[Vision2020] Tuesday's Candidate forum

[Bruce and Jean Livingston]

>From this morning's Lewiston Morning Tribune:

Growth issue takes over forum
Incumbents defend stance on Moscow's growth

By David Johnson of the Tribune

Wednesday, October 24, 2007


MOSCOW - The seven candidates for four council seats weighed in Tuesday night on what many consider a central issue leading up to the Nov. 6 election - that the current city council is inhibiting economic growth.

Speaking at a candidates forum to an audience of about 120 people, all three incumbents dismissed the notion, while three challengers said the claim had a measure of merit. Another challenger said the anti-growth perception really didn't matter because the economy continues to grow.

"Moscow is not anti-growth or no growth," Aaron Ament said. "It's unfortunate that some among us keep saying that because it does hurt our community."

"I don't believe that the Moscow city council is anti-growth," Tom Lamar said, "and I actually think it's irresponsible to accuse the city that way."

"I think what you need to do is take a look at what this council has done," Linda Pall said. "This council has embraced the new cities initiative. ... We're not here to say, 'You all come.' We're here to say, 'Come take a look at Moscow, and if the fit is right, if your business and our values match up, we are happy to have you.' "

Ament, Lamar and Pall are incumbents running for the three four-year seats. All have been endorsed by the Moscow Civic Association.

"I don't necessarily feel the current council is no-growth or anti-growth," Wayne Krauss said. "I think they're (practicing) selective growth. They decide what kind of growth they want to allow."

"The current council says they're not anti-growth," Dan Carscallen said, "but the perception is there. Changing the perception is the thing that needs to happen."

"Moscow has been perceived as anti-business and anti-growth long before this particular city council," Walter Steed said. "I'm not sure why. I don't think we've done anything lately to change it or make ourselves look like we do welcome businesses."

Krauss and Carscallen are challenging for the four-year positions. Steed is seeking a two-year seat. All three are endorsed by the Greater Moscow Alliance.

Challenger Evan Holmes, who's running against Steed and isn't endorsed by either of the politically active citizens groups, took more of a middle-ground stance. "Well, if the city council for the last five years has been trying to stop growth they've failed miserably." He cited statistics showing that the town's economy continues to grow. "So like I say, the no-growth thing doesn't bear analysis," Holmes said.

The campaign continues to be fueled by the MCA and GMA, the former being credited with supporting winning candidates in the previous election and the latter organized last year in response. Mayor Nancy Chaney was endorsed two years ago by the left-leaning MCA, and her opponent, former council member Peg Hamlett, said afterwards that the MCA's campaign efforts were too much to surmount. The right-leaning GMA figures to lend some balance to the campaign. Both groups are encouraging a big turnout at the polls.

The candidates seem to have tapped into the momentum. Most have active Web sites, all are placing signs around town, most say they're going door-to-door to talk with people and the invitations to speak at forums and do interviews with the press continue to take up their time.

Tuesday night's forum, held in the Moscow High School Auditorium, was cosponsored by the Moscow League of Women Voters and the Moscow/Pullman Daily News.

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Johnson may be contacted at deveryone at potlatch.com or (208) 883-0564.
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