Editor’s note: Eureka residents Michelle Costantine, Ward 2 Councilwoman Heidi Messner and Susan Seaman are competing in the Nov. 6 election to be the city’s next mayor. The Times-Standard asked the candidates to provide some basic information about themselves in addition to answering five questions regarding their experience and their stance on important issues facing their community. Their replies appear below.
Michelle Costantine
I currently live in Eureka, California. I manage my family’s business. I am 40 years old. I have lived in Humboldt County for 19 years.
Q: Please describe your experience and what you bring to the job.
A: I am a proud graduate of Humboldt State University. I have a degree in Religious Studies and Studio Art. My schooling has given me a cultural perspective in the workforce. Additionally, I have over 15 years of sales, marketing and management experience as well as running a small business. I have also developed a successful community action group, that has been recognized by the City of Eureka for its revitalizing and helping to enrich our community efforts. With my experience as an effective communicator, my integrity and my knowledge of running a business I know I am the leader Eureka needs. Eureka needs someone who will be fair, who is not afraid to try new ideas and who is committed to working on solutions for the betterment of the city. I am hard working, I am dedicated to our city and I have seen what we can accomplish when we work together as a community. As a concerned citizen I want to put party politics aside and do what is best for Eureka.
Q: What are your priorities, if elected?
A: My top priorities if elected are going to be working on innovative ways to increase public safety. Building a working relationship with the county to tackle the complex challenges of homelessness, addiction, and mental health services we face here in Eureka. Establishing a work crew that provides people on the streets with the ability to transition into employment and housing. Expanding and promoting youth programs throughout the city and partnering with schools to build community partnerships that meet the demand. If elected I will also establish an incentive program to deter illegal dumping through education, promotions, vouchers and rewards. If elected I will work on innovative ways to create jobs and reduce restrictions on new small business and work for better funding for our hard infrastructure such as; roads, water, harbor, renewable energy, and telecommunications.
Q: What will you do to address drug abuse and needle litter in the city?
A: If elected I will also work together with the county to advocate for more drug and alcohol treatment centers along with a detox facility to help relieve the emergency room from overdose and alcohol intoxication. I will work to keep Waterfront Recovery Center open and funded and I will work with needle exchange programs to establish accountability, transparency and participation within the city of Eureka. More participation is necessary from needle exchange programs to reduce the amount of needle litter in and around Eureka. It is not the responsibility of the community to clean up the needle debris.
Q: What would best stimulate the city’s economy?
A: The best way to stimulate the economy is to make it easier for new business to start up in Eureka. Easing the permit and zoning processes, offering incentives for signing a lease, rent reduction for tenants for maintaining property. The new business incubator that will be going in downtown will be a good start in diversifying business and easing start up. Also having a council that supports small business in its entirety is essential to the economic stability of Eureka.
Q: What’s your view on the role of cannabis in the city?
A: I think the city needs to work with the county to establish a liaison position to complete the transition from black market to legalization. I believe that there are business opportunities within the cannabis field and like any new small business the city needs make it easier for startup.
Heidi Messner
Q: Please describe your experience and what you bring to the job.
A: I bring leadership, integrity and compassionate action into every aspect of my life, from working corporate, small business, non-profit, entrepreneurial, governmental to volunteer positions. I have been a part of leadership and have taught leaders for over three decades. Working in UPS customer service and working as a marriage and family therapist have taught me how to listen and bring resolution in difficult situations. Teaching at Boeing, Northwest University, Everett Community College, a variety of sovereign nation leaders, as well as living and traveling to over 60 countries has taught me how to work with anyone, no matter the age, gender, or race. Working as a substance abuse and trauma counselor has given me insight, empathy and experience with a variety of issues with which Eureka is faced. Creating my own entrepreneurial business and managing businesses with multiple employees has given me the understanding of the ins and outs of business management and leadership. My experience on the City Council of Eureka and the Community Services Policy Committee with League of California Cities has given me knowledge of policy making in the Eureka, Humboldt County and the state of California. I bring a breadth of knowledge to this position.
Q: What are your priorities, if elected?
A: My priorities, if elected as mayor of Eureka, are to build upon Eureka’s rich history for a sustainable future, to improve programs and initiatives for a thriving community by collaborating with businesses, government, social, and health care, to reimagine effective education for the leaders of tomorrow, to revitalize our invaluable Port of Eureka, to reduce crime and homelessness, to build economic development and diversity and to support and encourage all citizens of Eureka to discover and live out their value and worth as contributing members of our amazing city.
Q: What will you do to address drug abuse and needle litter in the city?
A: The issue of drug abuse is one I would like to address by enhancing the programs that are working well already like Waterfront Recovery Center, the Eureka Rescue Mission, the Betty Kwan Chinn Day and Family Centers and Container Village, Teen Challenge and many more. I believe we can help build self-esteem and enrich lives by walking beside people as they learn to take responsibility for their own lives and behavior, which ultimately brings them freedom.
Q: What would best stimulate the city’s economy?
A: I believe a diverse economy is the strongest and most sustainable. I would like to stimulate the city’s economy by revitalizing our port through cruise ships, cold storage, fishing and shipping; enriching the art community; enhancing the exposure to our incredible beauty and natural resources for tourism; and increasing our housing to allow for the growth.
Q: What’s your view on the role of cannabis in the city?
A: Cannabis has been a part of this community and its economy for over 30 years and has recently been voted legal by the state of California. I believe we must help cannabis businesses become legal through policy and regulation, so the employees, environment and community can thrive. This is already occurring and through this process we must be adaptable and keep a long-term vision so we can make wise decisions that will help our community and economy thrive.
Susan Seaman
Q: Please describe your experience and what you bring to the job.
