Candidate responses are in!

City of Gig Harbor voters, the candidate questionnaire responses are in!

Do you want to know if the Gig Harbor city council candidates will support or oppose the Gig Harbor Sports Complex that will benefit our youth?

Would you like to know their positions BEFORE you cast your vote?

You're in luck! We also want their thoughts on youth sports, facilities, and community development. WHY?

This will give you insight into who would best make big decisions for our community. So, we have sent out a questionnaire to all the candidates running for city council.

Read their questionnaire responses below and don't forget to mark your calendars as Pierce County Elections will be mailing ballots Friday, October 20, 2023.

Position 4 & 5 - Council Race 2023 Candidate

QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES

Candidates for City Council

Position 4	Position 5
Mary Barber	Ben Coronado
Ed Nadler	Unopposed

	Mary Barber - Position 4	Ed Nadler - Position 4
Explain your current and/or past involvement with youth sports and/or advocacy for them	As the mom of two now adult children, I understand the need for fields and other youth-oriented activities. Quite simply the research shows that if they have activities they will stay out of trouble. As a parent I spent many evenings shuttling kids to/from practices and games and trying to watch kids playing in two different locations. I was a team manager for my kids' soccer team for at least ten years and served on the board for the organization for which they played. I helped develop the plan for, and fundraise for, Anchorage's sports complex. This private/partner project includes eight soccer fields, biathlon range and cross-country ski trails.	Mr. Nadler declined to answer our specific questions and rather provided a statement, shown below*.
Over the last 75 years the City of Gig Harbor has constructed only two fields. In this time, they also removed two fields when they built the Gig Harbor Civic Center. The net effect for field construction by our city is zero. Do you believe the City of Gig Harbor has a responsibility to provide our community with access to year-round sports fields similar to our neighboring communities?	Yes. It is essential Gig Harbor has sports fields. Research shows children who have activities and sports to occupy their time are less likely to be involved in less desirable activities. Sports offer them the chance to be healthier and provide opportunities to work better with others through teamwork. We must do better and provide them the fields needed to help them thrive. As city leaders it is our responsibility to make sure those facilities can be built by facilitating the zoning, permitting and partnerships needed.	Mr. Nadler declined to answer our specific questions and rather provided a statement, shown below*.
The approved Gig Harbor Sports Complex is a three-phase project that will provide lighted all-weather synthetic turf fields, predominantly rented to user groups such as youth sports organizations. The YMCA is raising the funds needed to construct the two full-sized multi-sport lit fields in Phase 1. With grant funding extremely limited, do you support the City of Gig Harbor funding and constructing Phases 2 and 3?	The simple and short answer is YES. The Sports Complex is a long awaited and much needed facility. The City has already committed $10.5 million toward building the Sports Complex. I am committed to doing all I can, along with City leadership, to build the fields. Funding will need to be a combination of additional city funds (including through levies and bonds), private donations, grants and ideally also state funds. We must build the fields. Doing so will take all of us working together. I’m confident we will get there.	Mr. Nadler declined to answer our specific questions and rather provided a statement, shown below*.
Explain how you support sports fields on an ongoing basis, as with infrastructure projects, public safety, or a senior/community center.	I consider the Sports Complex to be infrastructure and as important as many other projects. A community like ours needs sports facilities. We built Ancich Park to support our young canoe and kayak team. We also need sports fields for other athletes. I place a high priority on building the Gig Harbor Sports Complex as part of our infrastructure improvements.	Mr. Nadler declined to answer our specific questions and rather provided a statement, shown below*.

Mr. Nadler declined to answer our specific questions and rather provided us the following statement...

*With regards to youth sports in Gig Harbor, as mentioned above I am an active volunteer and supporter of the Gig Harbor Junior Sail program. I’ve spent many hours talking with individuals and businesses about their support of our areas youth, I am continually impressed by the generosity exhibited by those that live in Gig Harbor.

