Q&A With City Council Candidate Mary Dougherty

Patch invited all five candidates in the City Council election to participate in a Question and Answer form. Questions were submitted by email for candidates to answer as time allowed.

Patch will post each candidate's Q&A when it is submitted.

The candidates vying for two open seats are current Mayor Gary Kovacic; businessman and former Mayor John Wuo; retired businessman and three-time City Council candidate ; former school board member and Santa Anita Oaks Homeowners' Association President and local real estate developer Henry Nunez.

Please check in Patch's election live blog Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

ARCADIA PATCH: Describe your ideal or “dream” downtown.  How, as a City Council member, would you make this dream a reality?

MARY DOUGHERTY: My ideal or “dream” downtown is based on what the people of Arcadia said they wanted.  They told the General Plan Advisory Committee that they wanted a walkable area with interesting shops–a less hectic place where people could gather, grab a bite to eat or enjoy a leisurely dinner and stroll around gift shops, art shops, boutiques.  To that end, I would encourage the property owners, merchants and businesses to embrace that concept and make it happen.

AP: What are the biggest issues facing Arcadia in the immediate and long-term future?  How would you address those issues if you were on the City Council?
 
MD: The people of Arcadia told the General Plan Advisory Committee that their biggest concerns were mansionization and maintaining the feeling of a community of homes. The City actually has very good Single Family Design Guidelines. Those guidelines need to be followed, and staff needs to know that they will be supported in the implementation of those guidelines.

Additionally, all of the surrounding cities have a floor area ratio (FAR), and staff could not name any other city besides Arcadia that does not have a FAR.  I believe that City Council should study how other cities with high standards use a sliding FAR.  We do need to increase revenues to continue to meet the demands for high-level services, and it should not be based on ever increasing size of houses.

AP: What is your stance on allowing residents to remove the number "4" from their addresses?

 MD: At first blush, it sounds a simple matter to change the final digit in an address to remove the number 4 as long as the number falls within the sequence on the street.  However, it requires notification of a myriad of agencies--Post Office, County Assessor, Police, Fire, school district, electric and gas utilities, water department, Sanitation District, telephone company, TV providers, trash haulers and others.   Building and planning maps must be updated. 

Probably many of these other agencies also must update their maps; other mapping services are undoubtedly affected too.  Most importantly, all of this would take staff time away from other responsibilities and would make for delays in processing building plans and serving the other needs of the public.

Further, I believe that a changed address would be an item that would need to be disclosed on the sale of the property because of the potential for errors in the records of various entities.  That might defeat the purpose of the change.

AP: Why are you qualified to be on City Council?

MD: I believe that I am well qualified to serve on Arcadia’s City Council based on my education and my many years of volunteer service in Arcadia.  I have a BA degree and did graduate work in public administration; served four terms (16 years) on Arcadia’s Board of Education; have been active for 10 years as a Chamber of Commerce Director and legislative committee co-chair; represent the Chamber on the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership Legislative Action Committee and the San Gabriel Valley Legislative Coalition of Chambers. 

I have earned a reputation as one who carefully studies issues and asks a lot of questions-very important attributes for an effective Councilmember.  I also am regarded as an idea person–one who is willing to suggest an idea and allow others to challenge it or build on it, without taking negative comments or challenges personally.

AP: How will you entice businesses to open up shop in Arcadia?

MD: Arcadia has a potential clientele that would be attractive to many businesses.  The Arcadia Downtown Business Association is starting to take root, and its enthusiasm is exciting.  I have suggested that those businesses adopt a unique name that would define their area.  

No one knows where downtown Arcadia is.  Is it Baldwin Avenue, the Mall, First Avenue, Huntington Drive?  A unique name would give the area its own identity and further empower the area to take charge of its destiny. 

Additionally, we need to support further development of the racetrack property to enhance the area as a destination.  We also need to review our regulations to be sure that we are not inadvertently dissuading desirable businesses from coming to Arcadia.

AP: Why are you running for City Council?

MD: I am running for City Council because I see changes that could improve our great City.  I enjoy the serious consideration of issues and meeting the challenges they present.  I feel that I have the background and temperament to make further positive contributions to the City.

AP: What do you want voters to know about you?

MD: I want voters to know that every issue that I have discussed is based upon community input.  Their concerns are my concerns and my issues.  I listen carefully and try diligently to see that issues are addressed appropriately.  I want to keep Arcadia a great place to live and work, and would be proud to serve the community.  I have no conflicts of interest and will participate fully in the discussion and decisions of the City Council.  Bottom line–I care!