Council candidates deliver last words prior to May 27 forum
This week, we offered each Mammoth Lakes Town Council candidate one more opportunity to either speak to you directly, or enlist someone on their behalf. 400 words. This is what we received, in the order it was received.
Deb Pierrel
Fellow Community Members,
Our election is less than 2 weeks away. I hope I have earned your vote. If you are still undecided, I encourage you to contact me with any questions you have, so I may still do so. You deserve to know who your candidates are, what they think and what they bring to the table.
I know we need change in our government culture and how we do business. We need to facilitate meetings and plan with the future in mind. We must work collaboratively, wisely and thoughtfully with an INNOVATIVE approach. INCLUSIVELY we can eliminate polarization and create middle ground consensus. We are all INVESTED and we need to guide our outcomes by the choices we make. We have a general plan. We have a main street plan. It is time to re-align our path and IMPLEMENT for our future. This is my area of expertise and strength. I am confident that together we can do it.
When I learned we had an opportunity to put something in the Sheet, I weighed my options: A strong and public business person vouching for me? A piece I wrote on my own? … but then I realized that while many of you have heard of me, know my business acumen or have observed my long time participation in our town on many levels, you may not know who I am as a private person. A friend. So I asked one of my many friends, who know me to the core, to tell you a little about the personal side of me. A perspective from someone who has seen me in my world.
Laurie Donnelly writes,
“Some people have the ability to make their niche in life; some create their niches which make the world a bit sweeter. Deb is one of these people and I am blessed to have been showered in her friendship for over 30 years. She embodies the heartfelt love of a true friend, giving undying loyalty; always there to hold my hand, listen, kick me in the pants, or be the wind in my wings, and receive the same! She is the one friend you know will be there at 3 in the morning, bring the house down celebrating successes, and sing reason into life’s challenges.
She passionately seeks to make the world a better place in her own unique perspective, yet is careful to inspire and empower those around her. Deb has a kind character with an uncanny ability to make decisions, inspire partnership and followership in her endeavors. She is not afraid to take responsibility, eat humble pie, and find a new approach.
Throughout our friendship, one of our favorite pastimes is to dream without limitations of a better life, happier world, and richer relationships – and then clearly carve the path to make it happen. Her bucket list has been written and conquered time and again. Her captivating smile and contagious laughter might initially grab your intention, but hold on as her intelligence and compassionate wit will have you believing anything is possible – and, actually with Deb, it is.”
Ken Murray
My name is Ken Murray. I’ve been the General Manager of the Chart House Restaurant since 2008. I would like to say “thank you” to the current Town Council members for the excellent service they have provided the past four years.
Why am I running for office? My answer is “It feels like the right time that I get more involved in the community, be a representative for the community, invest my time and commitment in making our Town/Community a better place to live and visit.” I have seen many changes in the community that are positive and want to be able to have input into the future.
What I support
Mammoth is moving in the right direction with our Tourism department to not only make us a “place to visit” once but to come back many times for all of the activities we have to offer year around. I did support the passage of the TBID (Tourism Business Improvement District) last year, an excellent start, but it’s just part of the equation.
Tourist Occupancy Tax (TOT) is a vital entity to the general fund for the town. I see that we need to re-evaluate the staffing levels in this area to be more efficient and effective.
We need to develop partnerships with not just Mammoth Mountain but all other communities in the area to not just market and promote the entire Eastern Sierras area.
I do support the Police Department and do see that public safety will be a question and how the “Town of Mammoth” can rebuild the staff within the Police Department from the recent budget cuts. In fact, public safety was one of the first items I said I would like to address if elected.
What I do not support
Rentals in the single family residential neighborhoods, as we all talk about “quality of life” and how illegal rentals in these areas affect that “quality of life.” We have more than enough rentals in areas that are designed for this. We just need to enforce this area.
Mammoth Lakes Recreation
As of this time the question I would ask is “Why is the current Town Council in such a rush to pass?” This is a decision that can ultimately effect funds from both Measure R and Measure U several years into the future. My opinion is that it should be researched until after the elections and have the new Town Council be part of that decision making.
I would make an excellent representative for you “residents” with my background.
I want to thank everyone who supports my views and please vote for who you feel will represent you in making Mammoth a better place to live and visit.
Elena Blomgren
I believe I can bring leadership and innovative ideas necessary to make Mammoth a better place for residents and help to improve economic stability for businesses. My experiences working in the Town Offices have given me an understanding of the Town’s capabilities and limitations as a local government. My successful business background has given me the skills necessary to collaborate, listen to others, and work to make good and informed decisions to achieve the best possible outcome for our community.
My vision for Mammoth
Economic Development
Work with the Chamber of Commerce to solicit diverse businesses to Mammoth while leveraging and supporting our current businesses.
Create a Town program for businesses, private parties, contractors and developers to strategize with them on proposed projects prior to plans being developed.
We need to strike the right balance between economic development and preserving our environment.
The DIF and building fees should be evaluated on a regular basis to support steady growth in our building community.
Quality of life
Work with Mammoth Lakes Housing and MLBOR to make purchasing single-family homes a reality for our year-round residents.
Work with business owners to increase year-round jobs to improve the quality of life for our residents.
Beautification
Implement an affordable version of the Main Street Improvement Project to create that “Wow” factor, and also continue to work toward a walk and bike friendly community. Gain authority over Highway 203 through town to slow down traffic and create a true Main Street.
