By Scott Sullivan
Editor
All seven candidates for four two-year seats on the Saugatuck City Council spoke before more than 70 viewers at a Holland League of Women Voters-sponsored forum Sept. 17. in the Saugatuck High School auditorium.
Incumbents Lauren Stanton, Helen Baldwin, Scott Dean and Gregory Muncey joined challengers Joe Leonatti, Chris Peterson and Sherry Tedaldi giving two-minute opening statements, then addressed audience questions compiled by League moderators. Alphabetically:
- Mayor pro-tem Baldwin said she and current majority-bloc peers were elected to maintain the city’s financial health, address short-term rental regulations and density, and build out a robust parks and recreation plan.
“It’s been a busy couple years,” she said. “And where are we?” Many of those objectives, Baldwin went on, have been achieved: establishing a common-sense 20-percent STR cap in residential neighborhoods plus occupancy, noise and trash rules there; finding a donor to cover all costs of transforming the city’s Old Airport land into a public park with trails, and more.
“In short, I think I’ve demonstrated the desire, competence, optimism and energy to better our city. I hope you give me the opportunity to continue,” Baldwin said. - Dean said he, his wife and family were drawn to Saugatuck by the quality of its schools “only to find several of our past leaders were opposing investment in our school district. They worked to defeat the bond issue.
“I found these among many positions contrary to what most Saugatuck citizens value,” he continued. “A small town of neighborhood values, maintaining a strong financial position, investing in infrastructure and parks, and updating ordinances that protect our residential neighborhoods, parks and public lands.
“That includes the No. 1 issue in this campaign, passing a 20-percent cap on STRs in our residential neighborhoods. I look forward to discussing these things tonight,” Dean said. - Leonatti said his 25-year city residency gives him a historical perspective. “I want to run for city council because of the people of this community. When my wife became ill, everyone was so kind to us,” he remembered.
“Then people who came into office about a year ago started dictating to everyone they know how to do things better because they’re superior people. No one on this council is smarter than anyone else,” he went on.
“The role of council is to work with the city manager. You identify goals that are important to the community, then work together to achieve them in the most cost-effective manner possible. Money doesn’t belong to the council. It belongs to the taxpayers,” Leonatti said. - “With me,” said Muncey, “you get experience, dedication, compassion and no particular agenda. I’m here to listen, help, create solutions and serve our community as a team, with everyone else.”
He cited his past local business ownership, community service and volunteerism, plus,“I have been endorsed by five past mayors and many community leaders.
“I’m not a politician; I don’t get into political maneuvers,” he said. “But I do embrace the town’s character and history through my proven dedication, as you have all seen for the last two years. - Peterson, a former council member and mayor, said voters expect fiscal responsibility, not golden parachutes; transparency, no meetings behind closed doors with anonymous donors; and respect for others, not head shaking nor laughing at citizen comments.
“I don’t support the direction this council is going,” she said. “They’ve reduced parking on the hill, allowed condos on the waterfront for the first time, passed an STR cap that doesn’t allow transferring property to your kids nor have an appeals process. That’s mean spirited.
“They’re taking the dynamic of the town I love and I can’t go along with that. I’m not negative, I’m the opposition,” Peterson said. - Current Mayor Stanton said she first ran for council four years ago “wanting to protect and promote our neighborhoods, our schools and our natural resources.
“My last year as mayor has been one of the most challenging of my tenure,” she continued. “I don’t enjoy politics, but I certainly love Saugatuck. I want to protect and preserve the community we have.
“I vow to continue to preserve and protect our neighborhoods, our schools, our public lands and natural resources while enhancing our tourism. Let’s continue to strike the right balance for everyone,” Stanton said. - Tedaldi cited her long residency and volunteer involvement as evidence of her commitment to the community, plus her career as a mortgage loan banker helping qualify her to make sound financial choices.
“I’m here to help you understand what numbers we have in this community, where they’ve been going and what we need to do to create harmony here again,” she said.
“Unfortunately, we’ve lost civility and we need to get some of that back. We all need to work together to solve the problems,” Tedaldi said.
After opening statements, candidates addressed what Dean called “the No. 1 issue in this campaign, the short-term rental cap.
“Three of us here tonight support it,” he said, “and a fourth, Holly Anderson, who’s not running this year, also does. I believe a 20-percent cap in residential neighborhoods is a very light touch. If we’re not re-elected the cap will go away, but the problems with increasing STRs will not. Doing so will just create more uncertainty and instability in our real-estate market.”
“On STRs I’m ambivalent,” said Leonatti. “I can see both sides of it. But I can’t see moving forward without an economic impact study, without first getting all the facts.”
Muncey, Peterson and Tedaldi concurred. “STR caps do need to be discussed,” said Muncey. “But we need more information about how they will affect our unique city. That’s why I’ve called for a referendum on the matter.”
“I was a vocal opponent of caps when they came before council years ago and still am,” said Peterson. “We must have actual numbers in front of us. As stands, the cap has no appeal process. That’s just wrong.”
“I voted in favor of the cap,” said Stanton. “I believe in the integrity of our neighborhoods. I believe any economic impact study would be speculative and subjective.
“Look on the Hill,” she went on. “Thirty-nine percent of homes there are short-term rentals. That’s unheard of. I just don’t think we can just do nothing,” Stanton said.
“I am not at all convinced caps are the way we should proceed in this community,” countered Tedaldi. “It seems reckless to me. I think we’ve killed a fly on our foreheads with an ax doing this.
“I absolutely support the cap,” said Baldwin. “I am proud of what we’ve done in striking a balance between business and residential interests.”
The forum explored many more issues. To view it in its 1:41:47 entirety go to https://youtu.be/BLav1O0DxSU.
“I hope tonight’s been informative,” said HLWV moderator and president Barb Ferguson. “Most of all, please remember to vote on Tuesday, Nov. 5.”
