Newly appointed Citrus Heights Councilman Albert Fox is sworn in by City Clerk Amy Van on Friday, as Vice Mayor Steve Miller and Councilwoman Jeannie Bruins look on. // CH Sentinel
In 2005, Citrus Heights resident Albert Fox applied to fill a vacancy on the city council, but didn’t get appointed. More than a decade later, he applied again and was appointed on Friday to fill the vacancy left by Councilman Mel Turner, who passed away last month.
The 71-year-old has become a familiar face to city government since moving to Citrus Heights 16 years ago, serving on the city’s planning commission since 2011. Now retired, Fox formerly served in state law enforcement and also served on the committee responsible for recommending Citrus Heights form its own police department.
Asked for comment following his appointment, Fox said he was “surprised, excited (and) looking forward to the challenge.”
According to a bio included in his application, Fox has also been a college instructor and served in parent-teacher committees in the Fresno City Unified School District and the Buckeye School District in El Dorado County.
In a May 26 interview at city hall with council members, just prior to being appointed, Fox said one of his goals would be attracting young families to Citrus Heights by focusing on housing and schools.
City council members also interviewed eight other residents who had applied to fill Turner’s vacant seat, taking about two hours to have questions answered about public safety, debt, priorities, and whether there was any disagreement with past decisions made by the council.
Familiar faces among the applicant pool included Rick Doyle, Marcel Weiland, Amor Taylor and Porsche Middleton — all of whom ran for city council last year. Jim Monteton, who serves on the board of the Sylvan Cemetery District and ran for city council in 2010, also applied for the position.
Three new faces in the applicant pool were Patrick Moneybrake, Cynthia Kennedy, and Naveen Habib. According to their applications, Kennedy works with the Sacramento County Office of Education, Habib is a senior account executive with Lucas Public Affairs, and Moneybrake is the owner of a Citrus Heights-based chimney cleaning business. (See full applications)
The council made its decision by an initial round of voting to narrow the list of applicants from nine down to three. With each of the four council members writing down their top two picks, the field was narrowed to Fox with three votes, and Porsche Middleton and Marcel Weiland tying with two votes each.
A motion was then made to appoint Fox, who was approved 4-0.
“It was a tough decision because among the other eight applicants, some were equally qualified,” said Mayor Jeff Slowey. “At the end of the day I think the right decision was made.”
Vice Mayor Steve Miller also called the decision difficult and said he was “impressed with everybody.” However, he said Fox stood out from the list because “he was ready to hit the ground running.”
Miller, who applied for the same vacant seat as Fox in 2005, was successfully appointed to the council the same year and has won re-election for each successive term. He encouraged the eight applicants who weren’t appointed to continue involvement in the community, citing his own history of losing a race for city council in 2004 before being appointed the following year.
Other council members also encouraged the applicants to remain involved, with Councilwoman Jeannie Bruins reflecting on the advice she gave to Turner when she heard he was interested in running for city council. “You need to be known in your own community first,” she recalled telling him.
Bruins offered two tips to the room of applicants and about 40 other community members and city staff who attended the May 26 meeting where Fox was appointed. “Get involved in your neighborhood association and take the [chamber of commerce] leadership program,” she said.
Tonya Wagner, who attended Friday’s meeting and formerly served as president of the Residents’ Empowerment Association of Citrus Heights, also expressed hope that the other applicants who applied for the vacant seat would remain active and “not just disappear from view.”
Wagner said she was satisfied with Fox’s appointment and credited him with being an engaged member of the community who “knows the issues the city faces.”
Fox will serve on the council through the end of Turner’s term in December, 2018.
Citrus Heights Councilman and former mayor Mel Turner, pictured during a December 2014 council meeting. // CH Sentinel
Latest letters from the community reflect on former Councilman Mel Turner’s life and also discuss who his replacement on the council will be. Submit your own letter by clicking here.
Mel Turner was one-of-a-kind and will be missed
(RE: City leaders, community mourn passing of Citrus Heights Councilman Mel Turner, April 20) I met Mr. Turner at a neighborhood barbecue when he was a candidate for city council. He was definitely one-of-a-kind and touched everyone he met with his kind face and warm heart. Our hearts go out to his family, we are in tears. Peace be upon all of us, my friend — you will be missed.
-Alfred Sanchez, Citrus Heights
City council should appoint Weiland to honor voters’ wishes
(RE: “How will the vacancy on Citrus Heights’ city council be filled?,” April 28) I have reviewed the list of very qualified applicants to replace Mel Turner on the council and I believe any of them would provide excellent representation of the fine citizens of Citrus Heights. Ideally, it would be my request to allow the voters to decide Mr. Turner’s replacement in a Special Election. I was present when the city council made its decision and fully understand why the council elected not to pursue that option considering the exorbitant cost involved.
Considering the significant advantage an incumbent has when seeking re-election, the council should give very careful consideration to the wishes of Citrus Heights voters. In lieu of a special election I strongly urge the council to give great deference to the results from the recent election held just six months ago. Using this logic, I believe Marcel Weiland should be appointed to fill the vacant seat.
