City Council candidates talk about why they ran

McCOOK, Neb. -- Three of the four McCook City Council candidates attended the High Plains Radio Candidate's Forum at the Bieroc Cafe recently, offering their reasons for running for office and areas they would focus on if elected.

Incumbent Mike Gonzales said he was born in McCook and graduated from both McCook High School and McCook Community College. Gonzales has been a City Councilman since 2009 and employed by the Ed Thomas YMCA since 1975, serving as executive director since 1982.

Gonzales said he serves on city council because McCook has been, and is his home, and he wants to use any god given talent he might have to make McCook a better place for his family and friends to live.

"I had a very wise man, my father Vick Gonzales, give me some good advice. He always used to say if somebodys complaining, either put up or shut. I choose to put up," said Gonzales.

Gonzales was asked, as the soon-to-be most tenured City Council member following the departure of Mayor Dennis Berry, what he saw as his top priority for the use of sales tax over the next ten years, aside from infrastructure and equipment for city staff.

Gonzales said part the sales tax revenue is already committed to debt associated with the recently constructed Municipal Center, which he reminded was approved via a public vote.

"A lot of that money is going to have to go, over the next two years, to retire that debt. After that, we are going to be using it for projects. There is a lot of things on the drawing board. We've been talking about the swimming pool, whether we make some kind of water park system or a facility like that. It will go to, half of it goes to, retire property tax and as a homeowner I'm very interested in seeing that it continues, because I own property," said Gonzales, adding the use of sales tax for property tax relief was a great deal and without the revenue received from sales tax the city really would struggle to do a lot of the projects they have.

Gonzales was asked to explain why the city took over trash hauling and went away from having the service bid out to local contracters, which led to the purchase of three semi-tractors and two specialized trash hauling trailers.

Gonzales said the city was basically forced into taking over trash hauling from the private contractor, due to a lack of service which nearly put a stop to trash collection altogether.

"So basically, it was felt that, the best option was to do it ourselves. We know what we have, we know when we have to go. Unfortunately, the city is not like a private industry that can take and depreciate that expenditure over 20 years to prove that it's going to be a good plan. It shows up on the books for a lot of expense for this year and they had to depreciate. I totally supported that, I think it's a good deal. We've been watching the system, the trash moves out of here on a regular basis and we don't have any storage," said Gonzales.

Gonzales said he believed it was our responsibility, as citizens of McCook, to make the community better and he would appreciate your vote and the ability to continue serving.

Incumbent Bruce McDowell said he has been in McCook almost 10 years and made some wonderful friends during that time.

"Seems like a way to give back is serving on the City Council. I've been there for almost three years now and I won't tell you it's all roses, it's a lot of hard work, which really doesn't get noticed too much," said McDowell with a smile.

McDowell added jovially he wasn't complaining, there was just more that goes on behind the scenes than what you really see, "I'm not totally sure why I'm running but it seemed like a good thing to do," said McDowell to laughter from those in attendance.

McDowell was asked what he would say is his major accomplishment since being on City Council.

"I don't know that I have a major accomplishment. I think I work really hard to be prepared for the meetings and work well with the rest of the City Council. You know, one councilperson really doesn't get credit for doing anything, we do it as a group. I think we've worked really well together and I think the citizens really have got a good deal from our hard work. I couldn't point to anything that says this is our shining moment," said McDowell.

Looking forward, McDowell said he would like to see the local housing shortage addressed to allow the city to grow, adding it needed to be addressed sooner rather than later.

"I know some people might wonder why we need this growth and I got a short answer for that. If we don't grow, we're going to shrink, and as we shrink I can tell you your taxes are going to go up because we still have 50 miles of water line, 50 miles of sewer line, right here in McCook. Just because your neighbor moves out they don't shut off that line, it still has to be maintained," said McDowell, adding the cost is then shared by fewer and fewer people.

McDowell said he would like your vote and encouraged citizens of McCook to take the time to attend a city council meeting.

"It makes me feel good when I see people show up, just because their interested in whats going on, and if they have input boy I'm more than willing to listen to that. I may not always agree but I will listen," said McDowell.

Challenger Gene Weedin has lived in McCook since 1998 and spent 16 years as a teacher at McCook Jr. High School, retiring in May after teaching for 39 years.

Weedin said infrastructure improvements were an important use of sales tax revenue and he would prefer to avoid $6 million bond issues like the one Minden, Nebraska, is facing. Weedin said good water, sewer, roads and recreation were things that would attract people to McCook.

"That's what we're looking for, attracting people to McCook. Those are the things you have to make an investment in and, later on, it will pay off for you," said Weedin.

Weedin said he agreed with McDowell that housing was the priority issue right now. He said it would be a priority area for him to work very hard, doing everything he could as a councilman, "to see that if someone wants to build a house here they can."

Weedin said he has enjoyed living in McCook and feels he has an obligation as a citizen to give back to the community.

"This is one way that I can give back to the community, for the things that I've received in 16 years," said Weedin, adding that if he is fortunate enough to be on the City Council he promises to work very hard to be the best councilman he can be.

Weedin said he would be informed, approachable, willing to listen and would base his opinions on both the concerns of citizens as well as the facts of an item.

City Council candidate Lonnie Anderson did not attend the candidates forum, which featured impromptu questions from a panel of four while broadcast live on KICX and KBRL radio.