Measure B: here’s where the Citrus Heights city council candidates stand

All eight Citrus Heights city council candidates were recently given an opportunity by The Sentinel to submit written statements on a variety of local issues, including Measure B. Seven of the eight candidates submitted statements by the Oct. 22 deadline, and their answers are provided below.

Each candidate was allowed up to a 100-word response per question, with two opposing Measure B and the remaining candidates expressing support for the measure.

Q: 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?

Jeff Slowey: “This issue is tricky – a self-imposed tax raise or not, with the benefit going into much needed local roads. The downside to this measure is the funding going into Regional Transit at roughly 30 percent and no control of how the funding is spent after 5 years. I think most would agree RT has yet to fully get its house in order and the fact that approximately only 5 percent of the county residents ride RT. While I generally don’t support tax increases, this one makes sense on the whole. I will probably hold my nose and vote a reluctant yes.”

Bret Daniels: “All of my opponents have had the opportunity to come out against this effort to raise our taxes and none have done so. I am the only candidate that from day one has said NO to Measure B. This is 30 year tax that will hurt our businesses and we can’t afford it. Four years ago, the city tried to raise our utility taxes and I helped lead the fight against that effort. We defeated that effort but city staff still received fat raises. The government does not have a revenue problem; it has a spending problem.”

Marcel Weiland: “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.”

Tim Schaefer: “I am opposed to Measure B. Previous Measure A (1988) and Measure A (2004) are nearly identical to Measure B, with the exception that Measure B has some very expensive projects such as extending light rail to Elk Grove and the airport and a 33-mile expressway between Highway 99 and Folsom. Yet it is being ‘sold’ as surface street repairs. Both previous Measure A tax increases have fallen short with very few of our streets receiving repairs.”

Rick Doyle: “Like everyone, I’m not in favor of any tax increase. However, because it was drafted to require a two-thirds majority to pass, I can be sure that the funds raised will not be diverted to other causes and will address our badly needed street repairs throughout Sacramento County. Some of the major streets in Citrus Heights would include Auburn Boulevard; San Juan Avenue; Antelope Road; Greenback Lane; and Sunrise Boulevard. It also includes an annual audit and a taxpayer oversight committee. So I will be supporting Measure B.”

Amor Taylor: “I would support Measure B to begin to repair our much needed roads, infrastructure, and making regional transit improvements for those that use it.”

Porsche Middleton: “I realize that many people do not want to pay additional taxes, however if approved Measure B will provide the City of Citrus

Heights a stable, local source of funding for filling potholes, repairing and repaving local streets, redesigning intersections, as well as implementing a Bicycle Master Plan and Americans with Disabilities Act improvements. These improvements will make our community more attractive and we would share the cost of these improvements state wide, this means we will not have to use money from the general fund to make these necessary improvements.”

Want to share your thoughts on Measure B? Click here to submit a letter to the editor.

Candidates were also asked other questions about enhancing public safety, body cameras, marijuana regulation, fiscal policy, and homelessness. Although agreeing on many issues, candidates hold opposing views on several issues, and also have differing approaches to enhancing public safety and other issues.

To see each candidate’s answers to all eight questions, see article: “Citrus Heights city council candidates on the issues, in their own words”