A look at the seven candidates for Oroville City Council

OROVILLE » Seven candidates are vying for three spots on the Oroville City Council. Two candidates are incumbents: Janet Goodson and Scott Thomson, the vice mayor. The other four candidates are Lisa Torres, Krysi Rigg, Bobby O’Reiley, Jack Berry and Bryan Flicker.

Jack Berry

Berry was a councilor from 2002- 2008, then again from 2010-2018.

He worked as an Oroville police of ficer for nearly 20 years before he retired. He wants to see the police force bolstered. To him, a safe community is one that attracts people to do business.

In 2018, he was one of the proponents for bringing marijuana dispensaries to Oroville. He prefers that people purchase it legally rather than in a sketchy manner on the street.

Bryan Flicker

F licker was f irst prompted to consider running two years ago when the council voted on business tax laws that would have allowed marijuana retailers to operate within city limits. He was appalled.

He has owned a business and worked in the Butte County Sheriff’s Office for 27 years, the last 17 of which he rose to the rank of lieutenant before he retired in 2014.

One of his hopes is to increase the tax base to create more jobs.

He highly values city parks and is distraught by garbage and needles he sees spread about.

Janet Goodson

Goodson says she ran for City Council to minimize the disparity between the haves and have nots. The incumbent has served four years on the council and was previously vice mayor.

She grew up in Sacramento, where she worked in the judicial system. In Oroville, she works as a Behavioral Health Counselor.

She wants to implement changes in code enforcement policies that would dictate what staff can and can’t do.

Public safety is her top priority. Housing is one of her biggest passions. Since being on the council, she’s worked to increase housing units.

Bobby O’Reiley

O’Rei ley has spent nearly 30 years living in Oroville. He wants the positives of the city to overpower the negatives. He wants his children to have a safe place to call home.

The candidate wants to address drug abuse and homelessness in the city.

He believes the current council has accomplished much good work, but that it could use a change of demographic, new technology and a modern outlook on life.

O’Rei ley current ly serves on the Oroville Parks Commission. He works as a manager for a water well pump company and is a contracted bulldozer operator for fires.

Krysi Rigg

Rigg is the executive director of Axiom, a youth center for junior high and high school students. Earlier, she worked at Butte County Behavioral Health.

Rigg hopes to bring a fair and balanced perspective to the council, plus some new ideas and energy, since she’s on the younger end.

Her two primary areas of interest are quality of life for residents and supporting small businesses. She has been the treasurer of the Downtown Oroville Business Association for two years.

Scott Thomson

Thomson lived in Oroville for just over a year before he became a city councilor. His campaign was prompted by his young sons and business owners. He believes every City Council decision should have the younger generation in mind.

He currently serves as the pastor of River of Life church. Before moving to Oroville, he owned a highend custom cabinet business.

As a councilor, one thing he’s especially proud to have seen come to fruition is the Problem Oriented Policing Unit. Their specific task is to solve problems they once did not have the time to solve.

Lisa Torres

Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Torres has lived in Oroville for 23 years. To Torres, Oroville is a place full of love.

She currently works as a cook for Oroville Hospital, but has a long history as an in-home caregiver.

Torres thoroughly believes not all homeless people are homeless because they want to be. She wants to find services for them, instead of tossing them off to the side.

She hopes for the City Council to become more in touch with the community.

Forum

At 6 p. m. Oc. t 8, the Oroville Exchange Club has a candidates forum planned on Zoom. The webinar number is 704-1776131.