LAKEPORT — Next month, Lakeport voters will decide on two new members for its City Council.
Four individuals qualified as candidates for the city”s council election on Nov. 7, but only three are running: Ron Bertsch, Todd Falconer and Jim Irwin.
Jack “Jay” Swanson decided to drop out of the race due to the conflict of interest his part-time position with the Lakeport Police Department creates.
The two council seats are open because incumbents Mayor Ted Mandrones and Councilman Bill Knoll decided not to seek re-election.
While the three candidates seeking the two open seats on the Lakeport City Council bring diverse interests and experience, each interestingly echoes the same issues as top priorities: the update of the General Plan, staffing, infrastructure and road improvement.
The candidates also agree that Lakeport is going to grow significantly and that this growth needs to be managed.
Retired fire captain Ron Bertsch, 57, who has endorsements from councilmembers Roy Parmentier and Buzz Bruns, retired here in 2001 and became a full-time citizen.
Bertsch said he has attended almost every City Council meeting since his unsuccessful attempt last year to gain a seat on the council.
“I have the time and dedication,” said Bertsch.
He added that he wants to be a City Council member because, “The buck stops here.”
Bertsch said that he attends the City Council meetings regularly and that because he has been closely following the issues in the last year, he could immediately step in and be ready to serve effectively on the council.
“Whatever we do here is going to affect the county and vice versa,” he said.
Small businessman Todd Falconer, 43, is a retired Air Force pilot who also unsuccessfully attempted to gain a seat on the council last year. Parmentier won the seat Falconer and Bertsch sought.
Falconer says he is typical of most people in Lake County who are trying to make a living. He is concerned about the disparity between the home prices here and the cost of living and employment opportunities.
“We need to chase down every federal and state grant we can,” he said. Falconer also said that, while he has a few varied business ventures, he has no business activity within the city limits of Lakeport which would prevent him from effectively serving on the city council.
He said he believes Lakeport needs more community development and a bigger economic base, but hopes that the city does not turn into a big city with big problems.
“I think we can balance the growth and keep this a nice community,” he said. “There needs to be a cooperative effort between all governing bodies.”
General contractor Jim Irwin, 25, was born and raised in Lake County, and his father is a developer here. The younger Irwin said his background as a private businessman means he has experience in finances and stewardship, managing employees and planning ahead.
As a builder of custom homes, he said, “I am used to being accountable to people who expect results for their money.”
Irwin, who has previously been a proxy member of the airport land use commission, said that he is not in favor of government regulating or legislating people”s lives.
“The purpose of government is to provide for the public”s health, safety and well-being,” he said.
Contact Cynthia Davis at cdavis@record-bee.com.
