Election 2018: Lake Forest City Council District 4 candidates share their priorities and thoughts on local issues

Voters will go to the polls Nov. 6 to pick who will represent them on the City Council.

Ahead of the election, all candidates were invited to share information about themselves and answer questions about their priorities and local concerns for this voter guide. In each city, all were asked the same questions and given the same word count for their answers.

In Lake Forest, two vying for the District 4 seat on the City Council.

The candidates

James Gardner, 73, sitting councilman, retired (GardnerforCouncil.com)

Mark Tettemer, 57, recycled water development manager for Irvine Ranch Water District (mark4lakeforest.com)

Question 1: What are your top two priorities if elected?

James Gardner: 1) Get a local animal shelter. 2) Revise our campaign finance laws to lessen the influence of special interests.

Mark Tettemer: While there are many priorities for the city of Lake Forest, financial stability and public safety are my top two priorities. With financial stability comes the ability to efficiently and effectively fund many programs and services including traffic improvements and other city enhancements.

Question 2: How should the city balance paying off debts, such as pension liabilities, and building reserves with meeting residents’ needs? Should it involve finding new revenue or trimming the budget?

James Gardner: Cities should do both. Our city is completely debt-free, but to stay that way we should increase revenue where we can and avoid spending needlessly.

Mark Tettemer: When I was a council member I supported balanced budgets, maintaining proper reserves, and using surplus revenues to fund capital improvement projects. Unlike some cities, the city of Lake Forest has a tradition of being financially responsible and meeting the residents’ needs. Adjustments to the city’s budget should be limited to reducing expenditures, not finding new revenues.

Question 3: What should the city’s role be in encouraging the development of low-income housing units? Would you support a mandate or an incentive of some kind?

James Gardner: We are already supporting low-income housing and are working to add more affordable homes.

Mark Tettemer: I will focus on working with the development community to find ways to incorporate low-income housing through negotiated development agreements.

Question 4: Communities across the state are grappling with rising pension and other post-employment benefit costs. What do you think needs to be done to deal with this problem?

Jim Gardner: Better management of government spending is needed. Under my leadership we have paid off all our pension obligations and are debt-free.

Mark Tettemer: As an advocate for local control, each local agency needs to take steps to address their pension and post-employment benefits cost. This may include revising pension and/or benefits for new employees and making sure employees pay their share.

Question 5: On the ballot this November, voters will be asked to decide on whether to repeal the recently enacted increase to the state gas tax. What is your position on the gas tax?

Jim Gardner: Gas taxes are already high enough.

Mark Tettemer: Repeal the gas tax.

Question 6: The high cost of housing in California has spurred increased interest in rent control. On the ballot this November is Proposition 10, which would repeal the Costa-Hawkins Act. What are your thoughts on rent control?

Jim Gardner: Rent control should be a local issue, not a state-wide issue. If it works for a given city it doesn’t mean it will work in other cities. Local control is best.

Mark Tettemer: I do not support rent control. If Sacramento wants lower cost rents, it should find ways to fund it other than forcing a property owner to accept lower rents.

Question 7: Proposition 64 authorizes the legalization of marijuana, while granting local jurisdictions the authority to approve or deny certain marijuana-related businesses. What are your thoughts on marijuana legalization to date and what do you think of your own community’s policies on marijuana?

Jim Gardner: We have one of the strongest prohibitions. I think some of our prohibitions should be lessened. I’d like to see a ballot measure to see what the people who live here want. Local control is best.

Mark Tettemer: I don’t support the legalization of marijuana. When I was a council member, I did not support marijuana businesses being established in Lake Forest.

Question 8: Senate Bill 54 limits the role of state and local law enforcement in enforcing federal immigration laws. The law has drawn legal challenges from some localities which want the flexibility to work with the federal government. What do you think of SB54?

Jim Gardner: Lake Forest contracts with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department so SB 54 does not impact us directly. The council voted a few months ago to support the federal government.

Mark Tettemer: I don’t support it. As an advocate for local control, I believe local law enforcement should establish its own policies regarding enforcing federal immigration laws.