The McMinnville Chamber of Commerce hosted a virtual candidate forum on October 19. Participants were the current Mayor, Scott Hill and current City Councilors Kellie Menke from Ward 2, Adam Garvin from Ward 3 and his challenger Tynan Pierce. Lisa McCracken the challenger for Ward 1 had a conflict and could not participate. Other participants were challengers Heidi Parker for Mayor, Chris Chenoweth from Ward 1 and Brittany Ruiz from Ward 2 for City Council. The forum was hosted by McMinnville Chamber of Commerce Board Chair-elect Patrick George and Linfield professor Kevin Curry. Six questions were asked, and each candidate had two minutes to answer them.

Questions involved complaints often heard about city government and challenges facing the city.

Why are you running?
The incumbents stressed experience. The challengers emphasized a need to change.

The next question involved a common complaint of a failure to show respect to testifiers at council meetings, a lack of proper notice of issues on the agenda and enough time to consider testimony before concluding an ordinance.
There were sharp differences of opinion on this between incumbents and challengers.

Name two important challenges to McMinnville.
Mayor Scott Hill named restructuring financing and equity/diversity/inclusion. Heidi Parker brought up safety and security and a tough love approach to homeless. Kellie Menke suggested expanding the Urban Growth Boundary and attracting businesses to create jobs. Brittany Ruiz pointed to access to services for all. Chris Chenoweth also wants to expand the UGB, as well as clear the roadblocks to businesses choosing McMinnville. Adam Garvin pointed to the need to keep the cost of living low and improve public safety. Tynan Pierce voiced climate/clean water, racial justice, and compassion for the “houseless”.

Are fees and fines excessive and applied capriciously?
The incumbents cited a holistic approach to financing, the challengers expressed a need to rethink spending priorities that lessen dependence on fees and fines.

How do we handle race and inclusion challenges?
Scott Hill suggested collaboration and the creation of a task force. Heidi Parker has seen bias from her bi-racial marriage. She says that equal treatment for all is the answer. Kellie Menke has Japanese aunt and lesbian sister. She thinks that training is needed and that we need to eliminate housing discrimination. Brittany Ruiz has Hispanic husband and is of scientology faith and says that minorities need equal access to services. Chris Chenoweth says that there is no place for bigotry and that equal enforcement of laws is a must. Adam Garvin suggests training for local solutions, not national solutions. Tynan Pierce says that Oregon was founded on systemic racism and that we need nationally funded solutions

How to fix homelessness?
Scott Hill thinks we need to bring groups before council to teach solutions and bring local partners together. Heidi Parker points out that mental health and addictions are the problem, and that we need to help those that want help and eliminate harm to businesses, even relocate those refusing help. Kellie Menke says that the issue is well addressed with new ordinances, but that lack of Block Grants hurts funding. Brittany Ruiz says that a task force is needed. The solution must show compassion. Chris Chenoweth points out that this is a complex problem and we can't just treat just the symptoms. We need to enforce the laws equally. Adam Garvin thinks we can learn from other communities and that funding can come from higher levels of government. Tynan Pierce thinks that McMinnville has done poorly and that we need more compassion and more funding, and less police.

The entire event lasted about an hour and a half.




--Tom Hammer

Post Date: 2020-10-21 18:07:57

Last Update: 2020-10-21 19:22:16