MAYORAL RACE CLOSE-UP: Frank Lonergan

August 12, 2009 6:18 pm
Frank Lonergan would likes to see the city regain solid financial footing. He also wants to put an end to downtown redevelopment in order to 'see where we are going and what we are doing.'
Frank Lonergan would likes to see the city regain solid financial footing. He also wants to put an end to downtown redevelopment in order to 'see where we are going and what we are doing.'

Frank Lonergan:

• Age: 54

• Born: Dubuque, Iowa.

• Occupation: Locksmith security technician at White Knight Safe and Lock in Auburn; member of the Snoqualmie City Council Dec., 1997 – Dec., 2001.

• Family: Single

• Educational background: Associates degree in electronic systems technology, Mount Hood Community College.

• Name three things you would like to accomplish as mayor:

1. To provide an environment that promotes and enhances the ability of small, medium and large businesses to operate and succeed in Auburn. The projected price for a space in the mayor’s new building downtown is definitely not going to do that.

2. To get Auburn back on solid financial ground.

3. Reduce the mayor’s salary by 20 percent and examine the budgets, actual expenses, and budget variances in every department to find practical ways to reduce spending and improve efficiency.

• On balancing the budget: “There would some cuts in staffing. The mayor’s salary would be reduced, that’s something the current mayor was asked to do and didn’t. As long as we provide the basic issues of public safety, everything else is susceptible to cutting.”

• Downtown redevelopment: “In my view, downtown development should come to a halt to see where we are going and what we are doing. We would look at the original thing the City was asked to do, and that was build off of the hometown aspect. At the same time, stopping building downtown completely is not an option.”