LAKEPORT — Paul “P.J.” Racine said he thinks he would be a good addition to the Lakeport City Council because he has the business and budgeting experience to help keep the city financially solvent during an unsure economic climate.
“Financial sustainability, that”s like kind of a catchphrase now, but that”s my whole platform,” said Racine, 35, about his city council candidacy. “I want to make sure when my daughter grows up, that we”re still in a city.”
Racine said the main reason he is running for city council is to help maintain a financially solvent city and to help prevent a “worst-case scenario,” being “that the city gets absolved back into the county.”
Racine is a lifelong Lakeport resident, graduating from Clear Lake High School and taking classes at Mendocino College before completing a degree in business administration at California State University, Chico.
He and his wife of four years, Sausha, had their first child, Addison, in March.
Racine currently works as the manager of Paul Racine Distributor, a parent company founded by his father in 1969. The company has several offshoots, including The Dock Factory, Steel Starts and Precision Vinyl Components, all of which operate out of Lakeport off of Soda Bay Road.
Racine said some of his community work has been coaching youth soccer and working as treasurer of the Rotary Club.
He said he has no government experience but has kept up with the Lakeport City Council by reading the meeting minutes on the Internet.
“I like the city government atmosphere and felt that at this time I could do some good,” Racine said. “My business background, I”m dealing with some of the same things the government is, in terms of the economy”s hurting everybody, and the only thing that I care about is that the city survives this.”
Hugh Mackey, the retired owner of Mackey Tire Center, where Racine worked for two years in the mid-2000s, said Racine”s experience working as a business manager would help the city remain financially stable.
“He”s run his business out there and done a very good job,” Mackey said. “He wants to make sure we spend the monies we have wisely and also that we have enough money in the future to go ahead and still be in existence down the road.”
Racine said he thinks that securing a fiscal solvency will allow the city to address other important issues such as employee retirement plans and roads. “If we don”t get the finances in line, there”s nothing else,” he said.
Lakeport resident Todd Falconer said he has known Racine for nearly 10 years, and has conducted business with Racine in the past. He said he supports Racine for city council because of Racine”s focus on financial stability.
“I have been looking forward at the budgeting situation and cash flows and the way the city conducts its business, and I am concerned,” Falconer said. “I have faith in P.J. that he will put the city”s financial, long-term health at the very front of his priority list and make all decisions on that issue.”
Falconer pointed to character as another positive attribute of Racine”s campaign. “I think he is a very straightforward, honest, commonsense person,” he said.
Retired California Highway Patrol officer and Lakeport resident Bob Kalis said he has known Racine for nearly seven years and supports Racine mainly based on the candidate”s character.
“I know how honest and forthright he is at all times,” Kalis said.
Racine said he recognizes the Nov. 2 election is an important one for Lakeport and if elected, he would have the ability to make important choices on behalf of the city.
“It”s going to be a tough road I think and I”m willing to make tough decisions,” Racine said. “And the tough decision is all for the city, as far as keeping it solvent.”
Contact Jeremy Walsh at jwalsh@record-bee.com or call him directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
