Incumbent Alan Richrod will face challenger Robert Jerrick Rodgers for the Ward 5, Position 10 Aberdeen City Council seat in the November general election. Both candidates answered some questions about the needs of the city and their answers to some of the more pressing issues facing it.
Does Aberdeen need a city administrator?
Richrod: “Aberdeen is one of I believe three cities in the state of comparable size that does not have a city administrator. We are a $50 million first-class Washington city but we have a part-time mayor. That has really become untenable. The city administrator will be able to tie all of the departments to the vision of the city and keep things organized.”
Rodgers: “The only way that I could see in Aberdeen having a city administrator managing the city is if we already had a full-time mayor position and if Mayor Erik Larson decided to step down to a position where he was basically head of the council rather than solely making the executive decisions. Adding this position as is with the current revenue we see in our city would only burden the budget that is already in place and the challenges that are already set in place. However, if the people of Ward 5 increasingly and robustly had the voice to have said city administrator, than we should see it on the ballot and see what the people of Aberdeen truly want.”
What is the most pressing issue facing the city and what would you do to fix it?
Richrod: “Revitalize downtown, prepare for and take advantage of the growing tourist economy, deal effectively and humanely with the indigent population, promote economic development that attracts and nurtures local small business and industry, develop a coordinated marketing plan for the city and the entire County, and there are many other things that are well beyond the scope of this survey.”
Rodgers: “I see homelessness and drug addiction high up on the list of major issues the city is facing today, without any long-term action being cemented in and merely written down as a thought. We have to see that our people are housed and treated properly before truly improving on the slow growing economy that we have been experiencing, and then can we actually improve on the local businesses around us and increase job growth.”
Where do you stand on potentially moving city hall to the Seafirst building?
Richrod: “The City Council approved $5,000 to pay for a feasibility study of using the Seafirst building as a new city hall. We’ll have to see what we find out from the study.”
Rodgers: “This is something I can’t get behind, simply because we could use the funding of this ‘project’ into something more meaningful for the citizens of Aberdeen. If we were to acquire a contract or ownership for this building, we should see what service it may offer for our people rather than our government office.”
What is the solution to the homeless problem downtown?
Richrod: “Expecting any municipality to completely solve the problem of there being homeless people living here is quite unrealistic. It is just as unrealistic to fail to acknowledge it or to do nothing about it. ‘The homeless’ are not a homogeneous group of people. There are many problems that have to be addressed. While I personally don’t think a blow molded plastic box is a good long-term solution for a public rest room, it will work for now. The people involved in this issue need to get together and work out solutions. It’s not one meeting, it’s a dedicated effort that we have to make.”
Rodgers: “The city could look for grants from the state and/or the federal government to increase affordable housing for the citizens to be appropriately housed in. We could also encourage landlords and contractors to develop tax credit properties, to assist with the housing needs of our citizens. Being homeless should not be an option, and as an elected official, you must have the louder voice to help identify and solve these needs.”
A little more about the candidates.
Richrod: “I grew up in northwest Oregon, in the Portland area and for a longer time in and around Astoria before moving to Aberdeen in 1980. I have been interested in politics and fascinated by the process literally since I was little. I don’t blame anybody for thinking that’s a little weird; it is. I had worked with city improvement groups for some time prior to my coming on to the council with the sudden death of John Erak, whose seat I hold and who was a dear friend of mine. Perhaps because I have lived elsewhere and seen what can be done in other areas, I see that Aberdeen has a very bright future. But I do acknowledge that it’s not going to be easy or fast and we will have to work at it. It will take talent and dedication. I have both of those and am excited to apply them to making Aberdeen the place that it can be.”
Rodgers: “My name is Robert Jerrick Rodgers, son of Robert Rodgers, who ran for city council Ward 1 Position 2 recently. I prefer to go by Jerrick, which is how everyone knows me, both formal and informal. I work as an Earthwork Technician at Earthwork Services. I’ve been here for about six years now and moved here with my family while I was still in high school. I’m a hard working individual, who built himself from the ground up. I have an understanding of what my community wants because I am a part of the community. It has brought me in with open arms, and I refused to just be a bystander while major issues go by without debate and action. I have only worked for small businesses my whole life, and have seen how much of an impact they have on our people. Small business is the life blood of this city, and we must keep it this way while also keeping the revitalization movement we have been striving toward. I can guarantee that I will not be complacent on the job. Complacency has no place in our motivation to create a better Aberdeen and action is the only answer.”