A: Twenty-seven years ago, after graduating from Humboldt State, I moved to Eureka to do outreach for KEET-TV. Immediately, I became involved in the community, volunteering for organizations like the Sequoia Park Zoo, the Eureka Symphony and the Eureka Heritage Society. I eventually focused on K-12 education, child development and literacy, partnering with dozens of local organizations. I have two children who attended Eureka City Schools, where I was an active volunteer, and served on the school bond Oversight Committee in 2006. My husband and I bought a business after several years, where I experienced the all-consuming nature of staying on top of new regulations and never ending bills. I also began to see the importance businesses play in neighborhood development. We were not only the place to buy goods, we were the place where people would bring lost dogs or share coffee with a neighbor. It was through our business that I ended up at Arcata Economic Development Corporation, an organization that provides funding for businesses and community projects in a six county region. Central to that role is working with local governments, organizations and leaders to find opportunities to support businesses. I regularly talk to business owners about their successes and struggles. This has encouraged me to dig deeper into issues of workforce, housing, and infrastructure. I currently serve on the City of Eureka Economic Development Commission. My experience in Eureka is not just about longevity. It’s about seeing the community from a variety of perspectives.
Q: What are your priorities, if elected?
A: An economic development strategy that supports Eureka now and into the future is the foundation of a strong community. I believe that healthy industry and workforce are the critical first steps to any sustainable future, and understanding what industries are doing well, how to cultivate more business, how to fill positions needed in the workforce and how to create quality jobs, is necessary to build the economy. In rural communities, where budgets are very tight, a strong economy is necessary to raise the funds needed to support important programs like police and fire. It also provides the necessary amenities to make a community more livable. One key to building a strong economy is engaging and retaining young professionals who will work, build businesses and raise families here. Additionally, we need to continue to find ways to give voice to people from all segments of the community that will allow meaningful discussion of important projects. I will work with the city and our partners to ensure that everyone has access to quality, affordable housing. This is an issue that needs to be addressed from affordable and supportive housing to our most vulnerable populations, to those who need market rate housing, including both renters and property owners. We also need to continue to foster safe neighborhoods by ensuring we have optimal police coverage, embracing neighborhood-focused solutions, and working together to address vandalism, blight, and property crime.
Q: What will you do to address drug abuse and needle litter in the city?
A: We have an epidemic of drug abuse in our community, and there is no one answer to address it because there is no single reason it exists. We can start with more treatment centers, though. The good news is that there are resources to bring more support to our community. Additionally, we need to give people someplace safe to go both day and night. Moving people from place to place is a tax on police resources, and it’s harmful to the state of an already fragile group. Regarding needle litter, that is a symptom of the bigger abuse problem. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention endorses the use of needle exchange programs to help control the spread of diseases like Hepatitis C and AIDS. We are already seeing those diseases spread rapidly in our community. Experimenting by removing something that has been proven to help seems like a dangerous gamble, and a 1:1 needle exchange has not been proven effective by health officials. I can certainly understand the frustration of finding needles lying around the community, but, fixating on needle litter will not fix the underlying problem any more than painting a house will fix a problem with the foundation. This is an area where our relationship with the county will play an important role. We need to work closely with them, or hold them accountable, for programs that address issues of substance abuse, re-entry into the workforce, child welfare and more.
Q: What would best stimulate the city’s economy?
A: Economic development is often measured by the number of jobs that are created in an area. Looking at our economy, that’s not the whole picture. We have jobs — many of which we can’t fill. If we want to improve the economy, we need to find ways to encourage people to do the jobs we need done — police, doctors, judges, teachers, salesmen, tradesmen. We have long struggled with paying professionals wages that are comparable to other areas. Sometimes professionals can’t find appropriate or affordable housing. Sometimes we struggle with recruitment because of crime and safety issues — and sometimes it’s simply the perception of crime and safety issues. We’re our own worst enemy when the narrative we tell encourages the professionals we need to stay away. Beyond filling the jobs we have there are some exciting prospects for creating jobs including the renewable wind farm and potential manufacturing facilities in Eureka. The success of any industry, however, depends on the success of comprehensive economic and community development. Police officers want to make sure their kids have good teachers. Teachers want to make sure they have access to medical care. Doctors want to feel like they’re safe and we have enough police on staff. An accountant may want access to a robust art scene. An artist may want to see that have tourists coming to town. If we fail to look at the big picture, we will always struggle to stimulate the economy in a meaningful way.
Q: What’s your view on the role of cannabis in the city?
A: Californians have decided cannabis is a legal industry and Eureka has been proactive in addressing the needs of new business owners as expediently as possible. Because of that, the city is seeing an increase in new businesses and good paying jobs in town. Buildings are being purchased and fixed up, which is addressing some of our blight issues. But, as the industry gets more settled throughout the state and the market share spreads out, we’ll see things slow down. Eventually, I would expect we will see cannabis as one of Humboldt’s healthy industries, but not our sole industry. We often think of the cannabis industry in terms of cultivation and retail, but Eureka is a little different. Here, they make up only a small percentage of business. We are more often seeing new manufacturing, testing and distribution businesses who want to be in Humboldt where we have a brain trust of people who understand the crop. Many cannabis farmers are hurting in Humboldt, and traditionally they have spent a lot of their retail dollars in Eureka. With the agricultural segment of cannabis down overall, fewer of those dollars are being spent this year. In addition, while it’s true that cultivation is primarily outside of Eureka, it is important that the farmers are able to withstand the ups and downs. If they don’t succeed, there won’t be as much impetus for the other cannabis businesses to exist here. Ultimately, we remain interdependent with the rest of Humboldt County.
