CARLSBAD: Sparks fly offstage at candidates forum
Question from a campaign manager irks another council hopeful
By BARBARA HENRY - Staff Writer | ∞
CARLSBAD ---- A question of how long each City Council candidate has lived in Carlsbad became a source of conflict Monday after the campaign manager of one candidate raised the issue during a voter forum.
Hosted by the Southwest Carlsbad Homeowners Association Coalition, the event allowed people in the audience to question the six candidates who are vying for two seats on the council. But the second woman to ask a question wasn't a typical audience member and that isn't right, candidate Farrah Douglas said.
The woman was Becky Moore, the campaign manager for candidate Keith Blackburn. After the forum ended, Douglas and Moore had a heated exchange of words over whether Moore should have asked each candidate to describe how long they've lived in town.
During the forum, Douglas ---- who has lived the shortest amount of time in the city out of the six competitors ---- said that a person should be measured by what they had done in Carlsbad rather than by how long they've lived in the place.
Farrah and her husband bought a home in town in 2005, but have operated a print shop business near the city's Dove Lane library for two decades. Douglas also has been active for years in the city's Chamber of Commerce and other organizations.
"You want people who have served you, whether they have lived here or not," she said as she discussed why she should be elected.
Blackburn said he had experience both as a longtime resident and as a longtime community supporter. The Carlsbad police sergeant moved to Carlsbad about 24 years ago and has worked for the city's police force for two decades. He also runs a family foundation that donates money to local organizations.
However, the candidate who has lived the longest in Carlsbad is incumbent Ann Kulchin.
Kulchin, 76, has served seven terms on the council ---- that's about a decade longer than one of the five other candidates has been alive. Kulchin moved to Carlsbad in 1978 and has lived in the same house in southern Carlsbad all those years, she was quick to tell the group Monday.
After Douglas, the candidate with the least amount of time spent living in Carlsbad was Evan Delaney Rodgers, a 19-year-old Cal State San Marcos student. Rodgers said she was born in Texas, moved to Encinitas then came to northeastern Carlsbad almost nine years ago.
Candidate Thomas K. Arnold, an entertainment magazine publisher, said he had lived in Carlsbad since 1994, while candidate Glenn Bernard, a former Marine who has worked in real estate, said he had lived in Carlsbad since 1984.
The residency issue wasn't the only topic dividing the six candidates Monday morning.
Echoing comments made at other recent forums, the candidates debated whether Carlsbad's elected leaders should revamp the city's pension plan and whether the council should permit the building of a luxury auto dealership complex west of Interstate 5.
Blackburn, who stands to receive a city pension when he retires in January, said he could support changing the pension system to reduce benefits for future retirees, but said he didn't want Carlsbad to be the first community in the region to make the change. If Carlsbad is first, then its best and brightest new employees will quickly depart for other cities with better pension plans, he said.
Douglas said Blackburn had just shifted his position on the issue, commenting that a forum last week he had said changing the system was bad idea.
Meanwhile, when it came to the auto park proposal, Bernard said the nearby homeowners will need to learn to deal with noise and light issues, adding that he puts up with a neighbor's motion-sensing lights that shine into his master bedroom window.
Arnold said he thought a "fair balance" between the developer and the nearby residents' needs could be reached that would "make everyone happy."
Rodgers said she hoped so, but added that she wouldn't want to live next door to an auto dealership.
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Hello NTC wrote on Oct 6, 2008 4:34 PM:Next time, if there is nothing relevant to report, report nothing. This paper is turning into such a rag.
Joe C wrote on Oct 6, 2008 5:26 PM:Seems to me that "How long have you lived here" is a tempest in a tea pot and a diversion. If you have worked in a community for 20 years and contributed to it as a volunteere for 20 years and you live there now, all of which describes Farrah Douglas, why should anyone base their judgement on the length of residency? Check Farrah's record: Planning Commission, Chamber of Commerce, Prop. D, Boys & Girls Club, Library and Arts Foundation, etc., etc. Who knows? There may be candidates who have lived here longer but haven't contributed nearly as much. It would be nice to stick to real issues.
Umm.. wrote on Oct 6, 2008 7:29 PM:When they don't have anything good to say about themselves they change the subject to something else and start slinging mud in typical politician form. So what really needs to happen is whomever didn't partake in any of this - they get the vote.
Carlsbox Resident wrote on Oct 6, 2008 7:54 PM:This Carlsbad election is as boring as my Carlsbad Neighborhood. Someone please buy my home, so I can get out of here.
Douglas NO wrote on Oct 7, 2008 7:00 AM:Douglas would be a bad pick, I'm not voting for her.
C-bad believer wrote on Oct 7, 2008 7:20 AM:i'll vote for the young college student, as these older folks are acting like immature children. Anything to bring in some fresh ideas and a modern perspective. The old guard is obsolete.
Mr. Know-It-All wrote on Oct 7, 2008 7:42 AM:These knuckleheads have been watching too much of the Presidential campaign!
craig wrote on Oct 7, 2008 8:01 AM:my wife and i grew up in carlsbad back when the population was about 13k at the most. we eventually were moved out by masses of people (tourists) from other states and had to relocate to temecula. i think it is important to know how long a candidate has lived in carlsbad because the "tourists" who decided to live there have no idea how wonderfull carlsbad was and needs to attempt to slow the growth of the area down. if you didnt grow up here, go home!
to Carlsbox wrote on Oct 7, 2008 9:19 AM:What are you asking and where is it?
The Real McCoy wrote on Oct 7, 2008 1:13 PM:I think the question about Farrah Douglas' residency is really a nasty, veiled attempt to raise questions about her Iranian heritage. It's an effort to emphasize her foreign birth, without coming out and explicitly saying so.
Carlsbox Resident wrote on Oct 7, 2008 2:29 PM:I would tell you, but it will take you and hour and a half to get there from anywhere in town!
to the real mccoy wrote on Oct 7, 2008 7:33 PM:Thanks for the information, that seals my vote for Keith Blackburn!
to Carlsbox wrote on Oct 8, 2008 9:51 AM:So you would rather complain than sell. Okay. Fine.
to to the RM wrote on Oct 8, 2008 9:53 AM:Your comment makes no sense at all...
To the Real McCoy wrote on Oct 8, 2008 2:57 PM:Anyone else in town getting tired of business as usual, well is what you will get with anyone the mayor endorses. I'll try Blackburn for sure, maybe even the college student, I have two votes, right?
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