Meet your Bishop Council Candidates

This is Part 2 of the Bishop City Council candidate profiles. Candidates include Current City Mayor Jim Ellis and Councilman Keith Glidewell, as well as former Bishop Police Chief Joe Pecsi, businesswoman Karen Schwartz, co-owner of Sage to Summit, and Acupuncturist Howard Wu. Here candidates answer questions 3 and 4, as well as additional questions from the audience.

At the Oct. 9 Candidate Forum, Council-hopefuls were asked to answer four questions. The final two: What are your thoughts on asking the Bishop residents to pass an additional Transient Use Tax (TUT) for the City? and Should Bishop continue to operate its own police department or contract with the County Sheriff?

Ellis said that the idea for a half percent increase to TUT first came up during budget workshops. While he was in favor of it then, he later changed his mind. “In the short term, I do not see it being needed,” he said. “There are other ways to offset rising costs.”

Wu said he would support an increase in the TUT, but only “if it is needed to keep essential services.”

Schwartz was opposed to the TUT increase. She called it a “short-term solution to generate more revenue.” Small businesses have a hard time competing with online businesses already, she noted. “Online, you get an 8 percent sales tax discount,” she said. “Increasing the city tax would only compound the issue.”

Glidewell said he doesn’t support the tax increase because, “Without a long-term plan, it’s like asking taxpayers to write a check for $500,000 to a friend who doesn’t know how they are planning to use the money … and whose finances are likely to get worse.”

“I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of paying taxes,” was Pecsi’s response. “No. New. Taxes.”

When it came to the proposal to contract with the Inyo County Sheriff’s Department and eliminate the Bishop Police Department to trim the city budget, all but one of the candidates said they would not support it.

Only Glidewell was tentatively in favor. “Security is very important to the City,” he said. “We do not want to put the City at risk. However, with 60 percent of the General Fund cost going to the Police Department, and in light of the budgetary problems, we have to ask, ‘What can we afford to have?’ … We need to keep our options open …As a councilmember, I have to remain objective on and evaluate all the possibilities.”

After a 15 minute break to allow the audience to submit questions of their own, each candidate was given one minute to answer these additional questions.

The first question from the audience was, “Can you describe your method of receiving public input, especially from residents who do not attend City Council meetings?”

Ellis said that the best way is to get out in the community. “I am very approachable and I am always willing to discuss city issues with residents and listen to what they have to say,” he said.

“My door is generally open,” Wu said. “Please tell me what you think. The stranger the idea, the better.”

Pecsi noted that he is involved in a number of local service organizations. “Everyone has an opinion … but, if elected,” he says, “I will base my decisions on what the public has to say and not just on my opinion.”

Candidates were asked about the 2 percent Bishop Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) assessment on local motels and their opinion on its benefit.

All candidates were in favor of the TBID.

Ellis said that the TBID was not forced on the motels, they agreed to it, and it bolsters their own businesses. “Will other businesses benefit?” asked Ellis. Yes, according to him, “All businesses will be part of the success.”

Glidewell felt that Tawni Thomson of the Chamber of Commerce wisely limited the TBID to only motels. “It will greatly increase the Chamber budget and increase their ability and capability to promote the area,” he said.

The next question was about candidates’ opinions of the ATV Adventure Trails of the Eastern Sierra Project, which aims to allow off-highway vehicles access to some city streets.

Council candidates offered a mixture of support and understanding for the concerns of residents about noise and safety issues, as well as impact to property values.

Ellis, Glidewell, and Pecsi agreed the decision regarding the ATV Adventure Trails rests with the County.

Wu agreed with some residents that it is ridiculous to have to trailer an ATV to go ride on a dirt road two miles away. However, he noted that the ATV Adventure Trails might still have to make compromises.

“I think Adventure Trails is a great idea and will bring more tourism to our area,” said Schwartz. Yet she added that she was sympathetic to residents who would be affected, saying, “We should evaluate the impacts to Bishop’s quality of life and to tourism.” In the end, she felt confident that a solution could be found.

Finally, candidates were asked about their vision for Bishop’s economic development.

Schwartz said there are ways to make the city look more attractive to visitors, with more flowers and signs directing motorists to downtown parking.

Ellis said the key is the redevelopment of downtown Bishop, and that he would like to see the City partner with businessowners to provide low-interest or short-term loans to make downtown more attractive.

Glidewell said what the City is already doing well with the Warren Street Improvement Project and free public Wi-Fi connections in downtown. “What does the community want and what will it tolerate or accept?” he asked.

Voters will have the opportunity to vote their support for their favored candidate for City Council on Nov. 4.