Carnation residents have a rare opportunity this election, a choice.

Stuart Lisk, moderator of the Carnation Chamber of Commerce forum for Carnation City Council candidates, Oct. 22 at the Sno-Valley Senior Center got a laugh with that observation, but he continued in earnest, “This is the first time in a long time we have people to choose from.”

For each of the three council seats on the November ballot, there were two contenders: Incumbent Fred Bereswill and challenger Steve McFall for Position 1; Incumbent Lee Grumman, who was unable to attend the forum, and challenger Jim Ribail for Position 3; and Dustin Green and Ernest Fix for Position 5.

There were distinct differences of opinion on city spending, but the candidates shared many common themes in a series of questions on their plans for the 1,000-person city, now in a growth period after more than a decade.

Public safety, specifically police services, was a top-two priority for each of the candidates.

“Public safety and infrastructure, every city needs to focus on those two things first,” said Ribail. He added that he thought Carnation could fund more police services now, if the council would simply spend some of its general fund money.

Green said public safety should include more conversations about disaster preparedness, especially as the city grows. “And the way we’re going to pay for it is with more households,” he added.

On the subject of economic development, both Bereswill and Fix cited studies that reported a city needed at least 1,000 homes to support a retail business community.

“We’d like to make the city a destination, not a pass-through,” said Bereswill, but houses have to come first.

Fix proposed more events, similar to the popular Carnation Fourth of July celebration, to attract more people to the community, and to its businesses.

McFall emphasized the need for the city to work with businesses, through its permitting process and zoning.

“The city, the council needs to understand that business is what they need… and I don’t believe they’re doing that now,” McFall said.

Candidates were also asked for their thoughts on proposed Tolt Corridor renovations, city budgeting, managing growth and partnering with other cities and agencies to accomplish goals.

About 50 people attended the event, and many took the opportunity to ask the candidates some of their own questions.

Carnation City Council Position 1 candidate Steve McFall, right, discusses his priority for the city. He is running against incumbent Fred Bereswill, left.

Jim Ribail, left, laughs at a comment from Dustin Green, center, during the Carnation City Council candidate forum Oct. 22. Green is running against Ernest Fix, right, for Position 5 on the city council.