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A Q&A with Bakersfield's mayoral candidates

BY JAMES GELUSO, Californian staff writer
e-mail: jgeluso@bakersfield.com | Thursday, May 15 2008 2:42 PM

Last Updated: Sunday, May 18 2008 8:40 PM

The following are answers to questions submitted by The Californian to the four men running for mayor of Bakersfield June 3. One candidate, Marc DeLeon, did not submit answers. The answers were lightly edited for space and clarity.

SHOULD THE CITY RESTRICT DEVELOPMENT ON HILLSIDES AS STRICTLY AS IT DOES IN THE CURRENT HILLSIDE ORDINANCE?

• HARVEY HALL: Yes. But the current Hillside Ordinance is subject to a lawsuit and I as mayor will abide by the court’s ruling.

• DENNIS MARTINEZ: Yes, resume ordinance protection of the land.

• JOSEPH CAPORALI: Only if it helps the hillsides. it's up to the people of the hillside, and would it better the city.

SHOULD THE CITY TAKE STEPS NOW TO INCREASE OUR RECYCLING RATE? IF SO, WHAT?

• HALL: Yes, but it must be cost-effective. We are already meeting the state’s requirements and we must be ready if the state changes and increases the requirements in the future.

The city is reviewing a proposal by the private garbage haulers that would increase our recycling rate. I will hold judgment until • the city staff reports to the City Council. I support the blue bins and all voluntary efforts to increase recycling.

• MARTINEZ: Yes. Even though the city does offer a choice for curbside recycling to the residents of Bakersfield, I feel that we can do a better job to increase the city’s recycling rate.

• CAPORALIi: We need to find ways to make more money for the people. And the city will be cleaner.

SHOULD THE CITY INCREASE DEVELOPMENT FEES TO PAY FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION?

• HALL: Yes. The question is not if but how much should they be increased. The county has already increased their fees. The city is reviewing how much they should be increased. The city needs to look at all methods to increase our road maintenance and construction budgets: development fees, lobbying for increases in state and federal funding, bonding and the addition of a half cent to our sales tax.

• MARTINEZ: Yes, so long as it is logical. The increase should be kept as minimal as possible.

• CAPORALI: Yes we need to pay for the road somehow.

SHOULD A FREEWAY THROUGH WESTPARK BE STUDIED AS AN OPTION BY THE CITY?

• HALL: That decision has already been made by the City Council. The state of California (Caltrans) is conducting a study to determine the most effective way to move traffic between Highway 99 and Interstate 5. Many alternatives are being studied.

• MARTINEZ: No. Discard that plan. it will hurt many families.

• CAPORALI: Yes we need to do more studies, and we need more freeways.

SHOULD THE CITY COUNCIL CONSIDER RESOLUTIONS, SUCH AS THOSE ABOUT IMMIGRATION AND GUN CONTROL, THAT HAVE NO CONCRETE IMPACT BUT THAT MAKE A POLITICAL STATEMENT?

• HALL: I’m not sure that your statement that immigration and gun control can have no concrete impact is true. They do have impacts but they are controlled by higher levels of government. And since members of the City Council are elected, they are free to make political statements.

Since my duties in the city charter are more defined than members of the council, I try to stay within my defined duties: run the City Council meetings, sign official documents for the city and ... promote and increase the economic and industrial base of the city in cooperation with the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce and the Kern Economic Development Corporation.

• MARTINEZ: No. This issue is not the city council concern. This issue should be handled by the federal government.

• CAPORALI: We can talk about the immigration in the future. We need better gun control.

SHOULD THE CITY ADOPT A MANDATORY SPAY-AND-NEUTER LAW. IF NOT, HOW SHOULD THE CITY HANDLE HIGH SHELTER EUTHANASIA RATES?

• HALL: Yes. But passing a law does not always get results. Enforcement will be a problem and expensive. The city will need a public education program to explain the financial and emotional costs to unwanted and uncared for animals.

• MARTINEZ: Yes, the city should adopt a mandatory spay-and-neuter law. Such as how the city should handle the euthanasia rate, the city cannot do it alone. The county must also get involved.

• CAPORALI: Yes we need a spay-and-neuter law. That would stop the high shelter rates.

WOULD YOU ACTIVELY SUPPORT THE HALF-CENT SALES TAX FOR TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE IF IT IS PLACED ON THE BALLOT?

• HALL: Yes.

• MARTINEZ: No. Not at this time. I would like to review the city spending budget. I feel that the money the city is utilizing is not spent in the right areas. I feel the spending budget can possibly be restructured to put some money that’s available in the budget aside for transportation.

• CAPORALI: If the people want the tax and would it better the city.