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Five Lemoore residents to challenge for two seats on Lemoore City Council
As service to our readers, The Leader has developed a list of questions dealing with current issues and asked councilmembers to respond, which they did. The Leader hopes that their responses will help the public made a more informed decision as to who would best represent them in City Hall.
There are five persons running for two seats on the council, including one incumbent and one appointed member. Willard Rodarmel is seeking a third term while newcomer Ray Madrigal, who was recently appointed to fill the seat vacated by John Gordon, is vying for his first full term. The other candidates are Michael Montalbano, Holly Blair and Jeff Chedester.
Willard Rodarmel
Rodarmel married in 1975, to Barbara Maciel (from Laton) and they have two sons and two great daughters with six grandkids, James and Kristin in Fresno and Paul and Holly here in Lemoore.
Rodarmel has worked many jobs, including when he went to work for Candlewick Yarns 1973 as a shop assistant, then working his way into management as a shift supervisor, department superintendent and finally plant engineer.
He also worked for Zacky Farms in 1990 as a maintenance superintendent at the Fresno chicken-processing plant. In 1993 he and wife Barbara bought Lemoore Recycling, which they continue to operate today.
He and his family have resided in Lemoore the last 52 years.
Why are you running for Lemoore City Council?
I let a lot of people talk me into it. I want to finish out a few items we are working on.
In a relatively short response, list or describe your qualifications to serve as a member of the Lemoore City Council.
Having served two terms on Lemoore Planning Commission and now coming to the end of my second team on the Council.
What is your vision for Lemoore?
For us to be more than a bedroom community.
What is the first thing you would seek to change if elected?
Whatever it takes to get more retail here to Lemoore, along with more jobs.
How can Lemoore attract industrial and retail development? Do you favor both, or one or the other?
We are working on trying to be more business friendly; I feel we need both retail and Industrial. We need to slow down the tax dollars we are losing to our surrounding communities.
Do you feel Lemoore is a safe community? Why or why not?
Yes I feel we have a safe community, with one of the best police and fire department for our city. I feel we lucked out with getting Chief Smith for our police department. The day we announced he would be our new chief I had officers from surrounding departments telling me they wish they had him.
What would you do to insure that the golf course remains a valuable part of the city’s recreational needs? Or do you favor getting rid of it.
I want us to keep the golf course and if it was not for the loan payments it would support itself. I think we can find ways to keep it, but it just may be tough for a few years.
What in your opinion is the most important issue facing Lemoore today?
The leakage or loss of sale tax dollars with our citizens having to leave Lemoore to shop and or to eat out. Need to watch our water usage with us being in our third year of drought. Will also need to address a waste-water treatment plant before long.
Did you or would you have supported the removal of the mayor from his post? And why or why not?
Did not answer the question
Ray Madrigal
Madrigal has four sisters and one brother, all of whom went through the Lemoore public school system. His mother still resides in the home they grew up in. He has three children adult children, and all attended local schools. One of his children still lives in Lemoore.
Madrigal earned an AS in Administration of Justice from West Hills Community College and BA in Criminal Justice Administration from Columbia College.
He was a member of the CHP for 30 years and was assigned to various locations throughout California. He served in patrol operations as well as in administrative and specialized investigations assignments. The most valuable and rewarding experience he says he gained was as a Captain and Area Commander in the Ukiah Area office (Mendocino County). He also worked in the Mendocino County Planning Department for two years overseeing the Code Enforcement Department. Currently he is a Business Partner in Human Resources with the County of Tulare Health and Human Services Agency. He says his professional life has given him the opportunity to live in various parts of the state – both metropolitan as well as rural areas. He states that - in his opinion - there is no better place to live than in Lemoore, and he was fortunate to have had the choice to settle in any part of California, but decided to come back to Lemoore and spend the rest of his life here.
