Colonel Mustard says ‘Vote for Brad, he’s rad, and my dad!’
www.upperleftedge.com/2022/11/02/midterms-in-the-oregon-multiverse/
Another reason I took them down is that this past week, someone has been removing and discarding my signs—about 1/3 of them went missing. I’m afraid the signs will end up as litter in our forests, waterways, or our parks (which is where some of the stolen ones have shown up). I don’t believe another two days of looking at them is going to change anyone’s mind when it comes to voting for Manzanita City Council. So, as they say, “The cows are in the barn.”
If I happened to miss one of the signs and you still have one in your yard, please text or call 503-260-4105 and I will swing by to pick it up.
It’s time for the campaigning keyboards to quiet, the airwaves to calm, and the signs to be gone. It’s time to move forward, to vote, and to get to work for Manzanita.
If you want to know more about me, go to my website: bit.ly/MayerleforManz or my blog: bit.ly/bradsdailyblog
With Gratitude,
Brad Mayerle
Don’t forget to VOTE!
If you are still pondering Manzanita City Council choices, this is for you. I thought a quick recap of my campaign activities would help you understand why I’m the right choice.
I announced my candidacy in May. Since then, I’ve hit the ground running—taking the pulse of our community with an open mind by meeting with residents and genuinely listening.
Here’s a recap of my efforts on the campaign trail:
In my campaign announcement, I immediately discussed the great need for a clear vision for our future and better planning…with a sense of urgency. I’ve heard your concerns about livability, the ongoing city hall project, closing trails to access the beach, dune grading, loss of wildlife habitat, and construction and light noise. I’ve understood your hope for a diverse and vibrant community that welcomes visitors but, first and foremost, meets the needs of the people who call Manzanita home. And I believe there are solutions and that we can find common ground if we work together earnestly and respectfully.
I’ve provided complete transparency. I told you who I am and what I do. While I have no prior government experience, I do have 30 years of experience as a medical professional, working with teams to evaluate, diagnose, and treat complex problems. This experience is what I have to contribute, and I’ll use it as my starting point to bring about a positive change in our community. The problems we face are complex but not unsolvable.
Continuing the spirit of transparency, I created a blog that tracks my daily activities—whom I’ve met with, what I’ve learned from them, what I’m reading, what I’m attending, and what I’m thinking, along with stories about my personal life. Check it out: bit.ly/bradsdailyblog
I also invite you to read all of my posts on North Coast BBQ bit.ly/Brad_BBQ . If you combine this writing effort with what’s chronicled on my blog, you will see that I’ve done the work.
My campaign has been creative, respectful, and dedicated to meeting residents face-to-face—not a bombardment on social media. Instead, I’ve focused on building the case of why my experience matters. We all have our own styles, our own history, and our own ways of learning and making decisions—everyone needs a seat at the table, and I’m determined to provide one for you.
Our democracy allows you to decide which leaders will help move us forward. To this end, I have done my best to earn your vote.
I’m happy to answer any questions you may have, and I welcome your feedback. You can contact me at MayerleforManzanita@gmail.com. Feel free to visit my website: bit.ly/MayerleforManz And while you’re there, check out the unsolicited endorsements from voters I have met along the way: bit.ly/votingforbrad
Sincerely,
Brad
Over the past five years on Council I have had the opportunity to observe three Mayors, five City
Managers and a plethora of City Councilors. While to a person they were all good people, they did not not all have the necessary global view of their responsibility to Wheeler.
A global view simply means that as mayor or counselor you cannot focus only on one aspect of the city that you serve. Beautification? Yes. Nuisance abatement? Yes. Water system upgrade? Absolutely, yes! But, in my Opinion, the over arching necessity is our city’s financial strength. And just so you can’t say you didn’t know, we are on a track to lose our City charter unless there is an immediate change. In my educated guess, we have less than a year.
There are those currently running for Council who will loudly declare that “Wheeler is being sued by the developer of a portion of our waterfront, and that is the reason Wheeler is in trouble.” There is truth in their claims. But further truth will show that many of these same people, some now running for office, have done all they could to stop the project, rather than trying to help the landowner fit his project into our Vison, and zoning ordinances. That is what we are legally required to do. So, attacked at every point, the developer did what he had a right to do. He sued.
