Candidates sound off on roads, growth

HOUSTON — Candidates were cordial and passionate Monday evening at the Mid-Valley Senior Center to open the first of a pair of Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman-sponsored political forums and debates.

The forum was for Mat-Su Borough Assembly and school board candidates and the debate for Houston City Council. Six of eight Houston candidates seeking three open spots were represented — Griz Smith, Natasha Rife, Paul Stout, Ruth Blanchard and Virgie Thompson answered questions prepared by the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman and from area residents. Not present were Ralph Buzard, the seat C incumbent, one of his opponents, Joseph Stanistreet, and Lance Wilson, who is running unopposed for seat D. Wilson had a prior commitment in Delta Junction facilitating a meeting for the U.S. Army, but sent a statement about his candidacy.

Borough candidates Mark Ewing and Cindy Bettine, both running unopposed for Mat-Su Borough Assembly, addressed the small but lively crowd of about two dozen. On the school board side, candidates Ole Larson, Brian Sullivan and Pat Purcell were also on hand. Not present was Myrl Thompson, who is running unopposed for seat G.

Wasilla mayor and city council candidates will debate beginning at 7 p.m. Sept. 29 at the Mulit-Use Sports Complex in Wasilla, prefaced by a candidate forum for Palmer City Council candidates.

The bulk of the time was dedicated to the Houston council. Of all the questions asked, one about roads got candidates in that race most worked up

Smith, who is running for Seat A, got the question first.

“All I can speak of is past performance,” he said.

That performance, he said, has been lousy on his road, which waits four to six days after every snowfall before it’s plowed. He said he’d like to see vast improvement.

The question then went to Paul Stout, the only sitting councilman at the table, who holds Seat B.

“We do need to work a lot on roads,” he said, detailing work already in progress looking into the problem. “We’re just not there yet and we ask your patience.”

Next up, Natasha Rife, running for Seat C, said she would like to see a change in the city’s winter road maintenance.

“I’ve heard a lot of complaints,” she said.

Ruth Blanchard, who is running for Seat B and hoping to return to the council after she was unseated in 2007, said she’d like to see work done to get a grader for the city, something Houston has tried, and failed, to do previously.

“I think it would be a great asset,” she said.

For her part, Virgie Thompson, running for Seat A, said she’d like to see someone appointed to oversee the city’s road maintenance contract.

“Not everyone has the luxury of a four-wheel drive,” she said.

Another question that drew responses from every candidate was about industry and what type of development is good for Houston.

Stout said the question is somewhat tricky. He pointed out that Houston is pretty well divided and any plan for development should draw from the city’s comprehensive plan and be supported by the city as a whole.

“There are a lot of people in Houston who’d like to see it stay the way it is and a lot who’d like to see it progress,” he said.

Rife would count herself among the former, saying she’d like the city to remain a residential community, but some light development would be nice — a gas station, for instance, would be a good addition.

Blanchard put herself into the latter category.

“I do think that Houston will stagnate if we don’t bring industry to our town,” she said, adding industry should be the kind that doesn’t spoil the area. An example would be recreational-type businesses catering to visitors.

For her part, Thompson advocated supporting local businesses to make sure they stay in town.

“I buy where I live as much as I can,” she said.

Smith chose to remain vague. Noting that every building needs a foundation, he said without offering further explication that, “I would like to congratulate the current council for trying extremely hard to build a good foundation.”

During the candidates’ forum, Bettine used her time to talk about a slate of road bonds the Borough Assembly has placed before voters on the upcoming ballot, saying that a lot of the road projects — Vine Road and Seldon Road, for instance — will have impacts on Houston. Bettine urged Houston residents to take a good hard look at the proposition.

Ewing spent his allotted time talking about planning for a time in the Borough when state money isn’t flowing as freely as it is now. He advocated focusing on bolstering the Borough’s tourism industry, saying, “Let’s develop a renewable industry.”

On the school board side, Purcell spoke first, saying she felt extracurricular programs are important and that local schools face challenges when it comes to rapid growth in the Valley, which leads to overcrowding.

“I believe that my knowledge and experience are extremely important in keeping continuity,” Purcell, an incumbent, said.

R. Ole Larson, her opponent in the race, also stressed the importance of extracurricular and after-school activities. He said he’d like to see businesses partner with the district, and called for an expanded summer school program and a three- to five-year budgeting plan.

A former corrections officer, Larson said, “Too many children are cast aside because they’re not doing well in school and they end up being educated in the correctional system.”

Sullivan said he’d like to bring his varied experience — as a military officer, a former Washington state legislator, and a lawyer — to the board.

“I think I would be the only attorney on the school board, so don’t hold that against me,” he said.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.