He is also a charter member of the Kings Lions Club and has served for many years as a youth sports coach and was also a member of board of directors for Lemoore Little League and Babe Ruth League. He enjoys traveling and playing golf. He’s been married to his wife Tammi for 29 years.
Why are you running for Lemoore City Council?
I am running for City Council out of devotion and sense of public service. I have been involved in public service in my professional life for over 30 years. I have come to understand that serving people is my life purpose. I enjoy helping people and making their lives better. The administrative and governmental affairs experience I have gained during my time with the CHP as a commander provides me with a solid foundation upon which to draw for the types of issues and decisions that face the city council.
In a relatively short response, list or describe your qualifications to serve as a member of the Lemoore City Council.
- Lifelong member of the Lemoore community
- 30 years’ experience in the CHP, many of those in positions of leadership and increasing responsibility. My last duty station I was the Area commander with in the CHP Ukiah Area (Mendocino County).
- Two years Mendocino County Planning Department – Overseeing Code Enforcement Department
- 1.5 years Human Resources experience County of Tulare - Business Partner
What is your vision for Lemoore?
I would like Lemoore to be a world class, diverse, vibrant, and economically-sound city. Progressive and forward looking with policies that are centered on home and family, where people feel safe and enjoy their neighborhoods. Last but not least a city where people are comfortable accessing their city government and its officials.
What is the first thing you would seek to change if elected?
I would like to restore the community’s faith and trust in its council because of the way we as council members conduct ourselves. I will accomplish this through an understanding that our actions as members of the council are a reflection of the city, and they play a huge part in how we are viewed externally and internally. If we are to grow economically and from a business perspective, we have to send a message first that we serve this community as its representatives.
How can Lemoore attract industrial and retail development? Do you favor both, or one or the other?
I believe it is important to continue a partnership with our local experts (EDC) who are embedded in this community and have a demonstrated history of knowing how to attract business and industrial opportunities. They also have established relationships in the industry and know Lemoore’s situation from a local perspective. I think we are situated well now with the Navy’s decision to bring in the F-35 tactical fighter. That will create new opportunities for retail development which we need to invest in by seeking out new expert relationships and those we have with existing city staff. The most important thing to understand it that it will take a multi-pronged approach that will require an investment.
Do you feel Lemoore is a safe community? Why or why not?
I have lived here all my life and have never felt unsafe. My 30 years in law enforcement give me a unique and valuable perspective that the council needs in order to evaluate questions of public safety and quality of life. We have a new police chief who has demonstrated ability to lead the police department and make decisions that will develop and maintain the most professional police force we can. I want to create policies to support those endeavors and let the members of the community know that public safety is my number one priority - and always will be.
What would you do to insure that the golf course remains a valuable part of the city’s recreational needs? Or do you favor getting rid of it?
I see the golf course as an asset to be protected and valued like any other city asset. I would like to see a new perspective developed in the council that understands the long-term value our golf course can provide. I believe we have a very capable golf course manager who knows the golf industry and the business side as well. We need to support his efforts as much as possible to continue to make the golf course an asset and recognize that with the additional navy personnel coming to Lemoore, there is an opportunity for success at the course to grow exponentially. The course not only serves as a recreational opportunity for our residents but also attracts retail sales tax from outside our community.
What in your opinion is the most important issue facing Lemoore today?
How to manage the growth opportunities the LNAS presents. We need to make good planning decisions to grow smart and attract the potential new members of this community. That is how we can stop the “leakage” that people speak of when it comes to retail sales. Lemoore has always been a great partner with the Navy and many people I know have remained in Lemoore once their navy service ended. That says a lot about the relationship we have with the Navy. I will do my best to establish strong relationships with the decision makers from our local naval installation. That has been a strength I have developed and honed over my personal and professional career which will use to the benefit of the City.
Did you or would you have supported the removal of the mayor from his post? And why or why not?