My vision, not Wheeler’s, is to focus 100% on major funding projects. Our Mayor, Doug
Honeycutt, is a good man. I call on him to take the current and future Council to task to seek a solution. He must not be sidetracked, or intimidated by those who helped put us is this situation.
Last, yes, I accept some of the blame for Wheeler’s current challenge. But, if you look at my voting record on Council, you will see that
I have been one of the lone supporters of what could have been , or still could be, our financial salvation.
Thanks for reading.
Jim King
Private Citizen
HOWEVER – Recently, in court, Oregon Secretary of State, Ellen Rosenblum admitted voting machines are hackable. Which means they have a chip in the motherboard that connects to the internet.
52% of voters say it is likely that cheating affected the 2020 election and 32% say that it is very likely that cheating affected the 2020 election. I read that sending your ballot in on the last day helps prevent a fraudulent count – so that is what I am doing.
Do I have faith in Oregon’s election system? NO. Am I voting? Yes! I am hoping for honesty and exposing the corruption in our legislature with a balance of political parties. In a Democracy – all voices must be heard.
In 2020 and 2021 approximately more than 600 pieces of legislation were passed each year – Do you have any idea what they were? Who picks the ones (only 4?) that we get to vote for?
I read that Governor Brown only puts things on the ballot that she is sure will pass. Bills 111 thru 114 are for Dummies. Gov Brown thinks you are Dummies, and will pass these Dummy bills.
Measure 111. Change the constitution so it will read that health care should be available to all Oregonians. Umm!! just ask the price because you will be paying for it in a world of high inflation, and higher taxes, and you will not get what you pay for! The Chlidrens Health Defense has an article about this – It is quite scary, because it removes freedom and choice in medical care. and former Governor Kitzhaber says Do not vote for this. It will not get Oregon where it needs to go.
I posted Gov. Kitzhaber’s opinion on Oct 30, and Children’s Health Defense Article on Oct. 31.
Measure 112 – Change Oregon constituion to remove words like slavery and involuntary servitude. Measure 112 fixes something that is not broken. In 1994, Oregonians passed an amendment that made clear that absent medical issues, all inmates had to either work or go to school. Will this be the impetus for activists to push for inmates to be paid minimum wage? How will this effect the current system? The state unfortunately says it’s “indeterminate.” So vote NO
Measure 113 says that if a legislator has too many absences they cannot run for office again – DON’T BE FOOLED BY THIS. Has there been legislators that have had too many absences?
The last couple of years Republicans have stopped the passing of certain legislation by walking out. Before Republicans walked out they asked Gov. Brown to put this legislation before the voters, so the voters could exercise their choice. She refused – Then they walked out. NO on 113
Measure 114 – Sounds good – I would vote for it but I wised up since SB110 in 2020 turned out to be a terrible mistake. Here is the catch to 114 – The police will NOT be putting on any classes on gun safety the near or late future. They are under funded and short staffed and can’t do it. So no permits will be issued.
Please Vote!
Theft in Manzanita
Someone, or maybe more than one someone, in our community stole several campaign signs for two of the candidates for council. They were discovered in Nehalem. I don’t know who found them but they’ve made their way to city hall for the candidates to pick up.
This is all kinds of wrong, people. First off, it’s theft and second of all, it involved criminal trespass. Plain and simple. Stealing is stealing and trespassing is trespassing. Whoever did this thought it was fine to go onto someone’s property without permission to take something that didn’t belong to them.
Those signs aren’t free. The candidates paid for them. People put these signs in their yards to support the candidate of their choice. When the thief took the signs (and let’s be clear, that person is a thief), they were also taking away free speech and silencing ideas they don’t agree with.
What kind of person steals campaign signs? Someone who doesn’t support the candidates and I’d also say someone who doesn’t support democracy. Someone with the ethics of a spoiled child. Someone afraid that their candidate will lose and so are unwilling to play fair.
I doubt this was a Halloween prank by kids—and let’s be honest, there are only a few kids in town and fewer still who’d be interested in stealing campaign signs.
To steal from these candidates is disrespectful of the time and work they’ve put in. And it’s chilling for our community’s future. People who do stuff like this aren’t interested in fairness and justice and working together.
If we want a healthy democracy where people feel like their opinions are listened to and valued, we need people to be involved. If we can’t even have a sign for a candidate in our yard for fear some random a-hole is going to trespass on our property to steal it—then we’re in deep doo doo in more ways than one.