-Tim Schaefer, Citrus Heights
*Note: Schaefer also ran for city council last year and placed fifth out of eight candidates; Weiland placed third. He and Weiland were later appointed to the planning commission earlier this year.
Want to submit your own letter to the editor on a current local issue? Click here.
A temporary sign announces the new location for Ben’s Hawaiian Cafe in Citrus Heights. // CH Sentinel
Latest local news briefs include an update on the medical office building project on Greenback Lane, a new Hawaiian Cafe on Auburn Boulevard, controversy over a planning commission appointment, and an update on Watt Communities’ proposed 261-unit development.
Hawaiian Cafe in Citrus Heights featured on Good Day Sacramento A new Hawaiian restaurant that moved from Folsom to Citrus Heights in December was featured Saturday morning on Good Day Sacramento. Ben’s Huli Huli Chicken & Hawaiian Cafe opened last month at 7967 Auburn Blvd. in the Grand Oaks Shopping Center, and features Hawaiian-style BBQ that’s already earned 4.5-out-of-5 stars on Yelp. In a prior interview on Fox40, owner Kit Syn explained “the secret” to his moist meats is an overnight marinade. Most menu items run $5-10, with several entrees priced in the $11-12 range. (Watch Good Day interview)
Mayor: medical office building will reportedly begin construction soon In an update during Thursday’s city council meeting, Mayor Jeff Slowey said a letter had recently been sent to the city by a Dignity Health representative reaffirming their commitment to working with the city to construct a three-story medical office building at the corner of Greenback Lane and Fountain Square Drive. Although the project has yet to break ground nearly two years after being approved in March 2015, the mayor said a finalized lease agreement between Dignity Health and the city is expected to be signed next week, with a groundbreaking ceremony soon to follow. He said there were “a couple of changes in the program” that dragged out the process and required attorney involvement, but he did not elaborate on what the changes were.
City seeks bids for environmental review of proposed 261-unit development
In a posting on the city website earlier this month, the city announced it is seeking proposals from consultants to prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) associated with Watt Communities’ proposed 261-unit development off Arcade Drive. Preparing an EIR is a necessary step required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which requires that state and local agencies “disclose and evaluate the significant environmental impacts of proposed projects and adopt all feasible mitigation measures to reduce or eliminate those impacts,” according to the state attorney general’s office. The deadline listed to submit bids is Feb. 17, with the process often taking several months to one year to complete.
Council rejects Daniels’ nominee, appoints two new members to planning commission On Thursday, Citrus Heights council members appointed 2016 council contender Marcel Weiland and former planning commissioner Jack Duncan to the city’s influential seven-member planning commission. With four seats up for appointment, the council also voted to re-appoint Christy Decelle to serve another term on the commission — but rejected a nomination attempt by Councilman Bret Daniels, who sought to give 2006 council contender James Remick a seat on the commission. (Full story coming next week).
Candidates Rick Doyle, left, Marcel Weiland, and Jeff Slowey, right. // CH Sentinel
Latest campaign finance disclosures filed on Oct. 27 show three candidates far outpacing the rest in the race for two seats on the Citrus Heights city council.
Reporting more than $17,000 in contributions, Vice Mayor Jeff Slowey maintained a significant lead over the other seven candidates, but Planning Commissioner Rick Doyle and financial tech director Marcel Weiland also reported receiving more than $10,000 in contributions — more than double what each of the remaining five candidates reported receiving.
Although money doesn’t always dictate who wins and loses, a Sentinel review of local elections back to 2012 found winning council candidates have all raised over $10,000 — with some candidates spending over $20,000.
Who’s funding who?
During the latest reporting period from Sept. 25 through Oct. 22, Slowey picked up an additional $3,800 in contributions. He also reported two extra donations of $1,000 each from a real estate and labor political action committee (PAC) in the past week, bringing his contribution total up to $17,600.
The vice mayor’s top donor in most recent filings was the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce PAC, which donated $1,750. As previously reported on The Sentinel, Slowey’s overall top donor is Kings Management Group, which donated $3,000 and lists Stones Casino as its business address.
Coming in second for fundraising, Doyle reported a $5,400 boost in contributions during the latest reporting period, bringing his total up to $12,400. Doyle’s top donor listed was $2,000 from former Phoenix Casino president Jack Cunningham. He also received a $1,000 donation from Kings Casino Management Group.
Weiland reported another $3,600 in contributions, bringing his total up to $10,200. His top recent donor was also the Chamber PAC, which endorsed both Slowey and Weiland and gave each $1,750. Weiland’s top overall donor remained himself, with $5,800 of his own money donated to the campaign.
Campaign expenditures listed by the trio were largely dominated by campaign mailing expenses to reach voters with direct mail. Slowey has spent the most so far, reporting $11,200 in expenditures — $7,100 of which was spent on several recent mailings.
Both Doyle and Weiland reported about $10,000 in campaign expenditures each, about a third of which was spent on literature and mailing-related costs in the latest reporting period.