Yes, I did support it. I believe the 4-0 vote by my fellow council members in favor of that action sent a message that it was the right thing to do. It was a very difficult decision but what I have come to know through members of this community – it was what they wanted. We have to hold ourselves accountable as members of the council as to the image and message we want to present. In a representative democracy such as our system of government the ultimate decision maker on issues such as this will be at the ballot box. But in the interim, we as a council decided to use the process available to us to speak for our constituents.
Jeff Chedester
In 1981, Jeff graduated from Redwood High School in Visalia. While attending Redwood High, he was a four-year varsity wrestler and a valley champion in 1981. He attended College of the Sequoias in Visalia for his freshman year of college.
While at COS, he won the 118-pound state-wrestling championship. In the fall of 1982 he was recruited to the Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo wrestling team, where he wrestled for two years. After his wrestling career, he pledged Alpha Gamma Rho Agriculture Fraternity in spring 1984. He graduated from Cal Poly in the spring of 1987 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture Business.
In the summer of 1987, Jeff started his agriculture career as a fresh produce broker in the Central San Joaquin Valley. In February 1989, Jeff married his wife of twenty-five years, Tina Zanola Chedester, a life-long resident of Lemoore. Jeff and Tina have six children, two in community college and four that currently attend Lemoore High School.
He and his family have resided in Lemoore for nineteen years. In the fall of 1996, he left the fresh produce business to work for his in-laws agriculture business, Zanola’s Grain & Seed Co. He has been the sales manager there for 18 years. Jeff continues Zanola’s reputation and success with character and integrity. He and his family have attended South Valley Community Church in Lemoore on a regular basis for over ten years. Through the past decades, Jeff and Tina have coached many city league sports teams including, T-Ball, soccer, softball and Little League.
Why are you running for Lemoore City Council?
I have a vested interest in the community of Lemoore. We have 6 children, 4 of whom attend Lemoore High School. I have served the local farming community for the last 18 years by working with my brother-in-law, Gary Zanola, at Zanola’s Grain & Seed Co. My goal is to add a positive attitude and influence to the council from a position with no agenda or priorities, other than to see the city and the people of Lemoore prosper.
In a relatively short response, list or describe your qualifications to serve as a member of the Lemoore City Council.
I am a Cal Poly graduate, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture Business. I have 27 years in the Ag Business industry, 19 of which I have served our local farming community. My wife, Tina Zanola Chedester, and I have been married for 25 years and have raised six wonderful and respectful children. I have established relationships, both personally and professionally, that enable me to communicate honestly and fairly to all citizens of Lemoore.
What is your vision for Lemoore?
I would like to increase retail development and reduce leakage of sales tax revenues to nearby cities.
What is the first thing you would seek to change if elected?
I would like to increase city activities for families and children.
How can Lemoore attract industrial and retail development? Do you favor both, or one or the other?
The council needs to develop an incentive program for development in our city. There needs to be a balance between retail and industrial growth. I favor retail growth to assist our city with the growth we will experience in the next few years. The addition of the F-35C squadron to our air base was recently confirmed and we need to prepare for this growth.
Do you feel Lemoore is a safe community? Why or why not?
The Chief of Police is doing a great job and has a great team of officers. The Lemoore Police Department and the Lemoore Volunteer Fire Department should be a priority to the city council.
What would you do to insure that the golf course remains a valuable part of the city’s recreational needs? Or do you favor getting rid of it?
The Lemoore Golf Course is a true and beautiful asset to our community. I would support a plan to attract additional recreation activities to the site. If we offer multiple streams of income on the site, we could increase city sales tax revenues and attract a more diverse clientele from our community.
What in your opinion is the most important issue facing Lemoore today?
Preparing for future growth will allow our city to grow and thrive.
Did you or would you have supported the removal of the mayor from his post? And why or why not?
It depends, from the outside looking in, having our new Mayor Lois Wynne, may hopefully stabilize and secure the citizens confidence in our cities leadership.
