For the 2019 Voters Guide, we emailed Pullman City Council candidates a set of 16 questions on professional experience, local priorities and general issues. We have included those questions and the unedited responses. We have noted when candidates left questions unanswered. We have also provided links to candidate websites, campaign funding reports and other local media coverage when available.
Any questions or suggestions should be sent to: whitmancowatch@gmail.com
CANDIDATE BACKGROUND
Website: www.iamfrancisbenjamin.com
Social media: Facebook / Twitter
PDC campaign funding: Benjamin 2019
League of Women Voters ballot info: Vote411.org
Other recent coverage:
Moscow-Pullman Daily News: Pullman City Council candidates talk transparency, downtown, infrastructure
Daily Evergreen: City Council voters guide
Lewiston Tribune: Two council seats being contested in Pullman
Daily Evergreen: City council holds debate forum
Moscow-Pullman Daily News: Pullman City Council candidates talk business, transparency
QUESTIONNAIRE
What is your current occupation or job title?
Information Systems Coordinator
What other memberships or affiliations would you like to list for voters?
Pullman 2040 Co-Chair
Pullman Chamber Board Member
Kiwanis Immediate Past President
Palouse Knowledge Corridor Board Member
Pullman Community Council on Aging Board member
Town Gown Collaborative Member
What professional accomplishment are you most proud of and why?
My research in the area of Legislative Political Civility being recognized in multiple states. Incivility is preventing local, state and federal government from addressing critical issues and results in a disservice to the people they represent. I believe that my collaborative work will help provide solutions to better serve constituents.
What is your vision for the City of Pullman as a community and are there any cities that you see doing things right or would like to emulate?
Pullman needs to work to create and maintain a welcoming atmosphere which is attractive to visitors, community members and business owners. This requires the process of: 1. Collaboration – focusing on getting people to work together so that we can achieve the best solutions. 2. Elevation – focusing on solutions which elevate the entire community through thoughtful and civil decision making. 3. Innovation –incorporating innovations when implementing community solutions.
While serving as president of the Association of Washington Cities, I found that each city had a specific gem which could benefit Pullman.
As the city anticipates continued growth, what is your philosophy for guiding new business and housing development?
Growth isn’t assured and Pullman has previously made choices which shut down growth. A recession is also anticipated in the next 18 months. It won’t compare to the last recession, but it will still have an impact. The city needs to first work to create and maintain a welcoming community which is attractive to visitors, community members and business owners. Pullman should work to reduce community barriers to business ownership and success. As a city, we need to make Pullman competitive when compared to other communities such that if a business has a choice between Pullman and another community the business will choose Pullman. The focus shouldn’t be on making one individual business successful, but instead focusing on processes, barriers, time-lines and resources which impact the majority of businesses. These are all part of the city’s role in growing businesses.
Are there steps the city should take to help make housing more affordable? What do you consider the city’s greatest housing challenges?
The pathway to affordability is a three part process 1. Increasing supply of homes 2. Expanding affordability options 3. Increasing disposable income. To advance the first two, Pullman needs to work with developers to encourage construction and incentivize affordable options. To advance the third involves making Pullman competitive to business growth. Pullman’s greatest housing challenge is geographical and a reputation for not processing documents in a timely manner.
What do you consider your highest priority for city parks infrastructure? (Multiple choice)
With our current funding model, our parks are limited by the size of our staff. We either need to increase staff or look at public-private partnership options.
Possible answers: •Maintaining and expanding trails, paths or parking. •Replacing antiquated playground equipment. •Upgrading picnic shelters or sports facilities. •Facilitating events that draw people to parks. •Protecting and expanding green spaces throughout city. • Other, with write-in.
There is usually a balance, but which set of transportation goals do you think the majority of Pullman voters considers the higher priority for downtown? (Multiple choice)
(Declined to answer, citing opposition to the grouping of options)
Possible answers: • Reduce downtown traffic congestion, widen lanes and increase parking convenience/accessibility. • Make downtown more walkable/bicycle friendly by slowing or diverting traffic, adding bike lanes and increasing public transit service.
Are there any new policies or investments you think would make Pullman Police or Fire more efficient or effective?
We need to continue moving forward with the third fire station. Police just finished a visioning review and fire is now in the process of a similar review. I would start with the recommendations which come out of these processes.
What, if anything, should be done about the Mimosa building?
The Mimosa building is a distraction from the true “gems” of our downtown. It is far better investment to rally around the items which we have the opportunity to invest in and grow. If we do this, the Mimosa will also be taken care of.
How would your rank your expectations for council/city government transparency on a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 indicating a discrete approach to governing and 5 indicating a proactively open approach?
(Declined to answer, explaining he believes this to be a communication issue.)
Do you consider tax rates in Pullman high or low? As a steward of taxpayer dollars, how do you approach balancing demands for city service against the citizen tax burden?
This is a balance between community service-level desires and what it costs to provide the services. If you look at the services being provided, the cost (tax) then Pullman is very affordable. If instead you compare average income (including students) to the tax rate then the burden is above average. The balance is understanding what community members’ desires are vs. what is their base-line need. Start at the base-line need and then priorities the desires which are above the base-line need.
Do you support the city enacting policies to address climate change or promote environmental sustainability? If so, what steps would you take?
The environment is an integral component of our region and state’s exceptional quality of life. I feel that rather than simply focusing on what we currently have we need focus on the quality of life we desire our children and grandchildren to experience. We need to work to ensure future generations enjoy an environment and quality of life which is as good if not better than what we enjoy now. This involves greater support for multi-modal transportation options, treating the river as an experience to enhance and investing in a solution to stabilize our aquifer.
What do you think of existing local regulations on cannabis businesses and production operations?
Cannabis is an emerging industry. As all emerging industries develop the regulations are always playing catch-up until the industry matures. We are in the regulation catch-up phase with cannabis and it will take years to perfect the rules and regulations. The current regulations are built on an incomplete understanding of the product. There are risks and benefits yet to be verified and each one will impact regulations.
What are your thoughts on the city’s relationship with WSU and what, if anything, might you adjust or improve about that dynamic?
The city’s relationship with WSU compared to the last 30 years is at an all-time high. We need to continue the town gown collaborative investments and work to build sustainability into the dynamic.
If you could wave a magic wand and instantly change one thing about Pullman, what would it be and why?
The greatest obstacle is connectedness. We need to improve connection points to integrate K-12 students, college students, new employees and retirees into the Pullman community. We need to help our community members’ fall in love with Pullman and see it as their “home”. As we connect to our neighbors, we better appreciate our community, think about the impact of our actions on our neighbors, and deal with issues while they are still small which increases safety and reduces crime.
The other benefit which connection produces is bringing community members together to rally around the big projects which we want to accomplish. We have an incredibly generous and forward looking community. Connectedness is the key to achieving this vision and why connecting neighbors is a passion of mine.