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| The Race For City Council Ward IV |
The City Council race in Ward IV shares a lot in common with
the races in Wards I and III. Larry Heckel, the incumbent, is
running on the record of the current City Council and a
challenger, Don Archuleta, is promising a change in direction if he
is elected.
Don Archuleta, in response to a question about downtown,
stated, “I think the City Council has a great responsibility to
make downtown business friendly.� He continued, “I think
the example of Lincoln Place is kind of an embarrassment to
Council. I think we lost $1 million bucks on that deal.� I am
not crazy about incentives and don’t believe in giving people
away tax dollars unless there is a really good reason.�
Heckel, like his colleagues, appeared to be avoiding discussing
any substantive issues at the forum and instead tried to center his
comments on personal facts like how long he has lived in town
and other biographical details. Archuleta didn’t let him off
the hook, however, and gave a strong answer regarding the City
Council hiding in closed session to discuss the McWhinneys
request to use tax dollars to buy a trolley for Grand Station.
Archuleta stated regarding the closed sessions, “I think at
times our Council has abused that privilege.� Heckel, who at
times appeared to be nodding-off, stated in response, “Our
counsel is our City Attorney who sits up there and decides when
we need to go into closed session.�
In another round of questions Archuleta stated, “I think
McWhinney with his incentives has placed a tax burden on this
city ….he was going to have everyone pay for his improvements
again through the RTA.� He concluded by saying, “I am
not for that stuff.�
Heckel responded, “I think those comments need to be
discussed in a different situation.�
the races in Wards I and III. Larry Heckel, the incumbent, is
running on the record of the current City Council and a
challenger, Don Archuleta, is promising a change in direction if he
is elected.
Don Archuleta, in response to a question about downtown,
stated, “I think the City Council has a great responsibility to
make downtown business friendly.� He continued, “I think
the example of Lincoln Place is kind of an embarrassment to
Council. I think we lost $1 million bucks on that deal.� I am
not crazy about incentives and don’t believe in giving people
away tax dollars unless there is a really good reason.�
Heckel, like his colleagues, appeared to be avoiding discussing
any substantive issues at the forum and instead tried to center his
comments on personal facts like how long he has lived in town
and other biographical details. Archuleta didn’t let him off
the hook, however, and gave a strong answer regarding the City
Council hiding in closed session to discuss the McWhinneys
request to use tax dollars to buy a trolley for Grand Station.
Archuleta stated regarding the closed sessions, “I think at
times our Council has abused that privilege.� Heckel, who at
times appeared to be nodding-off, stated in response, “Our
counsel is our City Attorney who sits up there and decides when
we need to go into closed session.�
In another round of questions Archuleta stated, “I think
McWhinney with his incentives has placed a tax burden on this
city ….he was going to have everyone pay for his improvements
again through the RTA.� He concluded by saying, “I am
not for that stuff.�
Heckel responded, “I think those comments need to be
discussed in a different situation.�
| Larry Heckel |
| Don Archuleta |
| "I think those last comments need to be discussed in a different situation." |
| "I think McWhinney with his incentive has placed a tax burden on this city" |
| Closed Session for Trolley discussion; "Our counsel is our city attorney who sits up there and decides.." |
| Closed Session for Trolley discussion; "I think at times our Council has abused that privilege." |