Holly Blair
Blair holds a B.A. and M.A. in English Literature from Fresno State and recently served as an English instructor at West Hills Community College. She has extensive marketing experience and has worked closely with writers, artists and musicians throughout California. Additionally, she owns and operates a website featuring her writing. Some of her articles have been published in Joaquín magazine.
Holly has been married to Paul Blair for nearly 12 years and they have five children together: Wesley, Christian, Ava, Sean-Peter and Mia. The Blair family also includes their dog, Shelley.
Blair is socially active and can often be seen volunteering throughout the community; participating in the Fast for Families event with Dolores Huerta, helping during the Kings River clean-up with the Kiwanis Club, serving breakfast to those in need with Hunger Free America and handing out turkeys during “Operation Gobble” before Thanksgiving. Holly also serves as an Executive Board member within the CYD Latino Caucus. More recently, Blair has become involved in the Responsible Athlete’s Program (RAP) of her childhood town of Avenal. Blair also volunteers at St. Peter’s Church in Lemoore, editing the bulletin each week.
Why are you running for Lemoore City Council?
I am young, energetic and deeply passionate about the issues that face our community. I have a sincere heart to serve our community in any way possible. I am running for Lemoore City Council because I care about the future of our community and I care about the people of Lemoore. I am running too, because I feel we need an elected leader who listens to the community, is easily accessible, and who votes based on what is best for everyone in the community, not just for their buddies. I grew up in Kings County, without a lot of money. I had to struggle to work my way through college and graduate school, all while raising a family. I know the value of a hard day’s work and I know what it is like to come home and balance a family budget. I expect no less from our elected leaders. I want to ensure that our council allocates city funding in the most efficient and beneficial manner to all Lemoore citizens, not just for a connected few.
In a relatively short response, list or describe your qualifications to serve as a member of the Lemoore City Council.
My family and my education have always been important to me. That is why, after I graduated from Fresno State with a Bachelor’s degree, I went on to graduate school and received a Master’s degree in English, awarded with distinction for academic excellence, from Fresno State. I did this, while married and raising five young children. I know what it is like to work hard to reach a goal and if elected, you can be sure I will work hard every day for the citizens of Lemoore. I also believe that my writing skills can be a valuable asset to the Lemoore City Council. It opens up a world of possibilities for the City. I offer to use my writing skills to write grants for Lemoore to maximize our fair share of county, state and federal resources. I offer my unique blend of marketing experience and technological knowledge to pursue new business opportunities for Lemoore and to better engage local organizations in city activities.
I would never have even gone to college if it were not for my community stepping up and helping me secure scholarships when I first started college. Veterans, seniors, teachers, some Rotary members and individuals in my church all offered to help me get to college. Some simply wrote checks for a math book here or an English book there. I recognize that my success has a lot to do with others who helped me along the way. I guess that is what put the fire in me to give back to the community. I still volunteer throughout the community regularly. As a youth, I received awards from The American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars for community service. Today, I continue that passion for community service by volunteering on clean-up days, handing out food to those in need with various charities in the area, and by editing the bulletin for my church each week. I have a sincere heart to serve my community; which I feel is the most important qualification there is.
What is your vision for Lemoore?
While I appreciate the small town feel of Lemoore, I definitely see an opportunity for growth. We are situated perfectly between two major freeways (198 and 41). We are in the perfect situation to be a “hub of activity” in the Valley. I see an opportunity for new jobs to come to the area in a few ways.
First, I see more job opportunity in the educational arena. With a new state law allowing community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees, I see Lemoore being a center for new educational opportunity. I see working with the local colleges, perhaps partnering with vocational training programs or hosting job fairs, to attract qualified talent to the area.
I see a continued strong relationship with the Naval Air Station as well. Lemoore NAS will be the new home of the F-35C Joint Fighter aircraft. This is going to bring a lot of economic opportunity to the area. It is important to work with the base in attracting navy personnel to shop and enjoy recreational activity in the city. I also want to work with Veteran’s in the area in finding job training opportunity wherever possible.