As to questions regarding the Gig Harbor Sports Complex, I believe such a complex will be beneficial to both the city of Gig Harbor and the greater Gig Harbor area. I also believe that the entire Gig Harbor Peninsula would be best served if the city were to partner with the Pen Met Parks District in the development, operation and maintenance of not just a sports complex, but for many of our communities needs; a community center(already underway in the CRC) and senior center are but two such projects.

As you mention Phase 1 of the GHSC is ready to break ground, my understanding is that the city has committed the funds necessary to start Phase1B. Also, while the YMCA has come up short on its obligations for Phase 1A, it appears that a workable solution is near at hand and that phase should soon begin.

As for the balance of the complex, I believe our success would be best insured with a combination of public and private funding as well as consideration of a more diverse complex as originally envisioned when this project began a dozen years ago. That is, in addition to the need for sports fields, Gig Harbor is in need of an Arts Center, Community Center and as mentioned a Senior Center. The city is also charged with the task of adhering to an Urban Forestry Management Plan and a Climate Action Plan. Please do not interpret these comments as being anti-sports fields or anything other than an attempt to point out the myriad considerations facing both the City Council of Gig Harbor as well as our neighbors on the Peninsula.

To my knowledge we do not yet have a complete analysis regarding Phases 2 & 3 and until that information is readily available no one can promise how the city will proceed. I will offer that Phase 2 seems to me to be a no brainer. It is effectively a remodel and upgrade of the existing fields. While I do not know the finances related to Phase 2, I imagine they will be manageable and achievable. Especially if we can combine private and public funds to get it done."

Mr. Nadler - Position 4

	Ben Coronado - Position 5
Explain your current and/or past involvement with youth sports and/or advocacy for them.	I have been involved in youth sports as both an athlete and now as a parent. I believe that youth sports are an important part of our community. They help children develop teamwork, leadership, and other valuable skills to help them become successful in life.
Over the last 75 years the City of Gig Harbor has constructed only two fields. In this time, they also removed two fields when they built the Gig Harbor Civic Center. The net effect for field construction by our city is zero. Do you believe the City of Gig Harbor has a responsibility to provide our community with access to year-round sports fields similar to our neighboring communities?	Yes, I believe that the City of Gig Harbor should provide our community with access to year-round sports fields. The days and nights of rained out games, marshy fields, time and money spent traveling to neighboring communities that have actually invested in year-round sports fields, will hopefully be something of the past as the time comes for Gig Harbor to do the same. The Sports Complex is a great start, but we will need to continue the investment in sports fields to ensure that future generations have the same access to safe and well-maintained facilities.
The approved Gig Harbor Sports Complex is a three-phase project that will provide lighted all-weather synthetic turf fields, predominantly rented to user groups such as youth sports organizations. The YMCA is raising the funds needed to construct the two full-sized multi-sport lit fields in Phase 1. With grant funding extremely limited, do you support the City of Gig Harbor funding and constructing Phases 2 and 3?	Yes, I support the City of Gig Harbor funding and constructing Phases 2 and 3 of the Sports Complex. It is important that we continue our investment in this project. I understand grant funding is limited, but I believe that the City should prioritize this project and find ways to fund it, as costs for development will continue to rise and our population continues to grow.
Explain how you support sports fields on an ongoing basis, as with infrastructure projects, public safety, or a senior/community center.	As a Parks Commissioner, I have provided input and advocated for the development of the Sports Complex for years. I truly believe that sports fields are an important part of our community, and I will continue to work to ensure that Gig Harbor is a great place to live, work and play!

The GHPYSC wants to express our thanks for the support your organization has provided this supporting our advocacy work for youth sports and facilities. We look forward to all the positive change we can affect together!

If you would like more information about our organization, volunteer opportunities, the Gig Harbor Sports Complex, and local youth sports organizations, please visit our website and give us a follow on social at Facebook and Instagram.

Please mail your sponsorship donation to:

GHP Youth Sports Coalition

PO Box 1114

Gig Harbor, WA 98335

*Your donation is tax-deductible.

info@ghpyouthsports.com

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