Candidate: Helaine Kurot, Cottonwood resident of 10 years
Age: 42
Current profession: Cottonwood city councilwoman, shop owner and automotive technician
Q: Why are you qualified to serve on council?
A: “Currently on council.”
Q: How should the city bring more affordable housing into the area, and balance the growth of businesses and new residents?
A: “Affordable housing is relative to the individual buying or renting the house. The reality of the situation is that the city cannot bring in affordable housing. We are not landlords. We are not developers. Nor should we be as a municipality.
“The reality of the situation is that it straight up costs too much to build right now. You can’t sell a house for $200,000 that costs you over $400,000 to build. The best the city can do is remove as much red tape as possible and make it easier for those that want to build to do so, within reason. We set up a down payment assistance program, but one still has to qualify for the mortgage.
“If you want affordable housing, there needs to be a focus on education, not just college, and soft skills — i.e. showing up on time, willing to put in the work — so that the kids can have the skill set required to obtain higher-paying jobs so that the housing market becomes affordable to them. Employers are not going to come in and create high-paying jobs if there is no workforce to support it.”
Q: What is your vision for economic development in Cottonwood?
A: “Focusing on the business culture here so that it enables those who want to start a business to continue to have the support from the community to do so.”
Q: How should the city change events to reflect the city’s changing demographics?
A: “It depends on the event. With Thunder Valley Rally, for example, the target market is aging out. So we are trying to bring in other markets and see what happens.
“One thing I hear a lot of is that there is very little to do for kids and young adults. Adjusting the talent and events that are brought in so that it relates to a younger generation is key.”
Q: How will you rebuild public trust and confidence in Cottonwood City Council?
A: “Keeping the lines of communication open and emotions out of it. If the last year has taught us anything, it is that it is better in the longer run to have the hard conversations up front than it is to push it off for months on end and try to have the conversation when emotions are at an all-time high and the rumor mill has already run rampant.”
Cottonwood City Council Election
Mayoral candidates (one four-year seat):
- Michael Mathews, challenger
- Ann Shaw, challenger
Council candidates (three four-year seats)
- Felicia Coates, challenger
- Holly Grigaitis, challenger* [*residency in city limits remains in question]
- Helaine Kurot, incumbent
- Bob Marks, challenger
- Lindsay Masten, challenger
- Joy Mosley, challenger
- Heather Piper White, challenger
- Bill Tinnin, challenger
