INCUMBENTS RUN
on record challengers vow more business
BRAWLEY — Two open seats for the city council will see incumbents run against two opponents who affirm their vision could boost commerce. Mayor Sam Couchman and Mayor Pro Tem Helen Noriega are facing Luke Hamby, building contractor/remodeler and Ramon Castro, certified journeyman electrician.
Couchman maintained he knows the value of private and public sectors. He ran a business, Signal Mountain Outfitters, in which he was a federal licensed fire arms and accessories dealer, and for 23 years directed the Imperial County Workforce Development & Veterans Services.
“I enjoy interacting with people and we dealt with federal, state and county governments and I know how to balance a budget,” said Couchman.
He added, he wants to repair parks and rec centers and the library. “We know the Main Street area needs upgrades and when we took it over from Caltrans, we had funding set aside, we’re just waiting to complete the repairs to underground infrastructure, it’s all a matter of timing,” he said.
Luke Hamby noted, as a contractor he mostly does remodeling, taking on projects that have declined and sprucing them up to give them new life.
“I’ve seen a number buildings in downtown that have languished for years and the parks throughout the city could use greening up,” he said. “In general, there’s a perception that the city is not as business friendly as it should be. I know the council has a sense of these issues, but it has not been as fruitful as it could be. It sometimes takes a fresh perspective to make the changes needed.”
Hamby would focus on the Utility Users Tax and he will cut waste rather than extend a tax every four years. “I don’t know if the idea of projecting looming layoffs is the best way to sway voters for a tax that permanently raises the cost of utilities.”
Growing up on the east side of Brawley, Ramon Castro knew it was a challenging area where merchants were targets of graffiti. But while still a teen, Castro helped organize graffiti abatement and restore the area. Castro served in the U.S. Marine Corps, 1996-2003, and was named the 2015 Veteran of the Year by Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia. He the current president of the city of Brawley Veteran’s Honor Wall Committee. “It’s difficult to balance family, work and community,” he said. “When I ran for city council before I came up a couple of hundred votes short, I thought maybe I could try again. I realize I can still do so much more for my community.”
Contributing to restoration of Alyce Gereaux Park has been a highlight of Mayor Pro Tem Noriega’s career.
“I also helped bring back lights to the Plaza and this brings the holiday spirit to Brawley,” said Noriega. “I also helped families that were displaced from the Brawley Trailer Park and got a couple of county supervisors that guided them to appropriate organizations to help them.”
Noriega has served on the Council since 2013. She was raised here and is a graduate of Imperial Valley College. She is a supporter of the Users Utility Tax. The tax has been in place since 1991 and the city cannot do without it, now.
“Because I’ve lived here all my life, I know a bit more about the city,” she said. “I will always be fair, firm, friendly, but most of all, honest.”