Of course, I do not want to forget the needs of seniors in the community as well. As Lemoore grows, I want to make sure we keep a vigorous senior center and offer as many services as possible to our senior population.
I also see expanding our “Friday Night Market Place.” I love that we have a night dedicated to showcasing local business in the area. I believe we can do even more. We can move the beer drinkers into one area with lots of music and festivities, but also have an area dedicated to more family-friendly events. We can attract the youth with free Wi-Fi access and perhaps a separate area that caters to the type of music and fashion they enjoy.
I am really excited by all the wonderful possibilities that Lemoore has to offer!.I am energized by this election and I can’t wait to share more of my ideas with the City Council.
What is the first thing you would seek to change if elected?
I am not a part of the “good ‘ol boys” network. Yes, I said it. It needs to be said. For too long, our city has had leaders step into office who, after the election, forget the very people who voted for them in the first place. I feel it’s time we elect a leader who will stand for what the people want, not for just what their friends want.
The first thing I will change, if elected, is the atmosphere within the council and the relationship we have with the public. I want a respectful council. I want full accountability of our actions to the public and I want transparency within our budget. No more antagonizing those who come to speak at the council meetings. No more name calling our constituents. If someone has a question about where funds are being allocated or where something is on our agenda, we should have an answer for them and that answer needs to be stated in a respectful manner. Period.
How can Lemoore attract industrial and retail development? Do you favor both, or one or the other?
I disagree with those on the current council who decided to dissolve the planning department and cut ties with the Kings County Economic Development Corporation. We need both, industrial development and retail development, to ensure Lemoore’s economy grows. I will work with city planning and economic development teams; not turn them away. So, right away I would like to work on rebuilding those ties which we have recently broken. I’d also like to encourage more entrepreneurship by hosting workshops that go through the steps of setting up a business in town, explaining what resources are available in the city and answering any questions that come up. We can’t just sit and wait for businesses to come to us. We need to be actively involved in attracting and retaining new business owners.
There is a lot of misinformation out there, regarding what it meant to drop our planning department. First and foremost, it meant outsourcing the jobs from Lemoore and laying off local employees. Beyond that, our council claims to have a projected savings of $243,000 a year. However, if you take a look at the numbers, you quickly see that number has been artificially inflated by a smooth maneuvering in the books. First, we’re contracting out technical planning duties to the tune of $100,000 annually. Plus, we see that our Public Works Director is now taking on the duties of overseeing the firm we are contracting work out to. His salary is being taken out of the Public Works fund (even though he is now being required to do basically the job for Public Works and City Planning). Combine this, with 30% of the Project Manager Judy Holwell’s salary is being paid for out of the Public Works fund, instead of planning. Another part-time staffer is also helping out with city planning duties without their salary being counted as “planning.” We can shift the money around all we want, that doesn’t mean we’re not paying for it one way or another. My question is this: if we are so certain this idea was going to save the city so much money, why are going through such an effort to pass off city planning duties as public works? I want to open the books further and see numbers that more accurately reflect how our funds are being allocated.
Do you feel Lemoore is a safe community? Why or why not?
Concerns over gang violence reduced LHS attendance by two thirds last Monday (9/29). As a mother with children who attend school in Lemoore, I felt extremely worried as I sent them on their way to school. I understand that our community is upset by recent events and public safety remains an important issue for me. Beyond policing activity though, I believe we need to go after more of the root causes of gang activity in our city; namely, poverty and unemployment.
Job training and assistance encourages our youth to look for work instead of joining gangs. That is why I propose the city offer more job training opportunities and host job fairs throughout the year that encourage our youth to look for work instead of joining gangs. I would also like to provide something for our youth to do after school. I suggest a program similar to the Responsible Athletes Program, which encourages young people to participate in intramural sports after school, instead of joining gangs.
What would you do to guarantee that the golf course remains a valuable part of the city’s recreational needs? Or do you favor getting rid of it?
