Thornton City Council candidate forum provides a few interesting tidbits
September 25th, 2011
Who is best to sit on the dais at the civic center?
The Metro North Chamber of Commerce and MetroNorth Newspapers held their City Council Candidate Forum recently and while the event did not provide too much notable, there were some interesting comments by some of the candidates. As much as anything it was interesting just to observe some of them as they answered and in doing so one could gather what sort of leadership the candidate would provide.
Below are my thoughts on the race. At the bottom of the text you can watch the video of the forum from the City of Thornton.
For the mayor’s race, the three candidates pretty much performed as expected.
Mack Goodman was slow to answer questions and it was difficult to grasp quite what he was saying as seemingly every third word was “uh.” Nothing much to see here and another demonstration of why he is not really a viable alternative to hold Thornton’s highest political office.
Val Vigil started off by making an interesting claim saying, “I am a 20 year veteran from the city of Thornton.” That misleading comment leads one to believe Vigil is a military veteran which he is not. The virtual career politician may not have meant it the way it came out but for someone who is staking his entire campaign on his political experience and little else, this was a big mistake.
Vigil repeatedly stated that the city needed to “find out what businesses want”, a rather odd thing to say given that the answer is pretty self-evident. Like many other sitting council members, he routinely ignores what the city’s own business advisory commission recommends, instead deferring to the political winds and his union campaign contributors.
He also stated his blind support for another Fastracks tax increase while providing no reasoning as to how he would ensure that Thornton taxpayers don’t get the shaft from the boondoggle like they have for the past seven years. Vigil said he would support an increased tax on the working families of Thornton even in these hard economic times, a clear indication of where we would stand with him as mayor (deeper in debt and paying higher taxes).
Local business owner Heidi Williams showed why she is the clear frontrunner and the best prepared to lead the city for the next four years. Her answers were concise, to the point, and demonstrated that she has a clear grasp of the issues confronting citizens and area businesses. The small business owner and school board member recognizes what it is going to take to move Thornton to the next level beyond our current bedroom community status.
Her non-partisan approach and clear ability to lead and work with others is evident by the fact she is endorsed by the past three Thornton mayors. Margaret Carpenter, Noel Busck and Erik Hansen – two Democrats and one Republican – all support Williams and that speaks volumes.
As for the candidates running for city council in each of the city wards, few provided anything noteworthy.
Jenice ‘JJ’ Dove and Lee Cantu are vying for the vacant Ward I seat and neither was impressive. One almost has to feel sorry for Ward I residents that they don’t have any better alternatives.
The Ward II race is arguably the most interesting pitting incumbent Eva Henry against Richard Gianzero.
Despite having served on council for four years, Henry’s lack of leadership is notable. She touted her union endorsements, something which she paid back during her first term by backing measures unfriendly to employers and the city itself. She touted the Businesses of Thornton Advisory Commission, the same group whose recommendations she has repeatedly ignored. Like too many politicians, she touts her support for veterans but has demonstrated a distinct lack in that regard. Ward II voters need to realize there is a better alternative to represent them.
By contrast, Gianzero provided refreshingly honest and frank answers. He was correct in his observation of the problems within city council and clearly understands that Thornton needs to attract businesses beyond retailers and big box stores. Gianzero’s statement that Thronton must be better than our neighbors to “draw business to us” is spot on as is his position on Fastracks.
Incumbent Beth Humenik is facing off against Sam Nizam in a Ward III race that just doesn’t have much punch to it. Humenik’s tenure on council has not been particularly noteworthy and we struggle to note any accomplishments. Sam Nizam incorrectly stated that he was the “only true small business owner” of all the candidates at the forum and we remain highly concerned about his clearly far-left political leanings.
Ward IV voters have no choice in the election as incumbent Eric Tade is running unopposed and will end up remaining on council for four more years without facing a challenge. It was disappointing that Tade didn’t appear at the forum and answer the questions just like the other candidates. Whether he has a challenger or not, the residents that he represents deserved to hear from him.