If you have information about these thefts, including RING or other surveillance footage, please contact the non-emergency police number at 503-368-7229.
Kim Rosenberg
loretta.kim.rosenberg@gmail.com
Karen has been a steady steward of our fragile coastal environment, a contributor to the education of our local youth in natural systems, served as a city Councilor, and as an active volunteer with the Nehalem Bay Garden Club; giving much of her time and talent for organizing and willingly sharing her knowledge with others. Her leadership in planting and nurturing over 500 tomatoes helped create one of the Garden Club’s most successful annual plant sales last May.
Over the last 30 years I have had the pleasure of working with Karen on a variety of projects and programs in the community.
She is hard working, dedicated to her community and follows the rule of law. Karen would have my vote if I still lived in Wheeler.
Barbara McLaughlin
The measure says the state must provide “cost-effective, clinically appropriate and affordable health care.” Who will decide what is “clinically appropriate?” The state, not you or your doctor. To get paid and to keep their licenses, doctors will have to comply with whatever the government tells them. They will be effectively working for the state, not their patients. Do we want the government that deprived COVID patients of effective treatments and threatened the licenses of doctors who prescribed them given even more power to control all health care in Oregon?
The implementation of state control over health care would mean not only loss of doctors’ freedom to practice as they see fit, but it’s reasonable to assume that vaccine mandates would return and expand to other vaccines, because unvaccinated people would theoretically cost the state more. Patients who refused to take mandated treatments might lose their health care altogether or be punished in other ways. The COVID pandemic taught us that the public health authorities have no hesitation about mandating experimental vaccines and depriving people of their jobs if they don’t comply, and there’s no reason to believe it would be different under universal health care.
For all the problems with private insurance, universal health care would only magnify those problems, and there would be no remedy. Patients would get what the state decides, and nothing else.
The state would control hospitals as well. We saw this with CMS (the Center for Medicare Services) and COVID. CMS pays the majority of hospital bills. When CMS banned ivermectin and ordered treatment with Remdesivir and ventilators that killed most patients, the hospitals obeyed, because CMS paid large bonuses for compliance and threatened to withhold payments for noncompliance. Many people died from these “treatments,” and there was no remedy. He who pays the piper calls the tune. Do we want to expand that kind of control to the entire health care system in Oregon?
There’s also no guarantee that we would have access to alternative practitioners under universal health care, and even if we did, those practitioners would be controlled by the state. They would have to practice as required by the state. We would have to battle for the kind of practitioners we wanted covered and their freedom to practice as they think best. They would be constantly under threat of losing their licenses or income if they went outside the lines, so to speak. But isn’t that why patients want alternative practitioners? Because they think and practice in creative ways?
Do citizens want the Oregon Health Authority, which implemented vaccine mandates and still maintains them on health care workers, which made permanent mask mandate rules and to this day mandates masks in all health care settings, running all of our health care? Do we really want to give them more power?
Exhausted by the vaccine mandate battles? Universal health care would only increase the politicization of health care. Under universal health care, we could expect more politics and more censorship of dissenting views. California just passed a law stripping doctors of their licenses if they don’t follow the government narrative on how to treat COVID. The same and worse could happen here, and they wouldn’t have to pass a law to do it. If the state pays, it makes the rules.
Other possible unintended consequences: universal health care could cause the best doctors to move to freer states where they could practice their profession without interference, and wealthy people would likely also leave to avoid the onerous taxes. (The 15% additional income tax to pay for it is likely a floor, not a ceiling.) Oregon would become poorer and poorer as those with means moved away and taxes increased to make up the loss, while the only doctors left would be those willing to function as mere technicians following approved algorithms. The high level “practice” of medicine where doctors use clinical judgement and skill, already under threat in the current regulatory environment, would be snuffed out for good.
Furthermore, what reason is there to believe that Oregon could tackle such a massive overhaul? The logistics of such a change are breathtaking, and if they failed, the consequences would be dire. Yet Oregon couldn’t even build a state health care exchange website. To this day, it uses the federal one. This is also the state that couldn’t get unemployment checks out during COVID, runs a DMV that is still dysfunctional, and it’s hard to get anyone to even answer the phone.
