Monterey mayoral race sees two longtime residents competing for the job

In our final look at mayoral races across the Central Coast we head to Monterey where that seat is up for election.

Mayor Clyde Roberson is looking to reclaim his seat while his competitor, Bill McCrone, is hoping to take that top spot on the city council.

Both candidates would touch on a wide range of issues in a discussion with KION leading up to the election.

The longtime residents have gotten to know about all of the infrastructure, traffic and housing issues in the area. They also addressed transparency on the city council’s part in recent years.

“Over the last two years my opponent and this city council has taken into conducting important business decisions in closed session,” says McCrone. “No public input and no opportunity for the public to be at a hearing or even making an announcement.”

McCrone believes Roberson and current council members lack transparency when it comes to business lease arrangements.

“It’s easy to say the budget isn’t transparent,” says Mayor Roberson. “Well it’s not transparent if you don’t go to the meetings.”

McCrone describes himself as a “do-er” and is putting emphasis on affordable housing if elected.

He says the traditional Monterey natives are essentially being priced out.

“In a sustainable community your kids grow up, they get jobs in the town, they buy a house here but we can’t do that anymore,” McCrone explains. “Our kids when they grow up they either can’t get jobs here or most likely can’t afford to live here.”

Mayor Roberson cited improvements to the infrastructure from streets to sewers and plans to collaborate with neighboring cities to improve traffic flow as to why he feels he’s still the mayor of choice for Monterey residents.

He says if elected his worries extend to the environment and “climate warming.” He’s looking to address that issue with a number of environmentally oriented motions.

“I think the people know I will take care of it,” Roberson says. “I hear that theme all the time when people visit they say ‘we have to take care of this place, do you know how special it is?’ And I respond with ‘Yes, I do!'”

Both candidates say they want to work on balancing what is a fine line between attracting tourists to Monterey and rewarding Monterey residents.