SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — In the next six weeks, the Tribune will publish a series of articles with the South Lake Tahoe City Council candidates' responses to a series of questions. The questions cover the topics of the grand jury report, marijuana laws, the local economy, redevelopment and the future deficit facing the city.

Each candidate was allowed 150 words to answer each question. As of Aug. 30, candidate Clinton Schue withdrew from the race. The Tribune did not receive a response from candidate Georg May.

Questions about the Tribune's election coverage? E-mail editor Annie Flanzraich at aflanz@tahoedailytribune.com.

The question

Should the city should pursue a ban on medical marijuana dispensaries? Why or why not?

The answers

Doug Cichowicz

Lived in South Lake Tahoe since: 1984

A: At this time I will not be responding to any pertinent questions. I will officially start my campaign for City Council on Oct. 1, 2010.





Joy Curry

Career: Dental management, community college instructor, small business owner, community volunteer, planning commission

Education: A.A. Degree, Fullerton College, Vocational Teaching Credential, University of California Los Angeles

Family: Married to Dan Norem with 2 dogs — Coco and Nieman. Daughter Darcy, son-in-law Francisco and granddaughter Gabriella also live in South Lake Tahoe.

Lived in South Lake Tahoe since:   2003

Hobbies: Family, friends, community, gardening skiing, snowshoeing, boating, walking my dogs at Fallen Leaf and just enjoying the beautiful outdoors.

Website: Follow me on Facebook and Twitter: @JJCSLT. Email me at joy@joyslt.com.

No, the dispensaries serve a legitimate medical need. And, yes, there is potential for abuse, just as there is with prescription drugs and alcohol. Closing the dispensaries will trigger costly legal action, which is not fiscally responsible.



Tom Davis

Career: Businessman. Executive Director Sales and Marketing Sahara Tahoe, High Sierra Hotel Casino. Managing partner Tahoe Keys Resort 1992-2001. Director of Marketing Ridge Tahoe, 1991. Share holder Tahoe Keys Resort, Director Marketing Horizon and MontBleu 2009.

Education: Mount Miguel High School, Grossmount College, San Diego State

Family: Wife Mary. Two grown children: Justin and Krystal. Daughter-in-law Krista. Granddaughter Olivia.

Lived In South Lake Tahoe since: 1971

Hobbies: Photography, classic cars, boating, motorcycles, camping.

Website: E-mail tomdavis4slt@aol.com. Website coming soon.

No, but like alcohol, cigarettes, hotels, restaurants and business in general, I believe regulation is needed. Regulation helps to prevent misuses and abuses of the product or business. I believe the doctors who prescribe marijuana prescriptions must be held accountable for whom they issue prescriptions to. While I believe most who are in need of medical marijuana receive it responsibly and in good faith, we must protect them against those who intend to obtain it under false pretenses. I am not in favor of having grow dispensaries near schools or churches.



Claire Fortier

Career: Longtime journalist and newspaper editor. CEO of a busy, local medical practice. Owner and President of a projects-based communications collective.

Education: Old Dominion University, BA in English, 1982. University of Nevada, Reno, MA in Environmental Journalism, 2007.

Family: Spouse is the medical director for Take Care Clinic at Harrah's. Two stepsons: A 20-year-old junior at Chico State University and a 17-year-old senior at South Tahoe High School.

Lived in South Lake Tahoe since: 1993

Hobbies: Kayaking, hiking, reading, cooking, traveling, photography

Website: fortier4tahoe.org

Banning the city's medical marijuana dispensaries isn't the answer to either the issue of regulating medical marijuana or legalizing marijuana. If Proposition 19 passes, marijuana can be controlled and taxed like alcohol and cigarettes. The city would have the opportunity to define what constitutes retail sales and what constitutes manufacturing or grow operation.

If marijuana isn't legalized, the city has a right to separate and regulate grow operations or require the dispensaries to grow at least 70 percent of the marijuana distributed, with the rest grown in licensed centers. All collectives should be licensed with background checks on employees, accurate recordkeeping and proper security required. Licensing fees and/or sales tax should be collected.

The city should determine the number, size and location of collectives. This isn't solely about marijuana. It's about how the city wants to present itself to those who come to visit or live here.



