By VERNON ROBISON
The Progress
Mesquite City Council candidate Karen Fielding kicked off her campaign last week with an open house event held on Thursday night, Sept. 8 at the 1880 Grill at the Conestoga Golf Club.
About 40 people attended the early campaign season event, eager to hear what Fielding had to say about important issues in Mesquite.
Conversation was lively during the event and Fielding spent much of the evening sharing her views and answering questions from attendees.
Fielding ran for city council in 2018 and again in 2020. This year she is running for Council Seat #1 against incumbent Sandra Ramaker.
Fielding said that she felt like “the third time is a charm.”
“I don’t do it for recognition or for glory,” Fielding added. “I do it for the city of Mesquite. I have lived here for 27 years and I have a huge passion for the city. I feel like the city needs me now. I think maybe I have something that I can offer that no one else can.”
A good deal of the discussion was on the subject of workforce housing in the city. Several attendees asked questions and made comments about the city council’s push to encourage developers to build housing to the local working class.
Fielding said that she recognizes the shortage of workforce housing as a major concern in Mesquite.
“Housing in Mesquite is not affordable for working families anymore,” Fielding said. “We have to figure out what we are going to do for our workforce here. That workforce is our young people and our families. We need them to stay vibrant and thriving. We have to have those folks to work in businesses that provide services to the retirees that we also have here.”
This position prompted a number of questions from attendees who expressed a variety of opinions on the matter.
One resident was specifically concerned about a workforce housing project being proposed at the southwest corner of Falcon Ridge and Hardy Way, at the gateway to Sun City. He asked if Fielding would be open to the parcel being used for a commercial project instead, rather than housing.
Fielding emphasized that the multi-family residential project currently being proposed on the site is still in its very early stages. There have been discussions but no approvals have yet been given; and no detailed plans reviewed. That being the case, Fielding said that she would be open and look carefully at all sides of the issue.
“I like to look at both sides and study things out before I make a decision,” Fielding said. “But I know that the city needs workforce housing desperately. It is the top priority of our strategic plan. So that will weigh heavy in my decision making.”
Another resident expressed disapproval that the city is so deeply subsidizing residential projects by granting city-owned land at a deep discount to reduce the housing costs.
Fielding explained that, in approving these subsidies, the council is fulfilling a serious need in the community. She said that the discounted land rates were only given on condition that a certain number of workforce housing units are built on the land.
“The city council has recognized that workforce housing is something that will bring more people to the city to work these important jobs,” Fielding said. “In turn that increases our tax base and brings in more income to the community. We get more population growth and eventually someday, maybe we get that Trader Joe’s that everyone is always talking about.”
Other attendees commended Fielding for her position on this issue.
Kim Woolsey, who works as HR Director of Primex Plastics, applauded Fielding’s stance on housing.
“My employer has been in town for 30 years and we employ just under 200 people,” Woolsey said. “That is the workforce we are talking about. The people who work for us are amazing. They have families. They want to raise their families here in this beautiful rural community. They want to own a home here. But they can’t afford $400,000 to $500,000 homes.”
“It is not Section 8 housing or federal HUD housing we are talking about,” Woolsey added. “It is for good, hardworking people. Those are my people. They are the ones who need workforce housing. I appreciate Karen for recognizing that.”
VVHS Ag teacher Bailey Kesl agreed. “I graduated college last year and I certainly couldn’t purchase a house right now,” Kesl said. “As a first year teacher, and paying off my college, it is just way out of my range. And renting isn’t much better, if you can find anything to rent. So I am here, I am teaching kids because I want to help this community, But there is little chance of finding anything that is affordable.”
On another subject, Fielding said that she wanted to make health care more affordable and available in the community.
“A while back, I remember our mayor wrote a letter to the paper saying that the city didn’t really have any say in the hospital and the decisions it makes,” Fielding said. “Well, you know what, we need to fix that.”
Fielding said that she would work to ensure that local residents wouldn’t have to travel to St. George or Las Vegas for good health care options.
“When people leave the city of Mesquite to go for health care somewhere else, it takes away from our services that we could possibly get here,” Fielding said. “We really need to have the very best service right here.”
One of the attendees at the event was local resident Joey Bowler who is running for City Council Seat 3 against Patti Gallo. Seat 3 is currently occupied by Councilman George Gault who is not seeking re-election.
At the beginning of the event, Fielding gave a few minutes to Bowler to speak. Bowler expressed support for Karen saying that he had known her for a long time and had even taught her children in school at VVHS.
Then Bowler spoke briefly about his own campaign stating that he would be a strong and independent candidate.
“I have been hearing some rumors in the community that people are saying that those backing me are somehow going to control what I will do and that I will just be a stooge for them,” Bowler said. “I just want to make it clear that I am definitely my own person. I will vote how I want to vote and the way I feel is right. I am not going to be a robot for some other interest. It is important as citizens of Mesqite that we do the right things for the community. And I will do that.”