I am always in favor of retaining recreational services, so long as we can afford them. I will do everything in my power to work to retain the golf course, short of raising city taxes. I am not in favor of taxing city residents, as this current council has suggested, to pay for the golf course. Instead, I would like to work with the golf course in finding ways to market it throughout the city, indeed the county, so that it can remain profitable without the need to raise taxes. My first suggestion to attracting new golfers is to attract younger golfers who may not be regulars to the course. We can also work toward hosting more golf tournaments.
Beyond this, if we really want to get serious about saving the golf course, we need more people in town to have work. The obvious truth here, that nobody seems to want to admit, is that there are a whole lot of people in our community that are struggling to put food on the table. It’s a little hard to line up a round of golf, when you’re working two or more jobs just to pay the bills. If we really want to help the golf course succeed, we’ll find more business to come to town and thus, acquire more jobs in the area. When people have enough to live on, I am certain the golf course will do better.
What in your opinion is the most important issue facing Lemoore today?
Water is the most pressing issue facing Lemoore today. Ensuring our city maintains adequate water reserves is a top priority. With several new state laws now requiring local governments to outline groundwater management plans, it is essential that our City Council is prepared to further curtail our water usage, in case we are suddenly squeezed with even further regulations. I don’t want to wait for an emergency; I want to get prepared now.
I would like to see Lemoore implement a xeriscaping plan. Xeriscaping (dry landscaping) has the potential to reduce water usage an average of 31%. We have a water crisis on our hands and I have a plan to further reduce city water usage, which we can implement right away.
A common misconception about xeriscaping is that it means only having rocks or cacti to landscape. Actually, a legitimate xeriscaping plan includes creating various zones for water. One zone may have rocks, so it may not need water, but another area may have grass. So, you make the area with grass smaller, without a slope and use a less thirsty species of grass, such as buffalo grass. Some areas can even have turf. It’s all about incorporating the different zones so that it is both pleasing to the eye and uses significantly less water.
I’d also like to petition the state for additional resources in getting started. Other cities have even received grants so that their residents can xeriscape their homes. This is where I feel I can put my research and writing skills to work. We need to have a detailed plan before going to the state to request resources and I have the education and the writing experience to see this project through.
Did you or would you have supported the removal of the mayor from his post? And why or why not?
I was the only candidate not already sitting up on the dais who was willing to stand up and speak out at the September 16th meeting. I care more about standing up for what is right than keeping my head tucked down because we are in the middle of an election. That is why I chose to speak up, when others would not. As I stated in the meeting, my opinion was not based on any personal reason. I simply feel as though, after speaking with many citizens in Lemoore while walking for the campaign and asking what issues they felt were important to them, the overwhelming sense was that the public had lost faith in Mr. Siegel’s ability to lead the city.
I feel as though we have a lot of really serious issues to confront and don’t have time for these juvenile antics in City Council meetings. We are still in the middle of a serious drought and people are worried about running out of water. Our unemployment rate is still very high; people need jobs. Even before last week’s high school scare, the public expressed concerns over gang activity in Lemoore. In the end, all of the lawsuits, the continuous mentions of old emails and new emails, the new “he said, she said” nonsense at the city council meetings, became a distraction from what the city council was elected to do in the first place: the people’s work.
Mike Montalbano
Why are you running for Lemoore City Council?
Trust in our city council is as low as I have seen since I became involved in Lemoore city government. Only new faces can restore this trust. With two seats available, citizens with a desire to serve coupled with an understanding of the issues and city government processes must step forward to affect this change. I am ready today to be an effective city council member.
In a relatively short response, list or describe your qualifications to serve as a member of the Lemoore City Council.
I have been active as a citizen at city council since 2001. That's over 200 meetings and a decade of budget cycles. I have served on ad hoc committees supporting council and Planning Commission action including the recent revision of the Lemoore Municipal Code. I have regular interaction with city staff and have seen the quality of their work. Supporting the Lemoore Police Department as a volunteer for 11 years has provided me experience with every city department and I know the people who make the city function.
