[Vision2020] Newcomers oust experienced councilors

[Moscow Cares]

Courtesy of today’s (November 8, 2017) Moscow-Pullman Daily News.

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Newcomers oust experienced councilors
Anne Zabala defeats John Weber for two-year seat; Brandy Sullivan, Gina Taruscio, Art Bettge take four-year positions

Residents will see two new faces on the Moscow City Council come January as Anne Zabala and Brandy Sullivan will replace experienced councilors John Weber and Walter Steed.

Zabala beat Weber for the two-year council seat with 2,475 votes to 2,012. Sullivan and incumbents Gina Taruscio and Art Bettge beat out Steed and newcomer Robb Parish for the three four-year council seats.

Sullivan earned the most votes with 2,658, followed by Taruscio with 2,509 and Bettge with 2,176. Steed received 2,133 and Parish earned 1,568.

Sullivan, a Gritman Medical Center speech-language pathologist and One World Cafe owner, said she will add a fresh perspective to the council and will encourage residents to be more engaged in city government. She said she wants to make Moscow more friendly to biking and walking while reducing vehicle congestion, which would improve the city’s parking situation. She said some of her ideas include instituting a bike share program and expanding the public transit system. Sullivan, who serves on the Moscow Urban Renewal Agency Board, said she also supports the proposed URA district on the south side of town.

Zabala, a 25-year-old University of Idaho Annual Giving Program coordinator, said she wants to build on what already makes Moscow great — a walkable and bikeable community, a vibrant downtown and a passion for the arts.

Taruscio, who was appointed to the council last year after Dan Carscallen resigned, said improving streets, the sewer system and other infrastructure, establishing the proposed URA district and implementing an alternative water source will be some of her goals for the city.

Taruscio, Partnership for Economic Prosperity executive director, said the proposed URA district would provide space for businesses to expand since space is limited in the city.

Bettge, who will now serve a second four-year term, said he wants to establish the proposed urban renewal agency district on the south side of town and initiate action on an alternative water supply to the area. Bettge, a wheat biochemistry consultant, said he would also like to work toward extending A Street from its terminus at Farm Road to Warbonnet Drive and eventually to Airport Road, with help from the Washington State Department of Transportation and Whitman County.

Steed, who has served the past 10 years on the City Council, said improving Moscow’s streets, which he says are an embarrassment, would have been one of his main focuses.

Parish, retired Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport director and current Moscow Planning and Zoning Commission vice chair, said, if elected, he would want to have a cooperative working relationship with other councilors, the mayor and Moscow’s regional partners, such as Pullman, the two universities, and Latah and Whitman counties.

Weber, a 62-year Moscow resident with eight years of Moscow City Council experience, had said that if elected, he wanted to see a full-sized ice rink and new Moscow Police Department constructed.

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Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .

"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)
http://www.MoscowCares.com
  
Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

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