Candidates explain what they think and what they want

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Peg Adamson is challenging alderman James DeVito in the Nov. 8 election for his seat on Eureka Springs city council. The Independent and asked the candidates identical questions, and here are their responses.

  1. What are your qualifications to sit on city council?

DeVito: I’ve been a resident for more than twenty-six years and I own a business here. I’ve been interested in politics going back to the sixties. I’ve served on city council ten years already and six years on the City Advertising and Promotion Commission. What I’m proudest of is being a member of the committee that got the buses off the Historic Loop and replaced with the trams so visitors can still see the town.

Adamson: To be perfectly honest, I have none. I’m a human being, and I’m interested in different groups and viewpoints. I’m not big into confrontation, but I’ll listen to people. They’re entitled to their viewpoints, so in that perspective, I am qualified because there are a variety of viewpoints in town. I was a teacher at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design where I was exposed to dealing with the different viewpoints of students from eighteen to eighty. I was amused by their ingenuity and it led me toward acceptance of the viewpoints of others.

  1. What is your opinion of the proposed one percent tax?

DeVito: It’s a necessity. There is no other viable option. The alternative would be a significant negative impact on citizens. The benefit would be for the next ten years having visitors pay more than 80 percent of the extra tax revenue for the city. It would take the burden off residents having to pay for infrastructure improvements and the city won’t have to keep tapping into reserves.

Adamson: My opinion is with a proper tracking system, the tax is really a good idea. The most far-sighted part of it is the money going toward the Auditorium. It will provide a permanent director to watch over events and upkeep, plus grant writing. It’s very far-sighted. As for water and sewer, the tax certainly will help because eventually there will be money available to go back toward paying off the city. It’s a step in the right direction. People need true, honest, transparent solutions.

  1. What should the city do about the Auditorium and what should be the role of the CAPC?

DeVito: If the tax passes, it will provide a revenue stream for the Auditorium to address much-needed repairs. It would also free up $120,000 from the CAPC budget for use on promoting acts, shows, etc. The city can form a commission and citizens would oversee disbursement of the funds, and the CAPC would not have the hands on function of overseeing operations, but would still be involved with booking shows and advertising the programming. The technical director also handles performances in Basin Park, so the CAPC would still be involved in paying his salary.

Adamson: The Auditorium is a fine structure and I prefer to describe her as complete and ready to go, but she doesn’t get enough promotion. And the viewpoint of some is like they have blinders on. So much can be done there with live stuff such as dance, drama and music. There is also the possibility of a system for being a subscribing member or a supporting donor with donations of all sizes. It has the ability to be a big draw with the right person directing it, but now we’re using a teeny weeny bit of what it can do. The tax would get it going, and then the fun begins. As for the CAPC, I’m still trying to figure out the CAPC, and it seems they are as well. They say they are promoting, but I don’t see much. They need to come clean with what they will do for the Auditorium. I’m still learning about them.

  1. Should there be a No Smoking policy in all city parks including Lake Leatherwood?

DeVito: Yes, without a doubt. There’s no question that smoking is bad for your health, and adult smoking is a bad role model, plus there’s littering and the risk of fires. I might consider an exception for vaporizers because there are other things people vape besides tobacco. There would be no flames, no litter.

Adamson: That’s a good question, especially in this state with all its smokers. I can see no smoking in Basin Park. In other parks, it is really just messy, so in all the others, I’d say go ahead. Just clean up after yourself, but no smoking in Basin Park.

  1. What could the town do about the shortage of parking?

DeVito: Well, the city owns half the parking lot across from the New Delhi, so it could be the site of a parking garage. And maybe with the increased revenue from the tax, the CAPC would not be so encumbered with running the Auditorium; it could pursue a parking facility. Lack of parking downtown inhibits our ability to generate revenue. We spend money to get people here and then they drive around for 20 or 30 minutes looking for a place to park. They get frustrated and some of them won’t return. And the Auditorium needs parking for its shows. I’ve seen them built in other cities that don’t look like parking garages. It’s a win-win-win for me. It would be a convenience for visitors who would spend more time downtown shopping, and the money from the meters would be a revenue stream for the city.

Adamson: That’s a hot potato. I’m not against a parking structure with a couple of stories. It would need to be consistent with the historic design in town, but it could have shops along the bottom, meters for revenue or maybe a ticket booth. It might not be a bad idea to have two of them. We’ve got talented people here who could design it. It would be awesome– a 21st century concept overlaid by a Victorian design.

  1. Any other comments?

DeVito: What motivates me is I grew up in a military family and grew up around people who served their country and community. That’s the imperative that drives my engine – service to the community. Plus the city has lacked continuity in city government.

Adamson: The first thing is people on city council now should be acknowledged for being on council. It’s a thankless job. A lot of things can change by getting involved, by listening, cooperating. Cooperation goes a long way toward creating fair government. People will respond. The people here are the resource of Eureka Springs. They’re awesome. We’ve been welcomed here with open arms and it’s been wonderful. Joyce Zeller was an inspiration for me, a rock star, and I became interested in city government because of her. The timing is right for people with vision to help the city be spectacular. The city is alive and everyone has a responsibility to be good stewards for growth. We’re making upgrades to make it more livable, and tourists will come here because of that. There’s no place like this anywhere.