Candidates for mayor and city council have participated in two community forums in the past two weeks, giving voters a chance to ask questions and to offer their views on why they should be elected to serve.
The Feb. 3 Candidate Forum was hosted by the Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau. All but one candidate participated in that forum. Joe Sampson, a candidate for a four-year council seat was there to make an opening statement but declined to stay for the remainder of the forum.
Sampson spoke of his work on the council in a prior term, noting the desalination plant and the artificial turf at Machado Field as two of the projects he helped get done during his earlier term in office. However, he complained about the questions not being made available prior to the forum among his reasons for “respectfully excusing myself from this forum,” and left before the question and answer session. Sampson did state that finding a solution to sand erosion on the beaches would be his first priority if elected.
“I think [a solution] needs to be implemented as soon as possible and that’s the first thing I’m going to work on,” Sampson said.
The rest of the candidates offered opening remarks about their ideas and experience that would make them effective council members. Steve Hoefs and Anni Marshall are running for mayor. Each has council experience, as both currently sit on council, Marshall as mayor.
“Even though we have some very difficult issues, I take them very seriously,” Marshall said.
Hoefs noted, as did other candidates, that the council needs to be more forward thinking in finding solutions for issues before they become major problems.
“I want to be proactive and not reactive,” Hoefs said.
Carl Johnson and Michael Ponce are vying for the two-year term on the council, created by the resignation of Richard Hernandez. Johnson, a first-time candidate, recently started Catalina Connect, a service to provide medical cannabis for island resident who have a prescription. His ability to fill needs for the island is one of the reasons he is a solid candidate, he said.
“I feel I have a passion and drive and an out-of-the-box thinking that the city needs,” Johnson said.
Ponce, who was part of the Catalina Island Medical Center Board, that recently set plans in motion for a new hospital, said communication will be key in the council moving forward on issues.
“[I’m running] Not because I have the answers to the issues that are facing the city of Avalon, but because I want to work with and open mind and an unbiased attitude to find solutions to those issues,” Ponce said.
The four other candidates for the four-year term are Lisa Lavelle, Oley Olsen (incumbent), Yesenia Sarahi De La Rosa and Yolanda “Yoli” Montano. Olsen, who is retired, said that ability to work with others on the council has made him an effective council member.
“Nobody gets something done on this city council by themselves, it takes two other people,” Olsen said.
Lavelle has served with youth groups on Catalina, as well as the Chamber and city’s Planning Commission. She said the city needs more long-term planning and an ability to work with neighboring organizations, as well as island non-profits to find ways to get things done.
“We tend to be very reactionary and I feel like we need to start being more proactive in our approach to the decisions that we are making,” Lavelle said.
De La Rosa said her focus will be on resident and workers on the island. She noted that workers are the backbone of the community and they need support in order to thrive. She said that it benefits all residents and businesses if they feel supported.
“If your workers feel like they are being appreciated, then your business will thrive,” De La Rosa said.
Montano, a current Planning Commissioner, has spent her life on the island working in hospitality and volunteering with civic organizations. She said the biggest part of the job of a council member is making sure the voices of residents are heard and injecting those concerns into the council decisions.
“I have the ability to work with our community and our staff and members of council,” Montano said.
One of the questions posed to candidates was “what, if any, connections do you have to the Catalina Island Company, that might create conflicts of interest. All of the candidates essentially said they had none.
Hoefs noted that one of his businesses rents from the Island company, but that it does not create conflict. Marshall answered the question with one word, “no,” she said.
Lavelle said that she has agreed and disagreed with many of the decisions that the Island Company has made, but that she would not feel conflicted in dealing with them.
“I would apply the same rules to them as any other business,” Lavelle said.
Olsen said that he has no conflict as he is retired from working for the Island Company for more than 30 years. He also noted that as an advantage as he understands the mentality of the company.”
De La Rosa stated she had no conflicts, but also reiterated her position as a voice for the people of the island.
“Any decision I do make is for the voice of the people,” De La Rosa said.
Montano said she works with several businesses on the island, but that it does not create conflict with the Island Company. She also noted that she would not prejudge any issue based on their connections to anything.
“I give everybody a fair hearing,” Montano said.
Johnson said that neither he, nor his business has conflicts with the Island Company. He also noted that he would look to address each issue with an open mind.
“I will be an independent voice of reason,” Johnson said.
Ponce said neither he or any members of his family have connection to the Island Company. In a later question he also referenced the Island Company and their donation of land for the new hospital. He said they do work with the city and residents when they can and said the company gets a bad rap, at times. He said they are not the evil people residents sometimes think they are. He also noted that open lines of communication are vital in all dealing for the council.
“We have to all play nice,” Ponce said.
Voters will vote for one candidate from each race on March 3. For anyone not registered to vote, the last day to register for this election is Feb. 18. Register to vote at lavote.net Call 800-815-2666 to verify registration status.
Both candidate forums can be viewed on the City of Avalon website (www.cityofavalon.com), by clicking on the City Council meeting video option and then the General Municipal Election dropdown.
