GRAND TERRACE - The city should encourage local shopping, networking and more businesses, candidates for mayor and City Council agreed at a forum Tuesday. (We need more jobs to make more income to have to spend in existing stores and businesses.)
As they voiced variations of those themes, candidates spent most of the time at the Chamber of Commerce event explaining which of them had the experience and understanding to accomplish those goals best.

"A good example of what happens if we don't say ahead of the game is Tapout, which none of us knew about (before the major employer was bought out and laid off many workers)," said Sally McGuire, a candidate for mayor. (That's being real aware of your community Sally.)

She said she would work closely with business owners to stay on top of situations like that and to bring in appropriate businesses, including a strong anchor store to replace Stater Bros. after the store moves to another Grand Terrace shopping center.

McGuire is president of the Chamber of Commerce, but she handed over moderator duties for this event.

Doug Wilson, another mayoral candidate, agreed with the need for focus.

"I'd like to know as much about each individual business as the owner does, and since I have the time to be a full-time mayor I can," he said. (How did he do this if he was not there?)

DeDe Sternberg, also running for mayor, suggested a recreation center and more shopping opportunities.

"I want to make this like another Palm Springs," she said. (Palm Springs Works because of the RICH PEOPLE who live there. Got some RICH PEOPLE DEDE?)

Doug Wilson, the fourth mayoral candidate, explained by phone that he and Bea Cortes, who is running to keep her City Council seat, chose not to attend because of a potential conflict of interest. (What? Was he there and Bea contacted him by phone? Or did he phone in the above message about being a full time mayor and Bea and He were not at the event. ) (Either way, perhaps he could let Bea talk to the press they have been looking for her you know.)

"The city partially funds the Chamber of Commerce, and until we get a ruling from the (Fair Political Practices Commission), I don't want to risk a conflict of interest," he said.

Sylvia Robles, a candidate for City Council, also skipped the forum. She said she could not make any promises to special interests such as the Chamber, and so she did not want to attend.

Darcy McNaboe, Richard Loder, Bernardo Sandoval and Tom Schwab also laid out their business plans for City Council. (Apparently these were not plans worthy of note.)
Something is strange about this report.. Was Doug Wilson there or not?

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