Amador County – Several dozen people attended the Amador Child Care Council’s All Candidates Forum Tuesday in Jackson, including all four candidates from the Sutter Creek City Council race.

Child Care Council Executive Director Joyce Stone introduced the candidates, who gave brief statements and talked about their qualifications for the two positions they will vie for in Sutter Creek.

Ed Arata said he worked with the fire department and has 15 years experience on the Sutter Creek Fire District board of directors. His focus would be to work with the city administration on infrastructure and budget issues. He said he has strong backing from his wife, Mimi, who keeps an eye on city finances.

Arata said his engineering background would help him become a “bridge” between construction management and engineers for city projects.

Jim Swift said this was his “first foray” into politics and he has “a lot to learn,” but he said he graduated with honors from California State at Sacramento “so I’m a good student.” His wife is outgoing city treasurer in Sutter Creek, so he has learned from her.

Swift called himself a fiscal conservative, said his job duties include being “a good steward over the city’s treasury.” He has experience in business, running ATI auto parts, and his father was on the city council, and he has attended many council meetings.

Bart Weatherly said he is a husband and father, and “a captain at a very busy firehouse.” He said a “power click” runs the city council, and people must “play golf with the right party” to be a member. He said the current city council is “out of touch with the people,” and he wants to change that.

Weatherly said he is motivated and has been attending council meetings for four or five years, and “win, lose or draw,” he will keep going to the meetings. He said he wanted to balance the budget, which has not been balanced in seven or eight years.

Rianda said she was appointed 16 months ago and the council wasted little time putting her to work. She was appointed to city committees on budget, finance, personnel and auditing, and immediately went to work “to rein in our budget.” She said Sutter Creek has a balanced budget this year, which includes about a $70,000 reserve.

Rianda was a teacher for nine years and retired from the state in 2008, her last post being associate warden at Folsom Prison. Her work included housing, administrative functions, budget and personnel, and negotiations involving employees and hostages.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.