May 27, 2009
Gessaman files to run for spot on commission By RICHARD ECKE Tribune Staff Writer
Great Falls has its first candidate for city commissioner: Kathleen Z. Gessaman.
Gessaman, 55, filed Tuesday to compete for two open commissioner positions currently held by Bill Beecher and John Rosenbaum.
The Riverview resident said she has attended City Commission meetings for three years, at times politely criticizing the city's energy ventures, including the proposed coal-fired Highwood Generating Station.
Gessaman said that even though the planned power plant may switch to natural gas instead of coal, she still questions the proposed location of the plant eight miles east of Great Falls.
"That is still a prime agricultural area," she said.
Gessaman said she would like more citizen involvement in government, and more time for commissioners to consider the public's opinions before they vote.
Her campaign features a theme called CHAT Ñ citizen involvement, honest answers, accountability and transparency.
Gessaman, a retired chemical engineer, said she believes the city's budget woes are, in part, tied to the city's spending for its electric energy venture.
"It was a venture that wasn't thought through very well," Gessaman said. "I think the city should stick with its core business. I don't like to see the city compete with private industry."
She also said the city might not have needed special tax levies for police and fire protection if it didn't spend money on its energy program. A by-mail vote on the levies is set for Aug. 4 for city residents.
"I think we'll just have to wait and see what the public can afford," she said.
The two commissioner seats open this year are for four-year terms. The two-year position of Mayor Dona Stebbins also is up for grabs this year. Beecher said he will not run; Rosenbaum and Stebbins have not announced whether they will run.
The two candidates for mayor who have filed so far are Bill Bronson, a current city commissioner, and Sandra Guynn, a neighborhood council chairwoman and local online blogger.
Candidates have until July 2 to file with the Cascade County Elections Office, 325 2nd Ave. N.
A general election will be held Nov. 3.