first question of the evening that asked candidates to identify what they liked best and valued most about living in Fortuna, said “Fortuna is a true community,” which she repeated several times over the course of the evening.
Challenger Mike Losey said Fortunans excelled in helping their neighbors and pointed to relief efforts in the recent wildfires.
All three candidates were united in proclaiming Fortuna the “best city in Humboldt County.”
COVID-19
Glaser took a swing at the county’s health officer early on when asked about the top three issues facing Fortuna.
“First and foremost, it’s working with Dr. (Teresa) Frankovich,”
he said, referring to her as a “spokesperson” for the department of health and voicing frustration that “she has never let us know our infection rate.”
“She does veto us when we have an effort to try to have more stores open up,” he added.
He did not name two other issues.
Both Trent and Losey echoed the calls for more businesses to reopen and for money to start flowing again in Fortuna.
Trent also noted the retirement system eats a sizeable chunk of the city’s budget, but then faltered on finding a third issue facing the city.
“Fortuna doesn’t have anything that stands out as a really big problem,” she said.
Losey cited the city’s budget as the first priority and he noted the passage of Measure G, an extension of the 0.75% sales tax, is crucial. He also suggested “putting together a plan to entice development.”
Later, when asked the most important change candidates would like to see in Fortuna in the next six months, the three agreed they would like to see an end to the pandemic.
“I would like to see Fortuna going back to being able to have events again; I would like to be able to socialize again, be out in the community,” Trent said.
“That is what I miss — being able to be out there and be personable.”
Glaser doubled-down on his frustrations with pandemic rules.
“The COVID rules that have been controlled by Dr. Frankovich need to end,” he said. “… COVID controls need to cease and desist and we need to get back on with our life.”
Losey added that he supports “being done with the COVID issues and problems.”
He added that the move from the orange tier to the least-restrictive yellow tier is a step in the right direction.
“Hopefully, businesses will be opening up a little bit more and we should be able to attract more business to Fortuna,” Losey said.
Affordable housing
On the issue of building affordable housing, Glaser railed against the state for yanking Fortuna’s redevelopment funding.
“We try to embrace any developer that does come into the city, but since the redevelopment money was taken away, we don’t have any means to support a developer that comes this way,” he said.
Losey suggested encouraging city staff to locate “parcels that would be perfect or good to develop,” He added the “City Council has to take a lead on this.”
Trent then noted that staff has compiled a list of plots for development.
“We have tried to keep our fees reasonable for developers, but the city doesn’t have money to loan or give for housing,” she said.
Racism
Candidates were asked how they would change the perception that Black, Indigenous and people of color are not welcome in Fortuna.
Losey, who worked in law enforcement for more than three decades, suggested additional training on “cultural awareness, sensitivity and learning how to communicate” would be critical for the police force. He added he supports the use of body cameras and dash cams.
Trent said she was aware that racism is everywhere but that she has not personally witnessed it in Fortuna.
“For the most part, I think people try to be friendly in Fortuna,” she said.
Glaser mentioned an incident involving “a few individuals who were colored and had a bad interaction with a business,” adding it was possible the people had “an agenda” because it happened around “the same time Black Lives Matter was happening in Eureka.”
Qualifications
The candidates were asked to discuss what makes them “uniquely qualified” for a City Council seat.
Trent began listing her experience working at the state level and pushing for public safety measures. She also noted as an incumbent she knows the ropes.
“I am comfortable with the knowledge I have learned,” she said.
Losey noted he has been on the council before and, like Trent, has served as mayor pro tem.
“With 34 years in law enforcement, and many of those years at the county level having worked at the district attorney’s office, I have worked with many state and local departments,” he said.
Glaser said the council is in a good place now and advocated to making no changes to the council.
“I want the public to know that the incumbents are the best choice today,” he said.
In the final minutes of the forum, candidates were offered a minute for last thoughts for voters.
“I vote with 100% freedom from any controlling group. I have never accepted donations from anyone,” Glaser said, adding a moment later, “I am hardcore in my beliefs.”
Trent repeated her continued support for public safety in the community, noting “we have had a challenging year and it’s not over yet.”
Losey concluded the forum stating he is the “best choice” for the council.
“We do need a new voice on the City Council and we need a choice from the incumbents we have here,” he said.