What is your vision for Lemoore?
A community that current citizens are proud to claim as their home and sought out by new arrivals over our neighboring cities because of the quality of life we offer. Lemoore is growing and we must ensure the services the city is responsible for grow in balance with the population.
What is the first thing you would seek to change if elected?
I see room for immediate improvement in council deliberations and council member interactions. Election of new council members and the council reorganization certainly affect this dynamic, but people know me as a civil and reasonable person and I can be a positive influence. Despite negative publicity, there have been good policy decisions by this council and I want to nurture those successes. I will give you one goal; reach an agreement with our police bargaining units before their current MOU expires on December 31st.
How can Lemoore attract industrial and retail development? Do you favor both, or one or the other?
I support the pivot to encouraging retail development over industrial because I believe it has the greatest chance for success in the near term. I support increased funding for The CrisCom Company to take on our retail business outreach based on their record of performance on a current public safety contract. I would welcome a factory and the jobs that come with it, but we must accept Lemoore has infrastructure challenges which make another large industrial development difficult. Even if the drought becomes a non-issue in future years, our waste water treatment capacity has limits. There are also constraints on electrical power and access for rail and truck transport of goods. Retail development can keep dollars in Lemoore which are currently spent in neighboring cities.
Do you feel Lemoore is a safe community? Why or why not?
I do feel Lemoore is a safe community. Chief Smith has effective programs to fight crime. Gang Task Force and Narcotics Task Force have Lemoore police officers assigned, including a LPD K-9 unit. LPD Youth Development Officers are actively engaged at our schools. The public has partnered with our police department to reduce crime through Volunteers in Policing, Neighborhood Watch, and the Crime Free Multi-Family Housing Program as part of an overall community oriented policing strategy. The Lemoore Volunteer Fire Department has an ISO Class 3 rating, the highest rating in Kings County.
What would you do to insure that the golf course remains a valuable part of the city’s recreational needs? Or do you favor getting rid of it.
My thought has always been what is the best chance to have a public golf course on that property in 2025? A leasing plan with financial safeguards in place to protect the city's general fund would have been optimal, but no individual or firm submitted a proposal that met the city's terms and conditions. The Tachi Palace purchase offer of $5 million for the course with a plan to invest over $1 million in capital improvements in the first year, and the tribe's contractual promise to keep the course public deserved a more business like consideration and negotiation, but again the level of trust was not there. Today, there are few options available for discussion. The Tachi Palace no longer has an offer on the table and no one else has shown an interest in a purchase. The public has spoken against taxes or fees to support the course. The weakness of the "keep things the way they are" argument is the current business model doesn't suggest course revenues can meet the increased debt service that kicks in starting 2020. The city has to find a way to run the course efficiently and increase revenues 50 percent by 2020 or there will be a drain on the general fund. If the public becomes unwilling to fund operating deficits, all citizens as owners of the course may be forced to make a costly decision. Six years from now, I hope the public doesn't have to say "what was the council thinking back in 2014?"
What in your opinion is the most important issue facing Lemoore today?
Providing the highest quality services to the citizens of Lemoore. Not just public safety, but public works and recreation, as well.
Did you or would you have supported the removal of the mayor from his post? And why or why not?
Council Member William Siegel's term as mayor was at an end. The question was only whether the council would hold a special reorganization in September or wait until December as has been the city's practice. We will now reorganize twice in less than three months. Even though I am concerned with the precedent of calling for a city council reorganization under state law where our practice has been to reorganize the council every two years after the people have chosen the council members in an election, this item was placed on the agenda, an orderly vote held, and Mayor Lois Wynne duly elected. I would have preferred Council Member Neal not place this item on the agenda and choose to resolve his grievances within the council, but facing a vote, I would have voted exactly as four council members did and elect Mayor Wynne.
