News
Newcomer Yolanda Cookson and incumbents Lisa Swarthout and Janet Arbuckle won the races for three seats on the Grass Valley City Council Tuesday night.
The three women were the top three vote-getters. Rachel Rue was running a close fourth, with candidates Terry Lamphier and Ed Yarborough trailing.
“I campaigned really hard,” Cookson said, the youngest council member after winning her first term on the board. “I heard from people the most important thing to do is go door-to-door.”
Cookson, 30, ran on the city needing her youth, and she came out against both Measure Y and Z as ballot box planning. The title company worker wants the Economic Resource Council to help jump start the city’s economy.
The trio will join sitting councilmen Dan Miller and Chauncey Poston, both elected in 2004.
The five leaders will have numerous challenges before them, including a city budget deficit of $650,000, the proposed reopening of the Idaho-Maryland mine, large proposed developments such as Loma Rica Ranch and a tax base that is declining due to the economic downturn.
Downtown business woman Swarthout, 46, earned her second term on the council after being elected in 2004.
The winning incumbent ran against both Measures Y and Z, calling them ballot box planing. She also said the city might have to keep cutting spending if its deficit grows.
“The city has a lot of challenges, but with some good people elected tonight and the people we already have, we have a great team to take us into the future,” Swarthout said.
Winning her first full term on the board was Arbuckle, 57, who was appointed in 2007 over 10 other candidates to replace Dean Williams when he stepped down.
The retired Sacramento County deputy campaigned against Measures Y and Z, arguing they would circumvent the city’s planning process.
“Now we can get the city back on track and mend fences,” Arbuckle said.
Finishing behind the top three were Rue, Lamphier and Yarborough.
Del Oro Theatre worker Rue, 66, was for Measure Z, because its provision to vote on projects smacked of pure democracy to her.
Former councilman Lamphier, 59, campaigned for Measure Z, but opposed Measure Y because he thought it too developer-friendly.
Telemarketer Ed Yarborough gave grudging support to Measure Z because it would have given planning power to voters.
Yarborough, 55, said the reopened gold mine would bring jobs, but he was wary of its environmental impacts.
He also sparked controversy when he hung fliers on residents’ doors suggesting that city police be empowered to arrest Spanish-speakers on immigration charges.
To contact Senior Staff Writer Dave Moller, e-mail dmoller@theunion.com or call 477-42327.
The three women were the top three vote-getters. Rachel Rue was running a close fourth, with candidates Terry Lamphier and Ed Yarborough trailing.
“I campaigned really hard,” Cookson said, the youngest council member after winning her first term on the board. “I heard from people the most important thing to do is go door-to-door.”
Cookson, 30, ran on the city needing her youth, and she came out against both Measure Y and Z as ballot box planning. The title company worker wants the Economic Resource Council to help jump start the city’s economy.
The trio will join sitting councilmen Dan Miller and Chauncey Poston, both elected in 2004.
The five leaders will have numerous challenges before them, including a city budget deficit of $650,000, the proposed reopening of the Idaho-Maryland mine, large proposed developments such as Loma Rica Ranch and a tax base that is declining due to the economic downturn.
Downtown business woman Swarthout, 46, earned her second term on the council after being elected in 2004.
The winning incumbent ran against both Measures Y and Z, calling them ballot box planing. She also said the city might have to keep cutting spending if its deficit grows.
“The city has a lot of challenges, but with some good people elected tonight and the people we already have, we have a great team to take us into the future,” Swarthout said.
Winning her first full term on the board was Arbuckle, 57, who was appointed in 2007 over 10 other candidates to replace Dean Williams when he stepped down.
The retired Sacramento County deputy campaigned against Measures Y and Z, arguing they would circumvent the city’s planning process.
“Now we can get the city back on track and mend fences,” Arbuckle said.
Finishing behind the top three were Rue, Lamphier and Yarborough.
Del Oro Theatre worker Rue, 66, was for Measure Z, because its provision to vote on projects smacked of pure democracy to her.
Former councilman Lamphier, 59, campaigned for Measure Z, but opposed Measure Y because he thought it too developer-friendly.
Telemarketer Ed Yarborough gave grudging support to Measure Z because it would have given planning power to voters.
Yarborough, 55, said the reopened gold mine would bring jobs, but he was wary of its environmental impacts.
He also sparked controversy when he hung fliers on residents’ doors suggesting that city police be empowered to arrest Spanish-speakers on immigration charges.
To contact Senior Staff Writer Dave Moller, e-mail dmoller@theunion.com or call 477-42327.