Other candidates The remaining five candidates have all reported spending and receiving less than $4,000 each throughout their campaigns. Tim Schaefer reported $3,100 in contributions, although $2,000 of that is in the form of loans to his campaign. Porsche Middleton reported receiving $3,900, and Bret Daniels $3,100.
Candidates Amor Taylor and Michael Nishimura were not required to file disclosure forms, as each filed a statement indicating they planned to spend and receive under $2,000 during the course of their campaigns.
Campaign disclosures are required by the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) for local candidates who raise or spend over $2,000. Two pre-election disclosure filings are required by the commission, with an additional requirement for candidates to file a separate form each time a donation of $1,000 or more is received.
The next FPPC reporting deadline is Jan. 31, 2017.
Have an opinion about the local election? The Sentinel now accepts letter-to-the-editor submissions and opinion pieces. Submit one by clicking here.
Tim Schaefer, right, sits next to Bret Daniels during a Sept. 19 election forum that featured all eight candidates vying for a seat on the Citrus Heights city council. // CH Sentinel
In a pair of news releases sent out by each campaign Saturday night, city council candidates Bret Daniels and Tim Schaefer announced mutual endorsements of one another and said they are united in opposition to tax increases and the new city hall expenditure.
“Both Tim and I believe that the residents of Citrus Heights would have been better served with a more prudent approach to building the new City Hall,” said Daniels in his statement. Schaefer reiterated the point in his news release, arguing that the $21 million taken from reserves to build the new hall “will impede the City’s ability to fund infrastructure and road repairs for many years to come.”
Daniels, 56, is a former Sacramento County Sheriff’s Deputy and previously served on the Citrus Heights city council from 1999 until he resigned in 2005, citing personal and family reasons. 55-year-old Schaefer is known for his service in various leadership positions in local neighborhood associations, as well as leading the “Save City Hall” effort in 2014 to oppose tearing down the old city hall.
The pair also focused on opposition to the proposed county-wide sales tax increase to fund road repairs and transportation projects. Daniels and Schaefer are the only candidates opposing Measure B, out of the eight candidates in the race.
“Four years ago, I helped lead the fight against the City’s effort to raise our utility taxes,” said Daniels, referring to Measure K in 2012. “Tim will join me in fighting any effort to raise your taxes, including the effort to pass Measure B.”
Schaefer also questioned the frequent number of unanimous votes by the current council and said he believes “the virtual absence of any dissenting opinions among the current members… demonstrates a significant problem with transparency.”
Although struggling to raise funds and attract voters during two recent election forums, the pair’s unique opposition to Measure B could help secure additional votes in Citrus Heights, based on significant voter opposition to Measure K four years ago. That measure would have increased utility taxes to pay for roadway and public safety improvements, but only received 44 percent of the vote — while needing a two-thirds majority to pass.
The pair still face an uphill battle to unseat incumbent Vice Mayor Jeff Slowey, who has raised the highest campaign war chest and boasts the endorsement of the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce PAC and the entire city council. Candidates Rick Doyle and Marcel Weiland also pose a challenge, as Weiland has also received the Chamber PAC’s endorsement and Doyle is backed by a number of high profile leaders and all sitting council members.
Marcel Weiland, financial tech director and 2016 Citrus Heights city council candidate. // CH Sentinel
Note: In the interest of providing voter education and fair election coverage, The Sentinel has given all eight Citrus Heights city council candidates an equal opportunity to submit 100-word written statements on a variety of local issues. Marcel Weiland’s full responses can be found below. See other candidate responses in the article: “Citrus Heights city council candidates on the issues, in their own words”
Marcel Weiland, 26, grew up in Citrus Heights, worked in the state capitol, and earned a degree in political science from Santa Clara University. He currently works as director of institutional alliances at Riskalyze, a financial tech company based in Auburn. (Click to read full candidate profile)
Homelessness is ranked among the top issues faced by businesses and residents in Citrus Heights. What is your plan to address this and what role do you see private organizations playing? (Be specific)
“People are homeless for different reasons and need help in different ways. Our approach to homelessness should first seek to understand the complexity of the problem and then develop a two-prong approach that addresses the immediate urgent needs of the person, such as food, clothing, and housing in bad weather, as well as the long-term needs such as medical care, mental health care, job training and housing assistance. The City cannot provide all or even most of these things, but we can partner with local private organizations in order to connect the homeless with the resources they need to improve their lives.”
Measure B would raise the sales tax by half a cent throughout Sacramento County to pay for roads and Regional Transit projects. If the vote were held today, would you vote “yes” or “no” on Measure B, and why?
“If the vote were held today I would stand with the majority of elected Republicans in Sacramento County and vote yes on Measure B. As a fiscal conservative I hate the idea of raising taxes, but in this case I think that funding infrastructure maintenance now instead of later is the cheapest most fiscally responsible way to address the issue. The cost of maintaining our roads increases exponentially the longer we put it off and Measure B allows us to get ahead of that expense.”
One of the City’s strategic planning goals is to enhance public safety. What specifically would you advocate doing to enhance public safety in Citrus Heights?