Work with owners of blighted buildings to improve the overall image and beauty of our town.
Minimize fees for business owners who want to improve the exterior appearance of their buildings.
Work with owners of blighted buildings to improve the overall image and beauty of our town.
Minimize fees for business owners who want to improve the exterior appearance of their buildings.
Other important issues
Work with the County to create a cost-effective landfill, transfer station, and recycling program that would benefit all of the affected communities and would be in the best interest of our community.
I am not in favor of removing the prohibition on single-family homes at this time. We should assist current property owners to rehab the existing inventory, bringing them to a higher caliber. The Community’s input should be obtained and a professional study conducted before any final decisions are made on this important topic.
Improve our current business relationships with Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, Mammoth Community Water District, the Forest Service and Mono County.
Mammoth politics should be redefined; I pledge to work to get more community involvement in our local decision.
Cleland Hoff
Even though this will be my toughest undertaking yet, I am asking for your vote for Town Council on June 3rd. The time has come for someone who truly cares about the locals and the everyday struggles that come with living in such a funky area. I will serve without bullying, and give respect to all I work with and for. You are local, I will hear you roar. Whether you want to be involved, or if you just want to know you are in the right hands and stay out of politics, vote for me. I’ve got your back. Cleland Hoff for Town Council!
Colin Fernie
I am extremely excited about the potential to be able to serve our community. The local business knowledge I have gained as the owner of Black Tie Ski Rentals, my experience as a member and current Vice-Chair of the Planning and Economic Development Commission and my extensive familiarity with our peer resort competition make me a uniquely qualified candidate.
Protect our Natural Environment. It should almost go without saying that our primary goal as a community and as your representatives on Town Council is to protect our incredible natural environment. Our magnificent setting is the reason why we all love Mammoth; it is why we moved here and it is why our guests come to visit. The natural environment is our product. Our lifestyle and our economy depend on it. If we cannot preserve our product, then we cannot sell it. I will continue to uphold our established urban growth boundary, one of the wisest decisions ever made by our Town Council. I support alternate transportation of all types and will promote establishing a more pedestrian friendly community. Finally, I will work closely with our businesses and residents to become increasingly environmentally conscious.
Nurture a year-round economy. We cannot continue to attempt to sustain our economy on weekend drive traffic from Southern California alone. We need to attract destination travelers from around the country and across the globe. This shift will be a process that will require patience and some changes including: expanding our flight offerings, updating our commercial districts, diversifying our lodging options and amenity base and developing our remaining available land in a smart and deliberate manner.
Invest our public dollars wisely. The community has made its priorities clear by committing to tax measures to finance improved marketing, enhanced recreation/arts and culture, improved mobility/transportation, greater schools and affordable housing. Our goal as a council should be to provide the community with maximum tangible benefits for their dollars. This will be best achieved through effective leadership, transparency, accountability and open communication.
Promote innovative government. Our town needs to continue to explore how we can provide the highest level of service to our residents, even with tightening budget constraints. We have had recent success by exploring creative partnerships and outsourcing important non-core services to a variety of non-governmental organizations. Town government should primarily take care of public safety, public works, community development, municipal recreation and public finance. We need to re-focus our Town staff on these core services and establish a realistic set of expectations for their workload. We need to improve morale by providing the resources and staffing levels necessary to achieve these expectations. We also need to engage in continuous dialogue regarding our community goals and priorities.
Be sure to vote on June 3rd. A vote for Colin is a Vote for the Next Generation.
Shields Richardson
Mammoth is at a critical juncture in its history. After years of problems, lawsuits, and debacles, Mammoth is finally emerging from a long, dark night of largely self-inflicted wounds. At the same time, we are about to elect three out of five Council People for a new term. We cannot make the mistakes we have made in the past, there is no more room for error. In addition, this new real estate development cycle will bring highly experienced, motivated, and savvy developers to Mammoth. The Town will be hard pressed to bring the same level of negotiation and business skills to the table as these folks with their vast experience and their expensive lawyers. But these same people will bring much needed resources that will give Mammoth the opportunity to create the infrastructure that we desperately need to have Mammoth leapfrog into the front rank of destination tourist attractions. Then we can have the managerial and supervisorial job base that will allow parents to have real careers and raise their kids to take advantage of the opportunities that Mammoth offers, instead of having to leave town to find real employment at reasonable wages.
We desperately need someone with the qualifications to take on the developers with equal skill, and to get them to invest in Mammoth in a way that will benefit us all. We must have a terrific Council Person to deal with pressing issues such as solid waste, the Ormat development, MLR, single family rentals, our budget problems, public safety, and so on.
We need someone we can trust, someone without an agenda other than community benefit, someone passionate about this community and our environment, someone who is invested personally and professionally in seeing Mammoth prosper for all its citizens.
There is only one candidate with the background and experience to fill all of these critical requirements and that candidate is Shields Richardson. Shields has spent many years in Southern California creating, and expanding successful national enterprises that compete in the big world of high finance. Shields now lives in Mammoth, where he and his wife, Kathy, have created two successful businesses and he has two grown-up daughters that live here as well. Shields needs Mammoth to succeed for them, and we need Shields to make Mammoth succeed for us.
Please vote for Shields on Election Day.
