Mayoral candidates take center stage
Dixonites got to hear from three of the four candidates running for mayor at a virtual forum Thursday.
Hosted by the Facebook group “Dixon 411-Political” in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce, three of the four candidates for Dixon’s top elected position took part: Vice Mayor Steve Bird, incumbent Mayor Thom Bogue and former Councilmember Ted Hickman. The fourth candidate in the race, Councilmember Devon Minnema, declined to participate and instead opted to host a video Q&A on his Facebook page that same evening.
The forum was moderated by Chamber member Herb Cross and held in a room at Ramtown Karate while being livestreamed over Facebook. The first question asked the candidates what they saw as the biggest issues facing Dixon and how they would address them. Bird said a prior
ity was helping the city recover from the impacts of COVID-19 and supporting existing businesses.
“It’s most important to help our current businesses and folks get back on their feet,” he said. “Our city leaders must support this economic growth that has potentially come here.”
Hickman said it was important to address the influx of new families that would be coming in with the completion of the Homestead development.
“We have to plan how we’re going to get the traffic in and out,” he said. “West A Street has always been (the) main thoroughfare.”
Bogue agreed with Bird that addressing the impacts of the coronavirus was key, and he met with the mayors of other cities for a potential plan to bring back to the city council to figure out how to safely reopen. He also felt maintenance, particularly the city’s sidewalks and bushes, was a major issue as was addressing the city’s water issues.
“What we can do about it, and it’s something I’ve provided to our engineering department, is to provide documentation to maybe think about receiving wells, just think about other ways to address it to reduce the cost,” he said. “Right now, it seems insurmountable but give it some time (and) a little better research, we’ll find a way to lower the costs.”
Another question asked about how to help small businesses that have struggled during the pandemic. Bogue said one of the frustrations was that whenever the city had a plan in place, new state and federal guidelines would be issued. He felt it was important to develop a plan that would allow social distancing inside restaurants.
“I believe we can set up some restrictions that would allow all businesses to open up,” he said. “We also have to be very careful in how we do it. While COVID is a very contagious disease, from what I understand it changes over time. While many might not take it seriously, from the ones I’ve heard of, it isn’t something you want to catch.”
Hickman said that retaining businesses has been a struggle since even before the pandemic.
“You can’t force people to do business anywhere,” he said. “You can give incentives, but you can’t force them. They have to like what they see when they get there, they have to want to come back and you have to welcome them back.”
Cross asked the candidates about a topic that many city council contenders have pledged to address: The completion of the Parkway Boulevard overpass. The project, which has been planned for more than 20 years, seeks to extend Parkway Boulevard from its current endpoint and Valley Glen Drive and connect to Pitt School Road with an overpass above the railroad tracks to create easier travel for emergency vehicles and greater access to Dixon High School.
Bogue said there was a misconception that development in the area alone would pay for the project.
“It just isn’t true,” he said. “The reality is it’s a massive project, and it’s going to require more funding from multiple areas of the development.”
Bogue said he has talked to Solano Transportation Authority, whose board he sits on with other Solano County mayors, to continue to request grants to offset the costs of the overpass and make the area a safety corridor to allow for more state funding.
Bird said the city had executed an agreement with Union Pacific railroad to acquire the right of way and that the $686,000 borrowed from the downtown overpass was being paid back to the Parkway overpass fund at the rate of approximately $75,000 per year.
“There’s about $160-plus still remaining in that loan, and it’s paying back in interest,” he said.
Hickman felt that when the project came about, city staff and the council “screwed it up” by not properly planning the project.
“If I were still on the council, every single council meeting, I’d be sending letters to our state and our federal elected officials saying, ‘You’re letting us hang out to dry here,’” he said.
Cross asked the candidates how they would respond to the increase in crimes involving drugs or weapons. Hickman said the goal should be to refund, not defund, the Police Department.
Cross also posed questions addressed to individual candidates by members of the community that touched upon their personal demeanors. Bogue was asked about posts on his personal Facebook page that were seen as “far right” and critical of the Democratic Party and how he was able to represent all residents in town with 51 percent registered Democrats.
Bogue said the posts were about national politics and he did not bring partisan politics into play when making decisions on Dixon.
“Just because a person is elected to a position, no, they do not give up their freedom of speech,” he said. “I have made it clear that when I’m speaking, unless I am speaking as the mayor, I”m speaking as a person on my own personal beliefs on things.”
Bird was questioned on accusations of often being argumentative with and dismissive of citizens addressing the council. He said he does not speak as much as his colleagues, but he always listens.
“I have a demeanor about me from 36 years of law enforcement that I still carry a little bit of, and that’s based on being out in a dangerous situation and being in control and having a demeanor that actually saves your life,” he said. “For those individuals that have ever taken the time to have a one-on-one conversation with me or meet with me outside of the chamber, I think there is a difference in how I may come across.”
Hickman was pressed on a column he wrote for the Independent Voice in 2018 when he was vice mayor where he called for a Straight Pride Month to counterbalance LGBT Pride Month and used terms disparaging to the LGBTQ community. The column drew national attention and led to widespread protests at ensuing council meetings.
Hickman asked how he would be able to fairly consider all views of Dixon residents. He said he had always done it and that the column had nothing to do with his work on the city council.
“There’s not one person since 1960 in this town that asked me for help that I did not help,” he said.
A question submitted by Brianna Boyd asked the candidates what set them apart from their opponents. Hickman cited his historical background and experience of serving 16 years on the council in four different decades, Bird cited his experience on professional boards and committees and the ability to problem-solve, and Bogue said he had experienced several challenges that have given him care and concern for others.
“I don’t run against people,” he said. “I run for a position of representation. When you ask what is the difference between me and the other opponents, only you can really decide that.”
The entire forum can be viewed at Facebook.com/ groups/dixon411political.
Another forum will be held at 7 p.m. Monday with the District 4 Dixon City Council candidates: Jerry Castanon, Don Hendershot, and Logan Legg. It can be viewed at us04web.zoom. us/j/4331239750?pwd=TG9 RUWdnOGlPd3ozNXEycn IrczZKUT09.