“We can do two very important things to enhance public safety in Citrus Heights. First, we can do what is necessary to ensure that the police department remains fully funded. Second, we can continue to improve the relationship between law enforcement and the community. In these times of increased scrutiny of police action, trust between law enforcement and the community is critical, especially during events which may put it to the test. Supporting the Police Activities League, department use of social media, and participation in local events are all sensible steps towards building a great relationship between law enforcement and the community they protect.”
Body-worn cameras have been praised by many as a way to increase accountability and decrease false claims against police. Do you believe CHPD should implement body-worn cameras within the next two years? Why, or why not?
“I think body cameras are a prudent, sensible measure that would protect our police officers from false claims of misconduct as well as citizens in any actual case of misconduct. As with any piece of new technology, there are many factors to consider; need for additional transparency in police encounters, cost of a body camera program, etc. I don’t think we have an urgent need for body cameras right now… But in the next two years I do think implementing a body camera program would be a prudent decision. I’d rather we have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.” (Shortened for excessive length)
Many of you have advocated for a fiscally conservative policy and maintaining the City’s history of operating debt free. What is your specific plan to address the growing cost of pensions and maintaining a balanced budget with healthy reserves?
“In several years the City will begin receiving its property tax revenues, which have been remitted to the County up to now. These revenues, estimated to be around $5 million a year, should be put towards necessary costs of maintaining the City; including pension costs, personnel costs and contributing towards our rainy day fund. Fiscal responsibility means living within our means and meeting the needs of the City in the most cost efficient way. That is exactly what I plan to do if elected to the city council.”
In August, the city council voted 4-0 to oppose Proposition 64, which would legalize recreational marijuana in California. Do you agree with the council’s decision?
“I think the council made the right decision for Citrus Heights. This is a family-friendly community and I think the city council was right to oppose the measure and prohibit deliveries and dispensaries in city limits, should the ballot measure pass.”
It is well-known that many homeowners choose to ignore required building permits while doing remodel or construction work on their properties, citing permit costs or “excessive regulations.” What would you do to address this?
“We shouldn’t go after homeowners in a punitive fashion, we should streamline the permitting process and make the whole process much quicker and easier. We have a reputation in the region as being a very business-friendly City, and it’s important to remember why that is; we don’t impose excessive taxes or burdensome regulations on business! This should be true of homeowners as well. We want more people to move to Citrus Heights and buy a home – we can do that by making sure that we don’t regulate homeowners out of our City.”
What, if any, are two existing city regulations/codes that you think should be changed, and why?
“I have not identified any two codes or regulations that are clearly unnecessary. Which is not to say that there aren’t ways the City can do better. I would like to see the City Council take a proactive approach to economic development. We’re known in the region as a business-friendly City, we’re setting the right policies to attract new businesses, but we should also advertise our accomplishments and seek out new businesses that would be a great fit for our community. Our City Council is committed to meeting the needs of the City in a responsible way and I intend to continue in that legacy.” (Shortened for excessive length)
Citrus Heights 2016 City Council candidates, from left to right. Top: Rick Doyle, Amor Taylor, Jeff Slowey, Porsche Middleton. Bottom: Tim Schaefer, Marcel Weiland, Michael Nishimura, Bret Daniels. // CH Sentinel
Updated Oct. 23, 12:21 a.m.–
In the interest of providing voter information and fair election coverage, The Sentinel has given all eight Citrus Heights city council candidates an equal opportunity to submit written statements on a variety of local issues. Seven of the eight candidates submitted statements by the Oct. 22 deadline, and links are provided below to each candidate’s responses.
Questions included topics of homelessness, enhancing public safety, body cameras, marijuana regulation, fiscal policy, and Measure B. Although agreeing on many issues, candidates hold opposing views on Measure B and police-worn body cameras, and also have differing approaches to enhancing public safety and addressing homelessness.
Vice Mayor Jeff Slowey, left, and Marcel Weiland, were both endorsed by the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce PAC this week. // CH Sentinel
The Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce PAC announced its sought-after endorsement in the local city council race on Friday, naming Vice Mayor Jeff Slowey along with Marcel Weiland as “the best choices to maintain the success of Citrus Heights.”
The endorsement from the city’s largest local business political action committee (PAC) also came with a donation to both Weiland and Slowey of $1,750 each — a significant amount in a local race where winning candidates have spent as little as $8,500 to win in recent years.
“I’m a big supporter of the Chamber, so I’m always happy to get the support of the Chamber,” said Slowey, reached by phone for comment Friday night. The three-term councilman said he’s also received the Chamber PAC’s support in prior elections, calling the endorsement “probably one of the better ones” sought by candidates in local races.
Weiland, also reached by phone Friday, said he was “absolutely thrilled” to get the endorsement and called it a significant win for his campaign that promises “a lot of momentum” and the ability to reach more voters by direct mail. The 26-year-old also said the Chamber PAC’s support was a “coveted endorsement” to receive, calling it “a stamp of approval from the business community in Citrus Heights.”