Adrian Gooch

Career: Retired

Education: High School graduate, Lake Tahoe Community College attendee (as time allows)

Family: Married 39 years, three sons and three grandchildren

Lived in South Lake Tahoe: 35 years

Hobbies: Reading, gardening (flowers), arts and crafts, camping

Website: None - I prefer the old-fashioned personal approach

No, I do not support a ban on medical marijuana dispensaries. I do support regulation of the dispensaries, as well as limiting the number of dispensaries in our community.  Medicinal marijuana is a reality whether some like it or not. California residents have made this clear. I would much rather have the medical marijuana activities occurring in public rather than behind closed doors. I feel the initial proposed ban on medical marijuana dispensaries was a knee jerk, uneducated response rather than an educated, well planned, and cooperative effort. The dispensaries fulfill a need in the community, as well as generate much needed revenue for the city.



Alice H. Jones

Career: Controller, Tahoe Keys Property Owners' Association, Certified Public Account, prior experience in governmental auditing at KPMG.

Education: Master's degree in accounting, emphasis in information systems, University of Utah; Bachelor's degree in accounting, University of Utah, graduated Summa Cum Laude

Family: Husband, David, teacher at South Tahoe High School. Two boys attending local schools; one attends Bijou in the two-way immersion program and the other attends Tahoe Parents' Nursery School and the Bridge Language Academy.

Lived in South Lake Tahoe since: 2002

Hobbies: Biking, hiking, camping, and snowboarding

Website: none

I think we should defer to the city attorney and the courts in following the laws set forth by voters in the State of California. The city should, however, regulate the dispensaries and consider, for example, modifying zoning regulations to prohibit dispensaries from operating on Lake Tahoe Boulevard. I don't think that it is good for tourism or local families to have dispensaries on the main road through town. Additionally, I would like the dispensaries to be subject to audit by the city and taxed at a rate commensurate with the amount of profit being made by these non-profits.



Elizabeth Hallen

Career: Owner, Hot Gossip

Education: Some community college

Family: Married with two children

Lived in South Lake Tahoe since: 1998

Hobbies: Snowboarding, swimming, volunteering, canoeing

Website: Email lizhallen4citycouncil@gmail.com or visit www.facebook.com/pages/Liz-Hallen-4-City-Council/143048315715711

No, I support medical marijuana. The operation of these collectives is legal in California under the Compassionate Use Act of 1996. However, I do support the city's decision to form a committee to create regulations to protect property owners and our city from unsanitary growing and operating conditions. I own Hot Gossip and my business is located next to one of the local collectives. I've witnessed first-hand that these local collectives are beneficial to our business community. Two of the collectives are currently providing weekly free community meals and this is definitely benefiting our community. One of these events I have been personally serving each Sunday for the past year. It's a rewarding experience to serve food to hungry people each week. Without the collectives people would still go hungry twice a week.



Steve Kubby

Career: Currently the CEO of KPAL, a biotech research company. Former entrepreneur of a Tahoe-area property management company, Ski West Magazine, and Earth Camp One. Kubby also worked as a probation officer, college professor, journalist, publisher, researcher, television host and media consultant to companies entering the online marketplace.

Education: BA in Psychobiology from California State University Northridge and a Lifetime Teaching Credential in Public Administration from Shasta College. Kubby published two books, “The Politics of Consciousness” and “Why Marijuana Should Be Legal.”

Family: A son and two daughters.

Lived in South Lake Tahoe since: 2009

Hobbies: Skiing,

Website: www.kubby4citycouncil.com

Absolutely not. The clear intent of California's Compassionate Use Act, which I helped write, is to put the rights of patients ahead of the unfortunate tendency of city governments to wrap everything in regulatory red tape. A city ban on medical marijuana dispensaries would violate California law, it would violate the rights of patients who need and deserve safe access to their medicines, and it would just plain be bad business. South Lake Tahoe is well positioned to benefit economically from the growing medical marijuana business sector. We shouldn't be in the business of killing golden geese.



Angela Swanson

Career: School Facilities Planning Consultant

Education: University of California Berkeley, B.A. Political Science

Family: Raising two teenagers, Aisling, 14, and Christopher, 17, with husband, Paul Peterson

Lived in South Lake Tahoe since: 1993

Hobbies: Travel, gardening, reading

No, a ban on dispensaries will not solve the concerns I hear from voters and is unwise when the future is uncertain thanks to Proposition 19. For those reasons, the existing dispensaries should continue, but regulated per current law. I also believe it is appropriate for the city to continue its moratorium limiting approval to the three already in operation.

We need enforceable ordinances to protect residential property from damage caused by unsafe cultivation activities. The law allows personal cultivation. That right can and should provide a balance that will ensure neighborhood safety and freedom from nuisances like odor and excess traffic.  

I understand and share voter concerns regarding issuance of medical cards for frivolous health issues, illegal sale and distribution, and risk for under-age access. Those are valid issues but will not be solved by a ban on dispensaries. A ban, in fact, harms those with legitimate need.