CITY COUNCIL HOPEFULS FACE AREA ISSUES SMALL FIELD FOR NOV. ELECTION.

Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer

PALMDALE - With no hot issues to grapple with, the candidates for Palmdale City Council are voicing pledges ranging from pushing to complete pending city projects to opening citizen access to government to putting more cops on the street.

The field for the Nov. 6 City Council election is relatively, small with incumbents Jim Root and Rod Penner facing four challengers - Richard Loa, an attorney who finished second to Root in last year's election; businesswoman Celeste Eckley, outgoing president of the Antelope Valley Chambers of Commerce; Claudette Roberts, who works for the Palmdale Water District; and Garry Cope, an ROTC supply technician.

Cope, making his first bid for public office, is critical of the city's General Plan, saying it is responsible for businesses leaving the city's eastside and downtown areas for the westside.

``The plan is obviously flawed and not all of the city is enjoying prosperity,'' Cope said.

Cope also wants to improve the public's access to the city government. Among his suggestions are having city offices open on Saturday and holding monthly council meetings solely to take comments from the public.

``The present format doesn't allow time for people to express their thoughts, opinions and concerns,'' Cope said.

Thus far in her campaign, Eckley has been emphasizing her civic involvement and what she says is her ability to build partnerships. Eckley's civic involvement has included serving on the board of United Way, a stint as president of the Palmdale Republican Women Federated and president of the Zonta Club of the Antelope Valley. She is president of the Antelope Valley NAACP.

Eckley ran unsuccessfully for the Palmdale City Council in 1990 and 1992.

Eckley said she will work to protect local neighborhoods, enhance residents' quality of life, maintain a strong commitment to providing police and fire services, and improve the political climate at City Hall.

``As a Palmdale city council member, I will work to build bridges and work with our communities on keys issues as energy, water and traffic,'' Eckley said.

Loa, an attorney, finished second to Root in last year's election to fill a one-year seat. This year, as in last year's campaign, Loa lists public safety as a top priority.

``Increasing the number of deputies on the street is the best way to fight crime,'' Loa said. ``Our contract with the Sheriff's Department has not kept pace with the population increase.''

Loa also wants to push for the development of a hospital at Palmdale Boulevard and 40th Street East. The Antelope Valley Health District has established a clinic at the site with the intention of expanding it over time into a full-service hospital.

Loa also wants to see the stalled College Park housing development put back on track to bring a college campus to the southern end of the Antelope Valley.

Penner, a Sheriff's Department lieutenant, joined the City Council in 1999 after winning a special election to fill the remaining two years of a term vacated by Shelley Sorsabal.

During his time on the council, Penner has been the swing vote on some controversial issues, including placing the council districting measure on the November ballot, even though he personally opposes it, and enacting the lawn ordinance.

``I'm the guy who sits on the end (of the dais) who doesn't fit in with everybody else,'' Penner said, referring to the political skirmishes between Mayor Jim Ledford and Root on one side and Rick Norris and Mike Dispenza on the other.

Penner wants to see two major projects in the works through to completion. The first is building a new sheriff's station on Sierra Highway at Avenue Q to replace a leased, cramped station at Palmdale Boulevard and 10th Street East.

Penner also wants to see the hospital proposed by Universal Health Services on Tierra Subida Road at Avenue Q-8 become a reality. Penner called the proposal ``a solid offer.''

Roberts is the special projects coordinator for the Palmdale Water District. She is making her first run at public office.

Among the projects Roberts wants to take on are getting the sheriff's station and four proposed fire stations built, getting the College Park project on track, providing more after-school programs, and getting a hospital built.

Roberts also wants to push for the completion of the ``Courson Connection,'' a downtown revitalization project that would provide housing and amenities for senior citizens by rebuilding the area between the Civic Center and Courson Park.

Roberts said that in her job with the Palmdale Water District she has had to work with a variety of government entities, including the Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Forest Service.

``I have the ability to work with a lot of different agencies to push these projects along,'' Roberts said.

Root, a Highland High School teacher, served two four-year terms on the council but opted not to run for re-election in 1997. Root returned to Palmdale politics last year when he was elected to fill the remaining year of a term left vacant by the resignation of Shelley Sorsabal.

Root wants to continue the work on the Avenue S corridor, extend the push to put an initiative on the ballot to build more parks, and continue the development of the ``Courson Connection.''

Root wants to see the city play a greater role in helping school districts deal with overcrowded campuses and to increase the number of credentialed teachers. One possible area the city should explore is whether city housing monies could be used to help recruit teachers by offering them assistance in home purchases, Root said.

CAPTION(S):

6 photos

Photo:

(1) COPE

(2) ECKLEY

(3) LOA

(4) PENNER

(5) ROBERTS

(6) ROOT