Commenting on the PAC’s other endorsement in the race, Weiland spoke highly of Slowey and said he would be “beyond pleased to serve with him on the city council.” Although Slowey has already endorsed another candidate, Planning Commissioner Rick Doyle, he said “Marcel is well-spoken and he represents the younger people of the community.”
Asked to comment why the Chamber PAC endorsed the two candidates out of a pool of eight people running, PAC Chairman Ray Riehle said the 15-member committee found Slowey to be “a pretty easy choice,” citing his leadership and experience. He said Weiland’s endorsement required “more thought,” but highlighted “his youth, energy and tone,” as well as his local background growing up in Citrus Heights.
Riehle also said key endorsement considerations included if the candidate is engaged in the community, has vision and creativity, and can articulate their message well.
“When I consider candidates for office I want to know that they can deliver their message effectively,” the chairman told The Sentinel on Saturday, noting that some of the candidates could benefit from training at a Toastmasters speech club meeting. “Not only should they speak well at a council meeting, but they also need to be able to represent the interests of Citrus Heights in other settings.”
As previously reported on The Sentinel, both Slowey and Weiland were also the top fundraisers in the last pre-election campaign disclosure period and both have ranked highest among likely voters surveyed at two recent forums. Since then, several candidates have reported additional donations over $1,000, including Doyle reporting a $1,000 donation from King’s Casino Management Group and $2,000 from former Phoenix Casino president Jack Cunningham. Those extra donations now put him among the top two fundraisers of the candidates, putting Weiland in third place for fundraising.
The forum & issues: The Chamber of Commerce, along with its PAC, also hosted and sponsored an Oct. 6 candidate forum at San Juan High School, following 20-minute endorsement interviews with each participating candidate the prior day. Candidate and former councilman Bret Daniels declined to participate in the Chamber PAC’s interviews and also didn’t show up at the candidate forum.
In an email statement to The Sentinel, Daniels cited campaign finance disclosures that indicate at least one PAC committee member contributed to, or helped, both Slowey and Doyle’s campaigns. He called the PAC’s activity a “corrupt process” and claimed the endorsements were already set to go to Slowey and Doyle — although Doyle did not end up getting the endorsement.
The Thursday-night forum was sparsely attended by about two dozen attendees, with each candidate being asked a series of questions on various local issues and background topics from Riehle, the moderator and PAC chairman. Following the forum, a Sentinel survey of over half the attendees found the top performers of the night to be Slowey and Weiland, with close runners up being Doyle and businessman Tim Schaefer.
The same four were also named the top picks by likely voters surveyed at a Sept. 19 candidate forum at city hall.
Measure B Slowey and Weiland differed on their response to a question on whether they would support Measure B, with Weiland taking a “reluctant yes” position, arguing that infrastructure maintenance costs “accelerate exponentially” down the road, if delayed. Slowey said he is “on the fence 100 percent” and accused Regional Transit of mismanaging funds. He also expressed concern that the measure allows for a percentage of RT funds to go into a general fund after 5 years, rather than to specific uses.
Doyle said he would “probably vote for it,” while Schaefer expressed concern about the measure’s higher sales tax driving business out of the county. None of the seven candidates at the forum took a firm position against Measure B, with restaurant manager Michael Nishimura, engineering consultant Porsche Middleton, and Construction Board of Appeals member Amor Taylor all taking positions in support of the half-cent sales tax measure.
Homelessness While candidates often lacked specific plans of action in response to questions, the topic of homelessness brought out some differences, although all were united in saying more could be done.
Doyle cited a police survey which identified 192 people associated with homelessness in the city and said homeless navigators — paid staff who connect homeless with resources — are “the way to go.” He advocated a “hand up” approach to homelessness, rather than a “hand out” approach, and said help should be available to those who want it.
Weiland also spoke positively of the homeless navigator program and additionally advocated supporting private organizations that serve the homeless, highlighting a “day porter” program in Roseville as a model. The program pays homeless individuals $10 an hour to pick up trash, direct visitors, and improve cleanliness in the area. The program is funded by a downtown business association and a partnership with The Gathering Inn.
Taylor advocated for a “winter sanctuary program” currently being developed by the Homeless Assistance Resource Team (HART) in connection with local churches. The program seeks to enlist the help of churches in the area to offer a weekly rotating location for up to 20 homeless individuals during the winter, providing them with a warm meal, showers, shelter and connection to resources.
Slowey rejected the idea of a homeless shelter, commenting “as far as a homeless shelter in town, I will not and do not support that; because I think if you build it — they do come.” He also highlighted his vote to double the navigator funding, stating an initial success rate of over 50 percent documented in the city for navigators connecting homeless to resources and housing.
Middleton said there should be more done in the area of educating the community on how to interact with homeless, citing an example of police telling her, “Don’t give them money, you’re encouraging them to stay.” She said educating the community is of equal importance to programs that can help homeless get off the street and into housing.
Nishimura seemed to comment positively on ordinances that allow police to crackdown on camping and panhandling, but balanced his comment by saying, “you have to remember these people have rights, we can’t just round them up and put them in jail.”
