By Shawn Skager

The Courier-Herald

Although the future growth of Buckley was the dominant issue on the minds of both citizens and candidates at the Oct. 18 Buckley Kiwanis candidate forum, the race for mayor and City Council Position 3 will likely hinge on candidate personality.

With incumbent mayor John Blanusa and challenger Pat Johnson, as well as council candidates Sandra Ramsey and Kenneth Smith, playing before a packed house at the Buckley Multi-purpose Center, the four politicians proved to have a consensus on many of the growth issues facing Buckley.

The four agreed that the future growth of Buckley was inevitable and needs to be managed.

&#8220The right kind of growth for Buckley is going to be a balanced growth,” Johnson said. &#8220And by balanced I mean a balance between residential growth and a growth in our business area.”

&#8220Its our city, we built it,” Blanusa said. &#8220Nobody owns it but us. When they come in, they need to buy their way in. We shouldn't raise one tax for growth.”

The consensus that growth needs to be managed was shared by the council candidates.

&#8220The least amount of growth in Buckley the better, in my opinion,” Smith said. &#8220I feel very strongly about that. The growth in Buckley needs to be managed.”

&#8220I feel that the right type of growth for Buckley is a controlled growth,” Ramsey added. &#8220We can do that through our comprehensive plan, which is a broad statement of community goals and policies that will direct the development of the city through the future.”

Instead, the real division between the candidates was evident in the speaking and leadership styles.

Both Johnson and Ramsey worked off of prepared statements on several questions.

Blanusa and Smith appeared to be less comfortable with the politician label. Smith prefaced several of his responses with statements concerning his lack of political experience, while Blanusa relied heavily on his past record as mayor for the past decade.

In addition to questions regarding the issues, the candidates for mayor were also asked to talk about their respective leadership styles and why they were the right candidates for the job.

&#8220I lead by example,” Johnson said. &#8220I believe that hard work pays off. You have to set good examples and you have to set goals.”

Blanusa also responded.

&#8220When I took the job, I said that when I get there in the morning, my political friendship ceases and doesn't resume until quitting time,” he said. &#8220Everyone is treated equal all day. You've got to work a hard day for a day's pay.”

The candidates also differed on a question from the audience regarding the city budget.

Smith and Ramsey declined to answer, citing that they were not familiar enough with the specifics of the budget to answer.

Blanusa said he intends to keep the city's personnel running at status quo, with no new hiring under his watch.

Johnson however, said that the city need to look at ways to stop subsidizing departments that do not turn a profit, such as the cemetery department.

Johnson also stated that the city funds too many projects that are enjoyed by citizens of incorporated Pierce County, as well as Buckley citizens, and that the city may be best served by having the county pony up some money to help fund those projects.

The citizens of Buckley will cast their votes on their choice for mayor and councilperson Nov. 8 during Washington's general election.

Shawn Skager can be reached at sskager@courierherald.com.