Retirees favor slow-growth effort

June Casagrande

Campaign contribution reports filed this week gave fuel to

allegations on both sides of the Greenlight vs. development debate.

Consistent with Mayor Tod Ridgeway’s statements earlier this year

that Greenlight represents mostly established, older people resistant

to some of the changes that benefit younger residents, a high

proportion of Greenlight contributors identify themselves as retired.

On the flip side, Greenlighters’ allegation that some candidates

represent development interests is bolstered by contributions from

developers and related professions.

Out of 40 individual cash contributions to Mayor Tod Ridgeway,

nine identified themselves as developers, architects, real estate

professionals or others related to the construction industry. Bernie

Svalstad’s 28 contributors include eight members of these

professions.

For Don Webb and Councilman Gary Adams however, the number of

developer-related contributors was comparable to that of some

Greenlight candidates. Webb’s 24 contributors included three

development professionals. Adams’ 18 individual contributions also

included three members of these professions.

Greenlight candidate Rick Taylor had three contributions from

development professionals, Madelene Arakelian had two and Dick

Nichols and Allan Beek each had none.

The Greenlight candidates did, however, receive many contributions

from persons identified as “retired.” Arakelian’s 67 contributors

included 39 retired persons. Beek’s 46 contributors included 28

retirees. Nichol’s 27 individual donors included 17 retired persons.

Of Taylor’s 71 contributors, 36 were retired.

In comparison, five Ridgeway contributors were retired, as were

eight contributors to Svalstad’s campaign. Campaign reports for Adams

and Webb did no specify whether contributors were retired. Instead,

some of their contributors were listed as not employed, presumably

encompassing retirees as well as unemployed people and others. Webb’s

contributors included nine not employed. Adams’ included four.

Marianne Zippi’s contributors included three retired people and

one real estate professional. Laura Dietz’s campaign contribution

reports had not been filed by midday Friday. Ron Winship is not

soliciting campaign contributions.

In a mayoral address in January, Ridgeway criticized the

Greenlight movement as anti-change, noting that some older people who

have already made their fortunes don’t want to allow young people the

same financial opportunities they enjoyed.

“It’s important to be clear on what I said: People who have

already established their wealth recoil at any change and

development,” Ridgeway said Friday, adding that this is not the same

as pointing specifically to older residents. “Many of my supporters

are older people. And I’m proud of the support I receive from

developers. Many of them helped make this city what it is today and

now choose to live here for its quality of life.”

The reports cover the period from Oct. 1 through Oct. 19. In that

time, Ridgeway raised $11,716, bringing his total to $44,328 year to

date.

The other candidates’ contributions are as follows, with current

period and year-to-date figures listed respectively: Adams, $5,444

and $41,566; Arakelian, $6,034 and $8,534; Beek, $6,945 and $10,169;

Nichols, $5,933 and $10,052; Svalstad, $7,757 and $13,669; Taylor,

$9,965 and $16,407; Webb, $7452 and $34,864; Zippi, $3,079 and

$3,378.

The Greenlight Committee collected $24,052 this period, $39,480

year to date, much of which was collected for individual candidates

and is accounted for in those candidates’ totals.