Schaefer said a family member of his has been chronically homeless for 25 years and does not want help. He cited the example as a “microcosm” of what he sees happening in society and said homeless will always be around. He advocated “finding a way to manage” the homeless in order to minimize the cost on society, as well as help transition those willing to get off the streets.
Economic development Nishimura said the new Dignity Health medical building should help boost other businesses in the area, commenting with a smile that Tugboat Fish & Chips at Greenback Lane and Fountain Square Drive is “suddenly gonna become one of the primo lunch spots.” The Elephant Bar restaurant manager said he’d also like to see similar redevelopment happening on Auburn Boulevard, along the lines of the Sunrise Marketplace facelift. He also said a new venue would be good for events and would draw business.
Schaefer, who led the fight against moving city hall and has questioned the cost of the nearly $22 million new city hall project, expressed some skepticism that the yet-to-begin Dignity Health medical building project would ever be built. He cited a September financial report by the health group showing a $238 million net loss for the past fiscal year, and spoke positively of a new hotel in the location instead, with nearby access to events at the community center. He also said the city is lacking in office buildings for businesses seeking to locate in the region.
Weiland advocated a proactive approach to attracting new businesses by “creat[ing] a pitch that is both relevant to the business and very convincing based on the strengths of our city and the strengths of our region.” He also said the city has an opportunity to specifically attract tech startups and said the city has “a proven model” with strong retail and “should build on that success.”
Middleton said a hotel would be “a good idea,” as well as fiber optics to attract high tech jobs, and advocated a type of convention center for events, but cautioned that the ideas should be examined carefully for “feasibility” and community support. She also referenced Weiland’s comment on a strong retail model already at work in the city and said “we don’t need to recreate the wheel.”
Slowey said he would not advocate more retail and instead said he’d like to see more medical industry jobs in the city. He also called the now-empty old Sylvan Middle School a “prime piece of real estate that we might have an option of purchasing.” He advocated that the city purchase it, if it becomes available, “so that we could control exactly what goes on there.” The veteran councilman also commented that “cities don’t create jobs,” and said the role of a local policy maker is to “create policies in places where businesses want to move to.”
Doyle also supported new medical jobs, staking out his support for the Dignity Health medical building and saying the city should do more to attract medical industry jobs, as a fast-growing industry. He also favored the idea of a new hotel in place of the old Kmart on Auburn Boulevard and said the city’s economic development department “needs to be more proactive than it has been, instead of reactive.”
Taylor said she’ll be part of the Auburn Boulevard revitalization, with personal plans to bring her own frozen yogurt franchise to one of the empty pads in front of Costco and Walmart next year. She also said Citrus Heights is struggling with a “city identity” and spoke highly of Roseville’s Vernon Town Square as a model for events and activities.
Candidate Marcel Weiland, left, and incumbent Jeff Slowey, right, speaking at a candidate forum in September. // CH Sentinel
Latest campaign finance disclosures show incumbent Jeff Slowey and newcomer Marcel Weiland far outpacing the remaining candidates vying for two seats on the Citrus Heights city council. Five of the eight candidates in the council race submitted disclosures by the first pre-election reporting deadline of Sept. 29, required by the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) for local candidates who raise or spend over $2,000.
Vice Mayor Slowey, the only incumbent in the race, maintained an expected edge and reported $5,800 in contributions from 18 donors during the latest reporting period, which covers contributions and expenses from July 1 through Sept. 24. Weiland, a 26-year-old candidate who gained popularity for a strong performance during a recent election forum, also had a strong performance in contributions, reporting $6,500 received from 14 donors since July 1.
Slowey’s top donors listed in latest filings were $1,000 from Republic Services and $500 from Watt Communities, which recently completed a 46-home development on Antelope Road. He also dominated early fundraising efforts in a prior reporting period of Jan. 1 through June 30 — before most candidates had filed an intention to run or began fundraising. His top donation early on in January was $3,000 from “Kings Management Group,” which listed its address as Stones Casino on Antelope Road. Adding both reporting periods together for the year, Slowey’s total contributions amount to just under $12,000, according to FPPC filings.
Weiland’s top donor listed was himself, with the candidate reporting a donation of $5,000 from personal funds to his campaign. His next top donation of $500 is listed as coming from Mark Hollingsworth, who is a former director at Riskalyze, where Weiland is currently employed. Slowey also contributed to his own campaign, giving $250 in the form of a loan. According to FPPC guidelines, loans and donations are both reported as contributions, but loans can be repaid with other campaign funds and may indicate the candidate desires to get the money back at a future date.
Slowey and Weiland also reported the highest expenditures of any of the candidates who filed by the Sept. 29 deadline. Weiland reported spending $3,400 on campaign literature, signs, and advertising. Slowey reported similar expenditure totals, spending $3,000 on a ballot statement, outdoor signs, printed material and mailing lists. Several residents also have reported receiving a mailer from Slowey’s campaign already.
Former councilman Bret Daniels came in third place for fundraising this period, reporting $3,700 in contributions from 15 named donors, $400 of which came from himself and $1,000 as a “nonmonetary” contribution of discounted or free services from JWS Promotions in Carmichael. He reported spending just under $2,000, primarily on a ballot statement and internet-related expenses.
