COUNCIL ELECTION: Thomason tries for encore

<!--Rick Forgione--><table width="234" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" background="http://static.cnhi.zope.net/flashpromo/niagaragazette/images/byline_234x60.jpg" height="60"><tr><td><div align="center"><font size="3" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">By Rick Forgione</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></font><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="mailto:rick.forgione@niagara-gazette.com">rick.forgione@niagara-gazette.com</a></font></div></td></tr></table>

Two years ago Candra Thomason was on the losing end of the largest landslide vote for mayor in the city’s history.

Anyone who thought she wouldn’t rebound doesn’t know her very well.

“I’m just one of those diehards, I’m going to keep doing it until I get it done,” Thomason said. “You win some and you lose some, but you get back up and get back in the game.”

This time around Thomason is running for the Niagara Falls City Council — a position she held between 2001 and 2005 but never felt completely comfortable due to what she calls an extremely turbulent time in city government.

“There’s a huge learning curve the first time around when you’re on the council,” she said, pointing out her four-year term was split between the end of Republican Mayor Irene Elia’s administration and the beginning of Democratic Mayor Vince Anello’s administration, which put her in the minority. “It was government at its worst. I did my best to get through it and get my voice heard.”

That experience, and subsequent failed campaigns for re-election in 2005 and for mayor in 2007, hasn’t soured the Republican Party’s top candidate on public service. She still has a strong desire to improve the quality of life for residents and make the city fiscally sound by building up infrastructure and attracting economic development.

“Providing the basic quality of life services should be first and foremost in any city,” she said. “These are basic common sense things that we haven’t been doing. It’s time to stop talking about these things and start doing them. My word is bond and I follow through on things.”

In Tuesday’s general election Thomason is facing off against Democrats Samuel Fruscione, Charles Walker and Kristen Grandinetti and fellow Republican Kenneth Pawlukovich for three open council seats. In a city that has approximately 17,000 registered Democrats and 5,000 registered Republicans, Thomason acknowledged some may consider her an underdog to beat out any of the three Democratic candidates.

She’s not among the skeptics, however.

“I really think I am the front-runner,” she said Thursday. “I think this year is totally different. Though the mayor is doing some good things, I think there’s been a little bit of disappointment and I can help him do some things we’re not doing.”

Thomason pointed to the recent boost in road repairs as an example of what can be expanded upon. While putting down new pavement is a positive sign, she questioned why the city isn’t working with the Water Board and power company to have utilities under the ground repaired simultaneously.

“Are we going to have to just rip those streets up again in a few years to replace the water mains?” she said.

Another issue Thomason has focused on is the lack of economic development in the downtown area. She said the city needs to do a better job using its casino funding to create incentives for businesses and build up the area around the Seneca Niagara Casino and Hotel. There’s also a major disconnect between City Hall and potential business owners and developers that needs to be addressed if the city is ever going to substantially increase its tax base.

“We need to find out where the hang ups are in the process,” she said. “Right now, it’s too hard and it’s not business friendly.”

In recent months, Thomason has hosted public forums to discuss concerns in the community, most prominently of which was the housing of registered sex offenders less than a mile from Niagara Street Elementary School. She’s also met with LaSalle residents victimized by a massive water main break in March and still fighting the city and Water Board for financial assistance.

Thomason believes hosting her two weekly public-access television shows on city government issues, community outreach programs and small business affords her the opportunity to help more residents and solicit feedback as a councilmember.

“Not everyone has time to go to a City Council meeting,” she said. “(My shows) are a direct link to the community.”

If elected Tuesday, Thomason said she will do everything in her power to not raise property taxes and fulfill her other campaign goals. She is inviting residents to hold her accountable over the next four years in getting things done.

“If I can’t meet a deadline, I’ve failed and shouldn’t be voted back in,” she said.

Candra Thomason

AGE: 53

STREET: LaSalle Avenue

FAMILY: She and her husband Richard have four adult children and nine grandchildren

EDUCATION: She has a business management degree in accounting from Kelley School of Business. She also earned a real estate license from Niagara University

EMPLOYMENT: Has owned and operated Insurance Solutions on Main Street with her husband for the past six years. She also hosts two weekly public-access television shows focusing on city government and community outreach programs and small business

POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Republican. She’s also running on the Independence and Conservative lines.

EXPERIENCE: Served on the City Council from 2002 to 2005. Ran unsuccessfully for re-election in 2005 and for mayor in 2007.