[...] view the entire Candidate Forum, please click here for a full video and critique by Thornton’s own blogger, Tony Hake via his blog, [...]
After watching the video of the North Metro Chamber of Commerce Candidate Forum held, I am disturbed by the rhetoric on display from some candidates and that others continue to want to push the failed policies of Washington DC right here in Thornton and further burden our citizenry with taxes they can’t afford for services we don’t need and/or already should have.
Sitting Ward 2 council member Val Vigil and Ward 2 incumbent candidate Eva Henry stood out as left-wing extremists. Eva Henry gave up her 18 year Finance career to become an “advocate for working families,” i.e. career politician. Her policies on city council the past four years reflect otherwise. Through the policies she advocates, Ms. Henry has shown zero regard for those same “working families” who are out of work or under employed.
From Henry’s performance at the candidate forum, it became crystal clear that she works against her own stated positions by supporting policies that impose regulations on businesses that inhibit growth. You can’t choke business and, at the same time, say you are pro-business. You can’t be an “advocate for working families” and simultaneously impose more taxes those same families who are struggling check-to-check.
I recently heard Henry in a Ward 2 meeting tout how she stays in touch with the voters and knocks on doors. My neighbors and I have never once spoken to her on our doorstep, nor have any of us ever received any dropped literature from her indicating she or an associate/supporter has even been there. She has been as absent from my neighborhood in Ward 2 as any information pertaining to her supposed award by Access Housing as the “Public Servant of the Year.”
I am curious to see the Thornton City Council work plan referenced in this forum as it has come to my attention that Ms. Henry is leading an effort (conveniently tabled until after the election) that will mandate all city contracts be awarded to union shops. No wonder the unions have endorsed her. Washington politics right here in Thornton; clearly Eva Henry wants to serve special interests first.
I’m quite confident when I say, Eva Henry, may be a genuinely kind person, supports policies that kill jobs, promotes regulations that strangle business growth, and wants to continue to increase taxes of the already hurting citizenry. Simply, Eva Henry is a job-killing, tax-happy, out-of-touch career politician who knocks on doors only around election time to suit her self-serving interests, and who want to bring the failed policies of Washington DC to your doorsteps.
Watch the video – you be the judge!
Vote Richard Gianzero for Thornton City Council Ward 2
[...] voter’s take on my [...]
Interesting take on the forum. I recently watched the debate after it was posted on line and I completely disagree with all of your comments above. Val Vigil is hardly an extremist. I find it interesting that you not hold up other candidates experience as small business as a positive trait, you fail to ever recognize Vigil’s own experience as a successful small business owner. He has organized several meetings for my neighborhood to address our concerns, and I have been very happy with his ability not only to listen, but to take action.
In regards to Henry, and the comments made by the poster above, Eva has visited mine and my mother’s house several times. In fact once last summer and twice this summer. It means a lot to my mother that she knocked on her door even when she was not running for reelection. I also called access housing out of curiosity, and she is indeed receiving an award, perhaps before the above poster makes allegations they should have made a phone call as well.
Henry for Ward II, Vigil for mayor
Adele, Val Vigil’s “experience as small business” is quite limited. His company, Vigil & Company, LLC, was just formed in January 2007 – less than five years ago – and seems to involve an array of ventures, perhaps because none have been particularly successful. It does not appear he even has any employees.
By contrast, he has actually spent far more time as a politician than as a business owner. His actions while in elected office are obviously the most valuable in judging what sort of mayor he would be. The evidence clearly shows he would support his union funders at the expense of businesses and Thornton citizens.
As for Eva Henry, she has indeed been an advocate for those in the community that struggle. However the commenter didn’t question the award itself that Henry is receiving. The point was that Henry’s other actions have been harmful to businesses and employers thus hurting Thornton families.
[...] previously on all three candidates. Having seen them all in action in life, in politics and in political forums, Heidi Williams is the only candidate that [...]