The two candidates for Camp Verde mayor sat down next to each other at a table in the Camp Verde Community Library on Thursday, Sept. 27, for a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters Greater Verde Valley Chapter. Incumbent Mayor Charlie German and Councilwoman Jackie Baker ran against each other in the August primary for Camp Verde mayor, but since neither received an outright majority of the vote, they were forced into a runoff for the general election.
With just 139 votes separating the two candidates in the first round, the mayoral race could still be anyone’s to win, and this debate marked the clearest opportunity for the two to offer distinct visions for the future of Camp Verde. Robyn Prud’homme Bauer from the LWV served as moderator.
“My heart, mind and concerns are focused wholly in our town and its welfare,” Baker said in her opening statement. “When I’m mayor, I want to work with our council team to simplify our development process and eliminate needless regulations.”
With the two candidates having worked together on the Town Council for years, the competition was friendly and relaxed. The pair generally offered differences in style, rather than stark fissures in attitudes about the town’s direction. Both frequently responded to each other’s points by announcing their agreement, and there were no direct personal attacks in the 90-minute debate.
The candidates agreed on support for the Camp Verde Sports Complex construction; the need to cut regulations and fees in town to attract new private business; interest in a potential rodeo arena that some Camp Verde residents had proposed; fidelity to the General Plan; staff evaluations for Camp Verde government workers to encourage better customer service; and the value of a return of Corn Fest in coming years if Camp Verde residents are willing to volunteer to make it happen. German even jokingly appointed a resident who asked a question about it as Corn Fest commissioner in the hopes of rallying town involvement. Both lauded recent successes of the town as parts of a team effort by the Town Council, such as construction of the Camp Verde Community Library where the two candidates sat, and the efforts to bring Verde Valley Medical Center into town.
German cited his own role in getting VVMC to come to Camp Verde as an example of his value as a mayor.
“I was alerted through EMS and other people that there was a possibility Verde Valley Medical Center was going to expand and I understood CV was No. 8 of a list of about 10,” German said. “I went over as mayor-elect to talk to CEO Barb Dember, and I said, ‘If you’re not going to provide medical services for us, then I’m going to go to Banner Health or John C. Lincoln, and we’re going to see what they could do for us.’ That was on a Thursday. The following Tuesday, we had nine people from VVMC here talking with our EMS and our staff, and they agreed to move No. 8 up to No. 1 or 2 in putting in the medical clinic.”
Baker’s main point of criticism for the mayor and the way the town has been run recently was expressed in her desire to make the council and the town government “more responsible to our citizens” and improve accessibility for individual residents with concerns. She promised that as mayor, she would eliminate the system implemented under German that requires all those who wish to comment in Town Council meetings to fill out blue cards before speaking up.
“My phone number is on everything imaginable, and I always encourage people to call me to try to help them,” Baker said. “I want to make it easier. What we have to do is encourage as much as possible for the citizens of our town to communicate with us. And if you have any problem with getting some answers from staff, we need to know that so we can address if there’s some trend that is developing regarding communication with our citizens.” Baker also argued that as much discussion as possible by council members should happen in public at Town Council meetings.
The biggest policy disagreement between the two candidates came on the topic of budgeting and taxes. German was one of four Camp Verde council members who faced a recall election in 2015 after voting to raise the sales tax. The mayor defended that vote as necessary to ensure that Camp Verde was able to provide all the services its residents want.
“I voted for it because I’m sick and tired of seeing Camp Verde stand on the edge of all the things other families and communities enjoy,” German said.
“Had we not voted for that, I guarantee within the next year we would have had reduction in force. People would have lost their jobs. This is my family that works here and I do not want to see that happen.”
“My way of addressing those issues is to review, research and live within budget instead of raising those taxes on those people that are finding it hard sometimes to survive,” Baker said. Baker was also the only member of the current council to vote against this year’s budget, and made the case for reigning in the town’s spending.
“I do not want to increase sales tax to make up for anything lacking,” Baker said. “We are dictated to live within a budget.”
Even with disagreements about sales taxes and budget, the two candidates displayed comity in their discussion, and made their case to the voters based on positive advocacy, not bringing down their opponents.
“I would love to continue to serve Camp Verde and to continue with my fellow council members to implement the vision and plan for the future of Camp Verde as presented through our voter-adopted documents and carefully consider other proposals which might be presented by various individuals, neighborhoods and organizations,” German said in his closing statement. “I pledge to continue to budget so as to maximize our opportunities while carefully planning for emergencies. I would appreciate your vote of confidence, and to allow me to continue to utilize my skills to serve our community for an even better tomorrow.”
Camp Verde’s mayoral election will be held on Nov. 6. Early voting begins on Oct. 10.
Jon Hecht can be reached at 634-8551, or email jhecht@larsonnewspapers.com
