The general election is a little more than two weeks away, which means it’s time to see with the candidates for Aberdeen City Council’s Ward 4 Position 7 why they think they’re the best choice.

In addition to why they think they’re the best, it’s time to see what issues they think are the most critical ones to fix. Here’s what they had to say:

Glenn Meissner — Ward 4 Position 7

What makes you the best option for city council?

“I believe that the current sitting council and mayor have a view of the future of the city of Aberdeen that is detrimental to the long-term health of the city as we know it,” Meissner said. “Aberdeen has been and should continue to be what I call a ‘working’ city. I think it is a mistake to pivot toward tourism to solve the city’s economic problems. I believe that if the council makeup doesn’t change, then this overall trend of trying to gentrify the area will continue, especially once the levee project is completed. This will push long-time Aberdeen locals out of the area as property values and cost of living rise more than local wages. I do not want to see that happen.”

Meissner, who served in the U.S. Army for eight years, pointed to his “moral character” that he said makes for a good public servant. While serving he “sacrificed personal gain, time with family and immense amounts of time to do my part in keeping the country safe.”

Meissner is also fairly local. Married to a long-time Aberdeen resident, “I feel that between the two of us, we have solid ideas on how to address local concerns as well as the knowledge of what has been done so far to address those concerns.”

Meissner also pointed to the diversity of the people he’s worked with and how he worked with them to reach “unified and common goals.”

“I believe everyone has good and worth ideas, ideas that should be considered when trying to tackle any problem and it pays to listen to them,” Meissner said. “I will try my hardest to truly represent the residents of Ward 4, and their concerns, at the city level.”

How specifically do you think your past experience will help you on Aberdeen City Council?

Meissner pointed again to his veteran status and how he was “in a position of leadership in the service,” and how his service at the battalion level put him in position to lead.

The Army veteran spoke about how leading in the military caused him to make himself available for his soldiers and his superiors. He said that means listening and working together.

What are two issues you aim to work on should you join the city council?

Meissner’s first issue to work on is the local business environment.

“I believe this is the No. 1 issue facing Aberdeen,” Meissner said. “Many local residents want new venues to open up, like restaurants, a movie theater, events in the city, etc. I want those things too and I believe it is good to push for more business, especially small to medium-sized businesses, which make up the lifeblood of any economy.”

But, first, Meissner wants to try to grow the local economy.

“In order to bring in all of these supporting businesses that people want, we need businesses that bring positive cash flows to Aberdeen,” Meissner said. “In short, we need to develop businesses that bring money from outside the area into the area.”

Meissner pointed to his place of employment, a seafood processing company. The company sells outside of the area and internationally, and those sales bring in more revenue to Grays Harbor. He wants more of that in Aberdeen.

The other issue Meissner wants to help solve is homelessness. He blames the city council’s rejection of grant money in order to help open a low barrier to entry homeless shelter, which “handicaps the city’s ability to help the situation.”

Meissner pointed his finger at the encampments and how those camps pushed homeless people into the downtown area “where they are not safe from the elements and have to resort to sleeping under business overhangs or doorways to escape the weather, especially during the rainy season.”

Meissner said he believes “that we have a duty as a functioning society to help those in need.”

Stan Sidor — Ward 4 Position 7

What makes you the best option for city council? Why?

“I have over 40 years of business experience, including in banking and commercial real estate appraisal,” current Aberdeen City Councilor Sidor said. “I was born and raised in Aberdeen and so have substantial historic experience in understanding the city and the issues that it faces. Also, during my life I have served in many leadership positions, including currently serving not only on the city council but also as a commissioner on the Washington State Real Estate Appraiser Commission, and also as past president of the Appraiser’s Coalition of Washington and the Seattle chapter of the Appraisal Institute. In my latter roles, I have worked closely with some state legislators and the governor on laws that affected both the appraisal profession and real estate ownership in positive ways. I know how government works and how it doesn’t work.”

How, specifically, do you think your past experience will help you on Aberdeen City Council?

Sidor touted his business experience and past lobbying for the passage of “some state laws” will “help the city of Aberdeen and its citizens as we strive to improve our city.”

Sidor explained how the commercial real estate experience helps him understand and advocate for codes and policies “that will, over time, help bring more businesses into downtown and help guide property owners on options to renovate and enhance the appearance of their properties and get them leased out to new tenants or occupants.”

Sidor said his experience in the aforementioned real estate field will help the city identify a homeless shelter property and ensure the city does not “pay over-market” for one. He said work on and lobbying for state laws will help the city as it tries to garner support from the county and state, which are “needed for improvements to enhance the livability and economic development of the city.”

What are two issues you aim to work on should you join the city council?

Sidor said homelessness and the dilapidated buildings downtown are two of the “most critical issues” facing Aberdeen.

“It is my priority to continue to work on finding solutions to resolve the impacts of these issues, which I have been doing for the past year,” Sidor said.

Sidor also said he is “readily available to help out local citizens with issues that affect them, and usually responds quickly to their emails and phone calls.”

“I promise to continue to be very responsive to residents,” Sidor said.

Contact Reporter Matthew N. Wells at matthew.wells@thedailyworld.com.