Portage City Council: Meet the candidates

By Kalamazoo Gazette staff

October 11, 2009, 6:00AM

Nine people are on the ballot for the Portage City Council in the Nov. 3 election. The candidates are:
 
MAYOR (two-year term):

Peter StrazdasPete Strazdas
Age: 51.
Address: 7130 Crown Point Circle.
Occupation: Associate vice president for facilities management, Western Michigan University.
Incumbent: Yes.
Web site: None.


COUNCIL (three four-year terms):

Cory BailesCory Bailes
Age: 50.
Address: 2309 Beethoven Ave.
Occupation: Technical support and inside sales, Purity Cylinder Gases, Inc.
Incumbent: No.
Web site: www.coryforportage.blogspot.com


Claudette ReidClaudette Reid
Age: 56.
Address: 1524 Dogwood Drive.
Occupation: Occupational therapist, Disability Management Program of Michigan Rehabilitation Services
Incumbent: Yes.
Web site: www.reid4portage.com.


Ed SackleyEd Sackley
Age: 57.
Address: 10314 Archwood Drive.
Occupation: Aide to U.S. Rep. Fred Upton.
Incumbent: Yes.
Web site: None.



Terry UrbanTerry Urban
Age: 50.
Address: 211 Cherryview Drive.
Occupation: Research scientist, NanoMed Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Incumbent: Yes.
Web site: None.




COUNCIL (one two-year term):

Tom FoxTom Fox
Age: 66.
Address: 1330 E. Osterhout Ave.
Occupation: Director of finance and personnel, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts.
Incumbent: No.
Web site: None.


Jim PearsonJim Pearson
Age: 53
Address: 3004 East Shore Drive.
Occupation: Associate research fellow and molecular medicine human 'Omics lead, Pfizer, Inc.
Incumbent: No.
Web site: www.pearson4portage.com


Patricia RandallPatricia Randall
Age: 46.
Address: 6702 Oleander Lane.
Occupation: Community volunteer.
Incumbent: No.
Web site: None.


Phil StinchcombPhil Stinchcomb
Age: 47.
Address: 1607 Bellaire Ave.
Occupation: Manufacturing sales representative for Geneva Liberty Steel.
Incumbent: No.
Web site: www.philstinchcomb.com

CLICK A QUESTION TO SEE THE CANDIDATES' ANSWERS

1. What should be the No. 1 priority of the next Portage City Council? 2. Declining property values are creating serious budget problems for Portage, and shortfalls for other communities. Recognizing that most of the budget goes to employee salaries, specifically what services would you cut or what revenues would you increase? 3. What qualifies you to serve on the Portage City Council? 4. The council has recently looked at its industrial tax-break policy and questioned if it should be changed. Do you favor the current policy or would you prefer to see changes made? 5. The city has maintained the same millage level for several years. In today’s tough economic times, should the city consider having a millage election to increase the general fund budget levy of 7.5 mills? 6. Portage has been proud of not laying off city workers to deal with declining revenue, instead relying on retirements and attrition for a smaller staff size. Does it appear layoffs might be needed, though, to balance the next budget in 2010? 7. The recent council has said that it feels it is offering a “transparent” government process that is open and responsive to residents’ concerns, from dealings with city staff to bringing matters to the council. Do you agree? 8. Substance abuse involving young people has been identified as a big concern in recent years in Portage. Do you believe the city has addressed that issue and, if not, what should it do? 9. What do you see as the biggest problem Portage must deal with in the coming year, and how would you deal with it?

MORE ELECTION 2009:

• Meet the Kalamazoo candidates here.
• Go to the Kalamazoo candidates' questions and answers.
• Go to the Portage candidates' questions and answers.