The Deer Park Gazette posed five questions to city council & mayoral candidates in the upcoming election, including those running unopposed. These questions delve into candidates’ priorities, views, perspectives, approaches, and how personal beliefs have shaped their direction.
The Deer Park City Council has voted to settle a dispute with Halme Construction over the city’s aeration lagoon project. The decision was made during a special City Council meeting on August 27, where city leaders chose mediation over litigation to resolve the matter.
The Deer Park City Council has unanimously appointed Tom Gaines to fill a vacant seat, bypassing two active candidates campaigning for the position in the November election. Gaines expects to be sworn in just before a special meeting next week, which has been called to address potential litigation against the city.
Ellen Standen, a Deer Park resident since 1974, shares her journey from Northern California to her current role on the Deer Park City Council. With a long and varied history of service to the community, she reflects on the town’s growth and her aspirations for its future.
Deer Park’s city council has expanded from five to seven members in response to the city’s population growth, reaching 5,000 residents. Ross Hall, a former teacher and coach, and Chase Vining, a local business owner, were appointed to serve through 2025.
Deer Park is set to expand its city council from five to seven members, a move mandated by state law as the city’s population reaches 5,000. Applications for the two new positions are due by September 3rd, with interviews scheduled for September 4th during the city council meeting at City Hall.
Ziply Fiber was seeking to bring high-speed fiber internet to every home in Deer Park. However, the city’s leadership has expressed concerns about the increased workload on city workers and the abundance of existing internet options. The mayor has rejected Ziply’s offer to present at a city council meeting.
During the most recent city council meeting, the features of city parks were a recurring topic. Discussions ranged from citizen input and engineer presentations to council member reports, covering various aspects of the city’s parks and recreational activities.
Following Heather Newsom’s resignation, the city council had 90 days to appoint a replacement. Six people applied and were interviewed, and ultimately, the council unanimously voted to appoint Ellen Standen.
Pickleball discussion was a break from the business as normal at the last city council meeting. Angela McBride presented some information about Pickleball, the courts, and the community.