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| First-term incumbent faces former police chief |
| By columbian.com - Stevie Mathieu |
| Published: 10/14/2013 |
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First-term La Center City Councilman Al Luiz faces challenger Tim Hopkin, the city's former police chief, in his bid for re-election this fall. If re-elected, Luiz said his priorities would be similar to what they've been during his first term: increasing public safety, creating a business-friendly environment -- new businesses provide more places for residents to shop, he said -- and improving the city's parks and trails. Hopkin said his priorities would be making sure the city has a sustainable budget, and improving the quality of life for citizens and the work environment for city employees. Ballots will be mailed Wednesday for the Nov. 5 general election. Al Luiz Luiz said the city needs to prepare for growth. Expanding the city's infrastructure is a priority, he said, but it needs to be weighed against budgetary constraints to prevent the city from dipping into its reserves. One of the city's budgetary challenges is the millions of dollars in debt it accrued when it built a new wastewater treatment facility. Luiz, who has a background in business, said that even though the process of governing can be slow, he still accomplished a lot in his first term. He celebrated the city's new, award-winning sewer system and also pointed to the recent $500,000 expansion of Holley Park. Holley Park now has a new splash pad and mini-skate park. Luiz said he supported the project because it provided the city's youth with someplace to go during the summer months. It's also a destination for many of the city's senior citizens. "I've got a proven track record for the past four years of listening to the citizens and acting on their behalf," Luiz said, who also was picked by his fellow council members to serve as La Center's mayor pro tem. "I think we have a good, working council. We're able to get things done." Read More. |
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