In this wide-ranging debate, incumbent Corvallis Mayor Charles Maughan faced challengers Andrew Struthers, Kasey Haxton, and Kimi Gatherum.
With the city projecting an $8 million budget deficit, the mayor was asked why he didn’t push the Council to act sooner – both he and his challengers answered to what they think happened, and more importantly, what may be next. Each had differing answers about taxes and voter approval for taxes.
Other topics included candidate intentions concerning proposals for a new City Hall and Police Station, downtown redevelopment and economic development by the airport, and recent reports that System Development Charges are stymieing both business and housing development. Homelessness and housing played into this debate as well, but not as prominently as in past years.
At press time, City of Corvallis workers appear headed toward a strike, and the debate touches on what has gone wrong and prospective next steps.
And then there was how the mayor leads. Those topics included a proposed charter change measure, accessibility to constituents, board and commission appointments, and whether the mayor would put contentious national or international issues on the Council agenda. There were differences.
The list could go on, you get the idea, the debate was extensive.
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