Lindsay City Council Race

Seven candidates, including three incumbents, are running for three seats on the Lindsay City Council Nov. 6.

They are Mayor Ed Murray, Mayor Pro Temp Esteban Velasquez, Councilmember Pam Kimball, and challengers, Steven Mecum, Timothy Daubert, Rosaena Sanchez and Eric Eugene Perfecto Sinclair. As part of its election coverage, The Recorder has asked three questions of each of the candidates. Their answers will run over the next three Saturdays.

Today’s question is: Outline your business plan for the city. What types of businesses will you bring in and why? All the candidates except for Sinclair, submitted an answer.

Mayor Ed Murray
“I don’t think that we as council members are able to bring in a business. We can do all we can do along with city staff to provide a good business climate to work with prospective new businesses when they look to Lindsay. We need to have programs available to offer help on locating in town. We need small personalized retail businesses that can generate sales tax to help the community.”

Mayor Pro Temp Esteban Velasquez
“We must work on identifying our assets in the community and then develop a marketing plan that will be attractive to new businesses. We can do this by developing our working relationship with the Tulare County EDC. The types of business would be able to utilize our working population with decent paying jobs, be able to fill in our empty buildings and develop a working relationship with current businesses.”

Councilmember Pam Kimball
“A small city has the power to invite rather than bring in business. I’ve been part of a great effort to invite by cleaning up, beautifying, and improving the built environment and real assets of Lindsay. Business invited into  McDermont Fieldhouse and the Wellness Center has increased sales tax revenues eight percent this year, so our efforts are paying off.  My plan will continue to be offering quality and opportunity.”

Steven Mecum
“It’s time to change the culture at city hall from being known as business “regulators” into being business and job “facilitators.” We will do a better job communicating with and serving the needs of our existing businesses and employers. A stronger foundation of respect and working together with business owners, is a necessary first step to encourage investment into our many empty downtown shops, factories and warehouses throughout Lindsay.”

Timothy Daubert
“Tax Breaks and incentives for all business’s. Manufacturing jobs to give the 55 percent of the people of this city who live below the poverty level a chance for a good job with benefits. Spruce up downtown empty buildings to make them attractive to businesses. Build trust back into the citizens of Lindsay.”

Rosaena Sanchez
“My first priority would be to retain our existing jobs and businesses.  I believe the best way to promote and invite business growth in Lindsay is to show perspective businesses that Lindsay has a pro-business and job atmosphere.   I will meet with business owners and listen to their suggestions and feedback before decisions are made that affect their businesses.”