The measure says that the state must balance between the right to healthcare and funding other essential public services. What does that mean? It’s not defined. If Measure 111 passes, health care will become a right enshrined in the Oregon Constitution, but public safety and education will not. So it’s conceivable that the money to fund health care would take precedence over public safety and education and every other need in the state. In addition, the state’s track record on spending money suggests a lot of waste is to be expected, as well as costs that will run far above projections.
Given the assaults on the practice of medicine we have recently witnessed, we ask that you seriously consider your vote on Measure 111 with an eye to the likely increased governmental and pharmaceutical invasion of the doctor patient relationship among other unintended consequences that would likely result. This is one “gift horse” that deserves careful inspection before you decide whether to buy.
On Oct. 18, Kitzhaber laid out his case for why the ballot measure doesn’t get Oregon to where it needs to be in an op-ed published in the Portland Business Journal. He went into more detail in an interview with The Lund Report.
Kitzhaber pointed to the soaring health care costs for the nation and Oregon, even as health statistics are “embarrassingly poor” compared to other industrialized nations.
“We somehow have to change the focus and the focus to me really needs to be health, not health care,” Kitzhaber said in the interview.
For example, investments in nutrition can help Oregonians prevent chronic health problems like high blood pressure and obesity, Kitzhaber said.
The state needs to focus on those upstream issues that can impact health, which the ballot measure doesn’t do, Kitzhaber said.
“I actually think you should be able to include adequate food as part of the coverage piece,” Kitzhaber said.
Kitzhaber said that the ballot measure doesn’t address the health care delivery system, which continues to grow in cost and be the problem.
“The system itself is unsustainable,” Kitzhaber said. “We need to rethink the financial incentives within the system.”’
Passed by the Legislature in 2021 as Senate Joint Resolution 12, the ballot measure followed years of debate. The late Rep. Mitch Greenlick, a longtime Democratic lawmaker and former chair of the House Health Care Committee, for more than a decade tried to get a similar measure passed before he died in 2020.
The measure continues to be supported by prominent lawmakers, including Sen. Elizabeth Steiner Hayward, D-NW Portland/Beaverton, a physician who sponsored the 2021 legislation, and Rep. Rob Nosse, D-Portland, chair of the Interim House Health Care Committee. The Oregon Nurses Association and a range of health care providers also support the ballot measure.
Kitzhaber said Greenlick was a “dear friend” and they agreed that everyone should receive coverage. At the same time, he said, “we would go around and around on this about coverage,” which isn’t the same as health.
In his op-ed, he wrote: “It seems counterintuitive to create a constitutional right to access a medical system within which the economic incentives are aligned to a maximize revenue, rather than health, and which, by even the most conservative estimates, wastes at least 25% of each dollar is spends on low value care, over treatment, poor care coordination and over-pricing.”
Rather than simply a right to access the system, Kitzhaber wrote: “If we are going to amend the constitution, it would make more sense to create, as a fundamental right, ‘an equitable opportunity to be healthy.’ This would imply that every Oregonian has the right to access some basic, defined level of affordable, effective, quality medical care — but also to affordable housing, nutrition, a clean environment, a safe neighborhood, a good education, and a living wage job. Making access to medical care a fundamental right, without effectively addressing equity and opportunity in accessing the social determinants of health, will undermine, rather than enhance the health of our society.”
You can reach Ben Botkin at ben@thelundreport.org or via Twitter @BenBotkin1.
Oct 20 2022
www.sott.net/article/472461-Joe-Bidens-last-stand
Posted by Tevis
As election night nears and the campaigning starts to wind down, I’ve been reflecting on this wild ride I hopped on this past May. They call it the campaign “trail” for a reason. Parts are straight and narrow, some wide open, and other parts are twisted and circuitous…and there are many forks in the road. It’s been a journey for sure, and one that has mostly brought me pleasure—for a multitude of reasons.
First and foremost are the people I met along the way. I instigated numerous meetings with a variety of people—from residents, property owners, businesses, city officials (past and present), experts, volunteers, and, yes, even my opponents and some of their supporters.
I want to thank each and every one of them for “taking my call” and taking the time out to tell me their stories and perspectives, educate me about all the nuances, and, most of all, encourage me. I’ve received unexpected support from some of the most surprising places. “Surprising” because some have labeled me “the outsider” (even though I’ve had a home here for 22 years). I think I get this label because I’m not the status quo, and I don’t have an established reputation—good or bad—around town. However, I feel this represents many of us who live more quiet lives and don’t feel the need for exposure about how we participate and contribute to the community in our own subtle but impactful ways.