Of the five other candidates in the race, three did not file by the Sept. 29 deadline and Tim Schaefer and Porsche Middleton trailed behind in fundraising, with each reporting just over $1,000 in contributions.
Schaefer reported $1,380 in contributions received from three donors, nearly all of which came as an $1,130 loan from himself to the campaign. He reported spending $1,100, primarily for a ballot statement and booth-related expenses during Sunday Funday.
Middleton reported $1,070 in contributions from three donors, $1,000 of which came from her husband, Benjamin Middleton. She reported spending $865, primarily for advertising and printed campaign material.
Rick Doyle, Amor Taylor, and Michael Nishimura did not file statements with the city clerk’s office by the FPPC deadline. While disclosure statements were not required for Taylor and Nishimura, who previously filed statements declaring they did not intend to receive or spend over $2,000, Doyle told The Sentinel on Friday that his campaign had missed the deadline, but would file disclosures by next week.
As one of only three candidates to begin fundraising prior to the July 1 reporting period, Doyle’s initial report from Jan. 1 through June 30 indicates he may end up being among the top fundraisers. Doyle reported receiving $4,000 from six donors through July 1, half of which came in the form of a personal loan to his campaign. He also reported early campaign expenditures amounting to $2,600.
The next financial disclosure reporting deadline is Oct. 27 and will cover the period from Sept. 25 through Oct. 22, 2016.
The top four candidates for city council listed by likely voters interviewed by The Sentinel Monday were Jeff Slowey, Marcel Weiland, Tim Schaefer, and Rick Doyle. // CH Sentinel
Updated Sept. 22, 7:17 a.m.–
A survey of likely voters who attended a Monday-night Citrus Heights city council candidate forum narrowed a field of eight candidates down to four — with attendees notably naming the youngest candidate in the room among their top picks.
Asked to list the top three candidates who stood out for their performance during the two-hour forum, attendees repeatedly named Vice Mayor Jeff Slowey and 26-year-old Marcel Weiland among the top performers of the evening. The only other two candidates to make it into the “top three” list of any of the dozen attendees interviewed by The Sentinel were Planning Commissioner Rick Doyle and businessman Tim Schaefer.
While Slowey, Doyle and Schaefer all hold significant experience, the surprise candidate of the night was Weiland, who is lesser-known and half the age of most of the eight candidates running. With only one exception, the dozen people interviewed all included Weiland in their top three list, often referring to him as “the young guy” and commenting positively on his youthful perspective.
“He is young, but he didn’t talk like he was young,” said 77-year-old Susan Allen, who listed Weiland in her top three, along with Vice Mayor Jeff Slowey and Planning Commissioner Rick Doyle. Asked why she named Weiland, Susan and her husband Forrest both called him “articulate,” and said he “didn’t waffle on any of the questions.”
The 26-year-old Weiland grew up in Citrus Heights near Tempo Park, was homeschooled, graduated from Santa Clara University, served as a legislative analyst with former state Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, and currently works as a director at a financial tech company in Auburn. His experience includes competing in speech and debate during his high school and college years, earning a degree in political science, and notably running against then-state Senator Darrell Steinberg for a senate seat in 2010 at the age of 20.
While making it into the “top three” in the minds of many forum attendees, Weiland faces a tough challenge as voters ultimately have to narrow their choices down to the top two, with only a pair of seats up for election on the five-member city council this November. Candidates Slowey and Doyle will make for a tough race, as each have many more years of local leadership experience, are well-funded, and boast a long list of endorsements.
Schaefer also poses a credible threat and boasts a long history of neighborhood association involvement, formerly serving as the vice president of the Residents’ Empowerment Association of Citrus Heights (REACH), which hosted the Sept. 19 candidate forum. The 55-year-old ran for city council in 2014 on a “Save City Hall” platform to oppose the plan to tear down and move the old city hall, but lost the election by a margin of about 800 votes.
Candidate Bret Daniels, who previously served on the council for six years, has also demonstrated past leadership and an ability to win elections — but wasn’t mentioned by any of the attendees interviewed by The Sentinel.
Forum attendee Jayna Karpinski-Costa, who serves as president of the SOAR Neighborhood Association, named Schaefer in her top three list, along with Slowey and Weiland. Others like Kathy Kellogg said she had a hard time narrowing the list down to three.
“Gosh, there was so many good ones — only three?” asked the 60-year-old, who told The Sentinel she was still undecided about who to vote for. Kellogg ended up listing Slowey, Doyle and Schaefer, citing their experience, but added that Weiland would be a good pick “if you put him with someone who has experience.”
While Weiland’s youth played a big role in likely voters’ minds, Doyle’s experience won the respect of many attendees interviewed afterward, with his record as a 39-year resident of Citrus Heights and a six-year member of the City’s planning commission. He also boasts the endorsement of the entire city council, outgoing Sacramento County Supervisor Roberta MacGlashan, and all but one of his fellow planning commissioners.
