Interview with Holly Carter

by Sylvia Sneedly

This the last part of an ongoing series we've been doing on the candidates running for City Council District 6. Check out our other interviews with Garry Bredefeld and Jeremy Pearce. For more on Holly Carter, check out her website.

Your twitter handle is @Holly4D6, however on your website it says you are 47. Is this intentionally misleading?

@Holly4D7 was already taken. :)

You are running against an Elvis impersonator. What can you offer District 6 that someone who calls himself “The King” cannot?

I bring a background of extensive business experience, a thorough understanding of our base industry of agriculture, and a proven ability to work with others, who often have different viewpoints. I successfully bring them together to create innovative solutions. It is what I do for a living. It is a rare skillset that I strongly believe the people of District Six will welcome from their City Councilwoman. The people want solutions, not political rhetoric.

I offer an independent voice; one that is not beholden to anyone. Once I am elected, my allegiance is to the people who sent me to serve them and be their voice at City Hall. Anyone who knows me will say that I am a promise keeper... I tell the truth and let the people decide what is best for them.

I also have offered some very specific ideas on how to address the primary issues concerning my district and the business community of Fresno. I invite you to visit my website and review action agendas for specific details and welcome any opportunity to share these with you in person.

Your other opponent, Garry Bredefeld, has just been endorsed by Ashley Swearengin. How will this affect your campaign? As the former Executive Director for the Fresno County GOP, how do you feel about this?

That is a great question. In 2008, the Fresno County GOP initially refused to endorse our current Mayor. I put my entire job on the line to successfully force this endorsement in her favor. So I have a long history of supporting our Mayor and respect her decision even if I don’t agree with it. As far as my campaign, it has not and will not affect it. Our message is driven by the people of District 6 and the needs of the small business owners who have clearly identified their public safety fears and their concerns about the unfriendly business climate they must deal with when doing business in Fresno.

I don’t mean to use a cliché but it really is time to put the community over politics. We need community oriented representation. I am the only candidate with the independence, ability and courage to offer that to my constituents.

My independent voice may upset the political establishment once in awhile. If they are uncomfortable with that, I won’t apologize. I strongly believe it is time for a fresh voice.

You state that crime in District 6 has risen in the last year. Are you more worried about crime now that your District’s crime rates are becoming more in line with the rest of Fresno?

If crime in District 6 is rising, it can only mean the entire city is experiencing the same. I can tell you my commitment to fighting crime citywide is unshakable. Yes, crime is getting out of hand in District 6 and the rest of the city as well. I am the only candidate that that has brought forth a specific action agenda that isn’t just some ambiguous plan. These ideas will help reverse this trend once I am elected.

You also state that District 6 has had an increased problem of vagrancy, and you quote a “vagrant” who says there is a difference between “transients” and those who are classically “homeless”. By what mechanism do you propose that the City of Fresno distinguish between the two? Will a census of the homeless community be taken? If "transients" are there to exploit the system, wouldn't they just lie and say they are there by circumstance and not by choice?

I have been doing a lot of research on this subject. I take it very seriously and I value the life of every single person. I say that knowing that this topic is very difficult. I care. I care a lot.

Fresno Madera Continuum of Care conducts ongoing surveys to determine the number of “homeless” in the City of Fresno. I yield to them with regards to your question about "counting the homeless"

I have been given conflicting information about housing availability. I have been informed that there is immediate housing available for any truly homeless person that wants and accepts help. I was also informed this weekend that there is a 6 month waiting list for housing. I have reached out to the proper sources to determine what the actual "truth" is regarding this issue.

I am also researching what I think may be the solution for those who are not ready to accept help with regards to substance abuse, which is a criteria for the housing currently available to the homeless. I am really excited about what I have found and am looking forward to sharing this information in the near future. It is grant funded, requires no general funds to be spent, and deals with the population that currently falls through the cracks. 

I distinguish between the genuinely homeless and vagrants by identifying who is rejecting services and social safety nets available to them and instead choosing a life on the streets. In this case, by this definition, their lifestyle is often supported by petty crimes which support their addiction. I am concerned about dealing with the vagrants who are victimizing the truly homeless and the entire community to support their substance abuse. It is not OK to commit a crime. Period. My heart goes out to anyone stuck in this cycle. However, we must prioritize the law abiding citizens need for safety. A city with citizens who do not feel safe is a city who has failed to meet the most basic needs of its community.

We have the services available for the homeless who want help dealing with the root causes that resulted in them becoming homeless. If they choose to turn down help, that does not give them the right to trespass, create biological hazards, commit crimes, or aggressively panhandle as is the case now. By providing the political will and some tough love, I am hopeful that we can encourage these people to finally seek help and get them into recovery. The other ideas I have will help inform the community about ways to make it difficult for this population to continue their chosen lifestyle in our City.

There is no easy answer. But crime cannot and will not be tolerated. The laws are there for a reason and we must enforce them. No one has the right to break the law.

You propose to increase Police officers to 2005 levels. Based on the median income for a Fresno Police officer (according to Salary.com), this would cost an additional $4.8 million per year. How do you propose to pay for said increase?

Public Safety must be the number one priority. Unfortunately, it’s all political talk now. It’s a budgeting process. We must start rebuilding our public safety departments. Fire was cut back by 25% and they deal with engine breakdowns at an alarming rate. Imagine your home being on fire and the fire truck breaks down on its way to your house. Our police officers can’t even respond to a call when we have caught a criminal red handed because they are too busy dealing with more serious calls that are life threatening. If we can’t provide security for our community, the rest of our efforts are in vain. And, we better start examining our compensation packages. Currently, even with a $10,000 signing bonus we cannot attract new officers. We have fully funded unfilled positions because we can’t attract them. This is a result of the drastic cuts over the past 7 years to public safety. Bottom line, it won’t be easy. We need to sharpen our pencils and allocate a disproportionate amount of the increase in general funds to public safety.

GBF wholeheartedly agrees that Roofies should be illegal. However, considering the fact that the position of Fresno City Councilmember, even of the illustrious District 6, holds no legislative power regarding state laws, how do you intend to pass such legislation? Would that pursuit distract you from the actual duties of the office?

I am in the communications and public relations business. Creating change is what I do for a living. Having the voice of a city councilmember will help facilitate this effort. I know how to get this done and it won’t distract from my duties as a public servant.

When talking about the “Nextdoor App”, you said that it is like an electronic version of Neighborhood Watch, however you failed to mention whether or not you actually enjoy using the app. Do you have any comments about that?

I use the App frequently and know first­hand the app’s ability to inform and empower a neighborhood, especially when it comes to crime. It’s a powerful communication tool. I hope the entire community starts using it so we can look out for one another.

Are there any other apps you enjoy using? (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Fruit Ninja, The Weather Channel, Grindr, Foursquare, Swarm, Uber, etc...)

I use and guide my clients on the use of the apps you described. Again, it is part of what I do for a living.

One of the endorsements on your website mentions “...general plan common sense...” Can you define your common sense ideas regarding the city’s general plan, specifically regarding the Blackstone corridor, urban infill, and Downtown revitalization?

A General Plan only works if the marketplace agrees, and will attract the necessary investment to be successful.

There are parts of it I agree with, especially those policies related to Downtown. But I am also concerned that the new General Plan did not take the private market and investment into consideration strongly enough to the point where it will actually be successful.

When talking to many professionals in the development industry, they have expressed great concerns and cite the recent growth plans in Madera County as examples of the emerging consequence of this new plan.