Secondly, I’m inspired by the folks who genuinely care about our community but have felt like their voices have not been heard and are finding new venues to rise above the noise of common communication channels, like social media or speaking up at public events—places where many of the loudest voices reign. Through the campaigning process, I’ve discovered that groups are forming, made up of like-minded people banding together to create louder and more informed voices about the concerns of many. This is democracy at its finest. As a city councilor, this is what I hope to facilitate in the future—creating venues and opportunities for everyone to be heard and encouraging people to formulate their ideas and find their voice so we can bring this community together.
Lastly, and more selfishly, is what I’ve learned about myself. The past several months have been a time of tremendous growth and discovery for me. I’ve learned you can teach an old dog new tricks (i.e., running for office). And that your past can play a tremendous role in what you can contribute to the future. The years I spent as a dentist are paying back in spades in ways I never imagined. I rediscovered how much I love talking with people and hearing about their lives and ideas. I’ve realized how the lessons I’ve learned in my personal and professional life have set me up for the potential to make thoughtful policy decisions that take a number of variables into consideration. And I’ve discovered, once again, a genuine sense of community—an amalgamation of varying knowledge, viewpoints, ambitions and aspirations.
I could go on and on about my experiences along the way, but I think you get the gist. My blog, which chronicles my daily campaign activities, thoughts, and personal stories, can help you fill in the blanks. Please take a look: bit.ly/bradsdailyblog And to read the unsolicited endorsements from people I’ve met on the campaign trail, go to: bit.ly/votingforbrad
Sincerely,
Brad Mayerle
bit.ly/MayerleforManz
Tomorrow, I leave for an international trip planned months ago and will not have internet access or know the outcome of the election until several days after results are announced.
Before I leave, I want you to know that I will work hard for our city regardless of the outcome of the election. I want to assure you that I have successfully worked alongside people with differing opinions in the past and will continue doing so going forward.
It is my most heart felt hope to come back to serve on the council where the representatives of this town work together for the best solutions under the law.
With Respect,
Karen Matthews
I do Weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or whenever you need cleanings for friends & family visits, your home or Vacation Rental cleanings. Years of experience.
Please give us a call. 503-717-2585
Thank you so much for all your support everyone!!!!
Brad Mayerle for Manzanita City Council
As a general rule, I practice reserve in entering into social media discussions, particularly regarding elections. However, when inaccuracies naming me as a public servant, I am compelled to address these to provide clarity to the voting public.
I urge all of you to seek facts to guide your decisions. I am always open to chat with citizens and my phone number is listed below. I welcome your input. Data can also be found on the city website.
Here are a few clarifications regarding Mr. Anderson’s account of my role in his private “Meet the Candidates” event at NCRD.
• The meeting date was set by Mr. Anderson for this event prior to consultation of all the candidates.
• Only the candidates that Mr. Anderson is supporting had confirmed prior to establishing the meeting criteria.
• Some of the candidates were unable to attend on the prearranged date as they were notified after the meeting was established. One candidate asked for reschedule or Zoom options. Both were denied.
• Three city employees were named as attendees; only Mr. Grossnickle had been contacted prior to the meeting notice distribution.
Regarding the Mayor agreeing to support Mr. Anderson’s NCRD event with a city notice; he is correct that I originally agreed as I was told all candidates (but one) were notified for participation. After conducting further research in election laws for municipalities I reversed that decision based on the following.
• Under ORS 260.432 it is not permitted for a municipality to support a private event or candidate with public time or resources (letters, emails, texts, staff time etc).
I appreciate citizens taking initiative to educate the public, however, I do not support the process used to organize the meeting, as it was not a balanced opportunity to engage with all candidates.
In closing, in the future, I would expect Mr. Anderson to have a better concept of how to arrange an impartial meeting, with the understanding of the difference between a private event and city business and not be willing to encourage public officials to conduct violations in state elections laws. My job as the mayor as well as every councilor and employee is to uphold the laws.
I feel that it is extremely important for citizens to EDUCATE THEMSELVES on which candidates will lead Wheeler to a better future. As your Mayor, I am always available by phone should you have questions. Many citizens call me and encourage you to call. I operate with transparency and public decorum.
