Mayoral candidates debate in Seaside
Three of four candidates for Seaside mayor met at a forum Wednesday.
Felix Bachofner, incumbent Ralph Rubio, and Gertrude Smith shared their vision for the city. The fourth candidate, Kay Cline, didn’t attend.
Residents came with their own needs in mind hoping to hear a plan for the future of Seaside.
“I’d love to see meters on our streets, like Broadway, Fremont,” Seaside business owner Daniel Spalletta said.
“We have to prepare ourselves to build institutions that are going help mobilize, and that’s going to help galvanize younger people to stay, because they are not our future, they are our present,” said Seaside resident Keith Mitchell.
Rubio has served as mayor for more than a decade. He said he wants to continue improving the city’s infrastructure, attract new businesses and expand the city’s aquifer.
“Things are on the upswing in Seaside. What I want to continue is to improve the finances of the city,” said Rubio.
Bachofner said things were better when he was mayor in 2010, and he wants another shot.
“We need to make sure that the city is ran efficiently and effectively again. There have been some strides made. Finally, at least, we had the first balanced budget in four years,” Bachofner said.
Smith, a 22-year-old college student and community activist, is the youngest person to run for mayor in Seaside. She said if she doesn’t get involved now, then when?
“As young people, we are always told to wait, and we are always told it’s not our turn yet. But I decided, you know what, we need a seat at the table,” Smith said.
Smith says her age won’t affect her ability to balance school and politics.
“As a matter of fact, I think because of that, I’m better suited for this position because elected officials are supposed to match the demographics they are representing. And that’s what a lot of people in Seaside, who happen to be under 35, the majority, are doing. They are students, they are parents, sometimes single parents. And they have to manage their jobs, and school,” Smith said.
