| Republican squabble rules roost Byers, challenger Basinger take spotlight in forum for District 1 supervisor’s race | |
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By Cableb Soptelean Kingman Daily Miner | |
KINGMAN – A Democrat and an independent were cordial during a District 1 board of supervisors candidates’ forum Thursday night, but two Republicans sparred over a variety of issues. Challenger Richard Basinger attacked the record of incumbent Pete Byers early and often during the 90-minute forum at Mohave Community College. Basinger spoke first and spent most of 10 minutes attacking Byers’ record. Referring to "boondoggles and snafus" during the past year, Basinger noted what he said were violations of the state open meetings law. Basinger said it was illegal for the board of supervisors to correct a previous action because the corrective action took place more than 30 days after the original vote. The Economic Development Authority, he said, "was done away with, and nothing took its place." He credited but also distanced himself somewhat from Byers’ frequent opponent at board meetings, Supervisor Buster Johnson from Lake Havasu City. "There are things that supervisor’s done that I very much disagree with," Basinger said. On the positive side, he noted that Johnson said "no" to taxes, voted to preserve the Economic Development Authority and stood up against violations of the open meetings law. Basinger also strongly criticized County Manager Ron Walker and said, if elected, he would vote to replace him. Basinger said he would vote to take away some of the county manager’s authority and give it to the board of supervisors, no matter who the county manager is. "I think he has done a bad job," Basinger said of Walker. Byers came to Walker’s defense. "The county manager is doing a good job. He’s got all of his oars in the water, and they’re going in the right direction," Byers said. Micromanagement of county staff is “where we’re headed” if he loses the Sept. 7 primary, Byers said. If re-elected, Byers added, the next four years would be his last in office. "I’ve made clear, honest decisions. I inherited a county that was adrift. We went through three county managers in five years." Byers said turnover in some county departments was as high as 44 percent prior to his tenure. "Every dime was directed to the I-40 corridor. Economic development was the only thing that mattered," Byers said. "We now have $18 million in a contingency fund and a new sheriff’s office." Kingman losing the county seat is the biggest issue the county faces in this election, Byers said. "I’m the only one who’s ever done anything there (in Colorado City)," Byers said, in reference to the county putting a government building in the northern Mohave County polygamous community. Independent candidate John Ford read a statement from his former boss, District 2 Supervisor Tom Sockwell, which said Ford ran Sockwell’s Dolan Springs office "in a very efficient manner," complimenting Ford for his "aggressive approach to getting the job done." "We get no respect from the county to this day," Ford said of Dolan Springs, explaining one of the reasons he decided to run. "My rural area has not been blessed with good leadership. Kingman has been blessed with good leadership. If we do not start developing our rural areas, we’re going to be up the creek." Ford said there is not one paved road in Dolan Springs and that sales tax dollars are going out of state because of people shopping in Las Vegas. Democratic candidate Ken Dunn has lived in Mohave County for 11 years. He said he wants to clean up blighted areas, start an after-school program, bring Colorado City into compliance with state law, establish neighborhood watch programs and try to get better paying jobs for county residents. Former Kingman Mayor Les Byram asked the candidates whether they would vote to move county facilities to Golden Valley. Byers said there’s no infrastructure, fire department or municipal water system in Golden Valley. "It’s only something to increase the value of some property for a small group of people. If they stop the county administration building, you can bet it’s going to move." Ford and Dunn said they would take a wait-and-see approach about moving county facilities outside of Kingman. Basinger said he doesn’t favor moving county facilities from Kingman but criticized the county for buying "prime real estate at the crossroads of America," referring to Beale Street and Interstate 40, the west Kingman interchange. The area includes the new sheriff’s headquarters and the new county administration building, which will be erected nearby. "(Having) those buildings (in Kingman) will not save the county seat," he said. "The county seat has never been threatened. What will save (the county seat) is Kingman being a team player." In response to a question from the audience about recent increases in fees for such things as septic system installations, Basinger said the process was flawed. Byers said the board of supervisors’ vote was unanimous to increase the fees but that the fees will be looked at. "We probably made a mistake there. It slipped through," he said. Ford said county officials should "go to the town halls and tell what they’re for. Fees have to be brought to the people so you know what you’re paying for." Dunn said he didn’t see any notices about the fee increases until he read about them afterward in the newspaper. Ford and Dunn will face the winner of the Sept. 7 Republican primary in the Nov. 2 general election. | |
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kingmandailyminer.com Originally published Sunday, August 8, 2004 | |
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