Vice Mayor Slowey also earned respect from attendees as the only incumbent in the race, running on his record as a 13-year veteran council member and taking credit for helping Citrus Heights operate as a city with no debt. “If you like what’s going on in the city, I had a big part to do with a lot of that,” he said in his opening statement.
The remaining three candidates in the race are restaurant manager Michael Nishimura, engineering consultant Porsche Middleton, and Construction Board of Appeals member Amor Taylor. The trio will face a difficult time getting their message out as they are the only candidates who chose not to pay the $700 cost to include a 200-word candidate statement in the November election sample ballot, which is direct-mailed to each voter.
The trio were also the only candidates who signed a campaign finance form declaring they do not intend to raise or spend more than $2,000 in the election. A review of the past two Citrus Heights city council elections found that winning candidates have all raised over $10,000 — with some candidates spending over $20,000.
Candidates will have a second chance to win over more voters at another forum set for Oct. 6, hosted by the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce at San Juan High School.
On the Issues The Sept. 19 candidate forum was attended by about 70 people and featured a series of 13 rapid-fire succession questions by moderator Matt Lesenyie, who teaches at UC Davis and is a Ph.D. candidate. Topics ranged from code enforcement, to development approaches and how to stimulate community involvement.
Candidates took seats at chairs usually occupied by city council members during council meetings, each hopeful their answers would bring them one step closer to a four-year seat in the same chair. While many answers lacked specific action plans and uncovered only mild disagreements among the candidates, several issues drew a bit more heated and diverse comments from the eight candidates.
Bret Daniels Daniels, 56, who is a former Sacramento County Sheriff’s deputy and former Citrus Heights council member, distinguished himself with a focus on law enforcement, advocating for more officers on the streets and calling public safety the “number one role of government.”
He also criticized the city for failing to listen to the community at times and called an idea floated by Commissioner Doyle to consider new residential dwellings on top of businesses “crazy.” Daniels also took aim at the high cost to taxpayers for Regional Transit services, claiming it would be cheaper to pay for Uber or Lyft to drive RT riders around.
Porsche Middleton
Middleton, 32, spoke most passionately on education and said when she moved to Citrus Heights two years ago with her family and two small children, she “almost didn’t settle here because of the school system.” She, along with Slowey and Schaefer, made the case that improved schools would attract young families to the city, which in turn would reduce blight and enhance the economy.
Tim Schaefer A question about past neighborhood involvement brought out the strengths of Doyle, Slowey, Taylor, Daniels, and Schaefer, while the rest admitted to little or no past involvement in their neighborhood associations. Schaefer served as the past vice president of REACH and also helped lead other neighborhood groups and efforts. As an opponent of new taxes, he questioned whether Measure B would actually repair roads in Citrus Heights and also criticized the new city hall project for draining reserves that could have been spent on roads.
Schaefer also took a controversial jab at Middleton for saying she didn’t attend her neighborhood association meetings because she was working and had small children at home. “The meetings are once a month,” he said. “One time a month, that’s it… it’s not that hard to go to a meeting — it’s a great experience.”
Marcel Weiland
Weiland staked out homelessness as his top issue to address, calling it a “growing issue” that would only get bigger and more expensive to address in the future. He cited a police department study that found over 30 percent of calls for service to the Citrus Heights Police Department are homeless-related and said more collaboration needs to be done with private organizations and groups like the Homeless Assistance Resource Team and food closets. As the youngest candidate running, Weiland also said he would be the best candidate to represent the next generation and the future of Citrus Heights.
Michael Nishimura
Nishimura, 53, listed homelessness and the condition of public streets as his top issues during the forum. He spoke positively of how the city is currently run and said he would continue what is already being done by the City, stating that the image of Citrus Heights has improved over the past 20 years. Regarding traffic, Nishimura advocated accessibility to businesses and voiced concern about people avoiding shopping at Sunrise Mall due to traffic on Greenback Lane and Sunrise Boulevard.
Amor Taylor Taylor, 51, listed homelessness and public safety as her top issues, and also praised the work of faith-based communities in Citrus Heights. She said she began serving on the Construction Board of Appeals due to the her knowledge of construction and access, as a person with a disability. She envisions a city with more shopping areas and businesses to compete better with Roseville.
Jeff Slowey Slowey, 55, called Citrus Heights “the best-kept secret in Sacramento County” and spoke positively of a “city awareness” campaign effort to brand the city as an attractive place to live, work, and play. The current councilman and vice mayor stressed the importance of good schools as the top issue to fix in Citrus Heights and said the San Juan Unified School District could “do better.” He also acknowledged the growing problem of homelessness in the city, but said, “you’re not gonna solve it in Citrus Heights, you’re going to solve it regionally.”
Rick Doyle Doyle, 72, focused on code enforcement several times during the forum, calling blight in the city “a cancer.” Although cautioning that “we certainly do not want to be the gestapo,” Doyle said the police department could host a code enforcement month where code violation issues in neighborhoods could be cracked down on using smartphone picture submissions. He also said the City’s economic development should be “more proactive than reactive,” in order to attract new businesses and developments, like the Dignity Health medical office building set to be built in place of the old city hall.