Doug Honeycutt
Mayor, Wheeler Oregon
504-348-4008
Please send your donations, payable to
FULCRUM RESOURCES/Smiley Bros. Salmon Harvest
c/o Laura Swanson, 16900 Lucky Lane, Nehalem OR 97131
For more information about volunteer opportunities, please call Laura Swanson at 503-939-5416.
Your generosity helps “The Swimmer” keep its promise “To Feed the People.”
Sen. Ron wyden does not live in Oregon anymore and hasn’t for a long time – please don’t vote for someone who doesn’tt live here and cannot possibly represent Oegonians
Some straight answers on Wheeler Politics and answers to specific points in publications like “Elephant in the Room”, “Being Aware Will Make for Wise Decisions” and “Notice of the Wheelers Candidate”. Forum.
My name is Clif Kemp, I am a current City Councilor, and up for re-election in the 2 year slot. I choose to recommend Deanne Ragnell and Karen Mathews for two of the 4 year council seats because I have watched them both work for the city benefit for several years.
The candidates I will be voting for have dedicated countless hours for the betterment of the City of Wheeler through public park and city hall landscape improvements, guiding our city maintenance staff in landscape techniques, organization of documents, volunteer coordination, downtown lighting and planter boxes, train station remodel, grant writing, project management, and more.
Both have volunteered many hours to improve our City. While on Council (2008-2015) Karen helped write many of the Ordinances we use today, Deanne wrote and received the grants (2019 & 2020) for money for our new Train Depot, and is currently working on a grant project to redesign and build new restrooms on the waterfront.
The other candidates have single event, and some longer-term city service, which I applaud them for. I was on Planning Commission prior to City Council and saw how that was managed under the leadership of Mike Anderson. Ask yourselves why he, as a private citizen, not running for office or serving the City in any official capacity is so desperately working to get “his people into office?” Going so far as to spend his own money and time on the effort. In August 2022, he held an “invitation only” townhall meeting at his house to “Guide the Future of Wheeler”. When excluded citizens asked if they could attend his meeting he stated it was by invitation only.
Several members of this group should take ownership of this quagmire the city finds itself in now. The Planning Commission made a sound data based decision weighing a poorly and incomplete land use proposal which they denied. It was appealed to City Council and Burden, Bell, King, and Stacks all took part in the Council’s overturning of a perfectly good Planning Commission decision, without any regard as to what the consequences might be. They simply did not follow the law. So along comes the 2020 election, and Bell and Stacks loose their bids for re-election. Now, after 2 years of the current council moving forward on multiple tasks to create new revenue for the city, bring excitement to the waterfront and downtown, work with Botts Marsh LLC on a solution to serve his and the city needs, improving the water district, improving the storm water safety, and fighting to save Wheeler from several litigations burdening staff, Council, Commission, and city funds they want to pull the brake on work and reverse the legally held (LUBA supported) decision.
We don’t need Levertte, a self proclaimed emissary for the developer; a person who has lived in Wheeler for two years and does not understand the laws. Lets move forward for the city, not individual egos. Leverette meets Ulbricht before public meetings. Ms. Leverette has publically stated she is Botts Marsh LLC representative. So a vote for those candidates will be a vote for suing the City of Wheeler it seems. Or would they just rubber stamp the incomplete application again?
Please Ask Yourself
Do you support The Citizens of Wheeler through the Vision Plan: a document enforced by ordinance and Comprehensive Plan?
Or
Do you support the out of town developer who refuses to provide the technical data needed for safe building and who refuses to follow the rules?
I’m asking for your vote, and for your vote for Karen and Deanne, this will put some new life on the council with people who will work on real issues and do the research needed to move us forward. It will provide new prospective, and a sense to get the correct job done for the city following the laws. We are too good a community and individuals not to get this done.
Learning about Wheeler’s budget and financial challenges illustrated to Walt the work facing city council. He considers having been through the “school of hard knocks” as a farmer, running every aspect of the business, thorough preparation for being a councilor. But, ultimately, he points out, it’s relationships and collaboration that get any job done.
From working with the soil and water conservation district, he learned the basics of state and federal funding for water infrastructure. He emphasizes the efficiencies of maintaining systems versus the expense of rebuilding them. If elected to council, he would focus on optimizing funds, rather than postponing infrastructure investments.