Hosted by the League of Women Voters Greater Verde Valley, a mayoral candidate forum Wednesday, July 20, saw Tim Elinski and Holly Grigaitis answer questions from the public.
During opening statements, Elinski spoke of four priorities: To engage the community, to increase the efficiency of government, to prepare Cottonwood for a new economy and to promote and preserve the area’s natural resources.
“I got involved in Cottonwood politics really as a critic of politics, of Cottonwood,” Elinski said, describing a situation where he helped avoid a rezoning of his neighborhood by the City Council. Inspired by the experience, Elinski said he has worked since to make Cottonwood government more efficient.
“Personally, I believe Cottonwood could very well be on the brink of bankruptcy right now,” Grigaitis, a real estate agent specializing in distressed properties, said. “I believe that is the top issue facing Cottonwood …. We’re $82 million in debt, probably more.
“Really, truly, we’re at a point where we’ve spent all of our money, and we have very little money left to do anything for the city.”
“I agree with Ms. Grigaitis that debt is one of the largest issues facing Cottonwood right now,” Elinski said. “Moreover, I think a bigger issue, the fundamental issue, is poverty …. We’re 11,200 strong, and I think we’re a city that spends at the rate of a much larger city. We’re doing so on the backs of those living in poverty.
“We have to make sure we move the whole community up together.”
Elinski added that this process would take many years, and include a substantial public education movement.
The third mayoral candidate, Terence Pratt, was absent, but moderator Angela LeFevre read a statement from the candidate.
“We have become a city with an identity, and we are now a destination,” Pratt wrote, but added his own words on Cottonwood’s fiscal situation: “I believe that the most important issue facing Cottonwood is our debt …. Many experts use the phrase ‘acceptable debt,’ which includes things that serve the community.
“However, they do warn about exceeding a certain ratio of these debts and revenues. I believe we have about reached that ratio, and must be working on paying off our debts and not recurring new ones.”
Grigaitis said that Cottonwood needs to make starting and sustaining businesses easier, removing roadblocks to commerce. Elinski said that, while important, encouraging new businesses was the “most volatile” way to support the economy, as new businesses often fail. Instead, he recommended supporting established businesses first and foremost.
“The regulation has gotten too burdensome,” Grigaitis said concerning how best to attract new businesses.
Focusing on the same topic, Elinski said that poverty and lack of education opportunities limit new business growth. He added that making Cottonwood more appealing to potential entrepreneurs would be one of his top priorities.
Regarding the issue of appointing Linda Norman and Kyla Allen to the Cottonwood City Council, both candidates offered candid criticisms of the process.
“We’ve known about these vacancies since last fall,” Elinski said, adding that he would like to have seen a more lengthy and open selection process, including public discourse. “My issue is the public didn’t have any way to engage the council and engage the candidates. I think that’s a failing.”
“We wound up choosing two people who weren’t running for the seats,” Grigaitis said, adding that Norman is a former council member who was not elected.
As for Allen, Grigaitis said, “We also chose somebody who has a personal financial interest in the city, being that they recently retired from the city. So, I’m certain that the way they’re going to vote is going to be tainted by the fact that they have a pension now to protect.”
Grigaitis said that she wishes the council would not have appointed Norman and Allen for two-year terms. Instead, they should have been appointed until this year’s general election so that the voters have an opportunity to be represented.
Grigaitis said she would not support a property tax, as budget cuts would instead be the best way to reduce outstanding debt. Elinski said he would support a property tax, but only if the City Council assured voters they would act as good steward of the generated funds.
“The biggest challenge on council will be to establish a consensus,” Elinski said, while Grigaitis said her largest hurdle will be convincing the council that Cottonwood’s finances are in dire straits.
