Candidate a self-described 'gadfly'

Election 2011

EDITOR'S NOTE

Traverse City voters on Nov. 8 will determine the city commission's makeup for the next two years. Two candidates are vying for mayor, while seven commission hopefuls are competing for three open seats.

The Record-Eagle will profile each candidate, available at Record-Eagle.com/election as they are published.

JIM CARRUTHERS

Age: 48

Occupation: Worked in management and fund development for several nonprofit organizations

Experience: First elected to city commission in 2007, previously served eight years on the city’s parks and recreation board.

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Jim Carruthers Record-Eagle/Jan-Michael Stump

October 18, 2011

BY ART BUKOWSKI abukowski@record-eagle.com The Record Eagle Tue Oct 18, 2011, 07:27 AM EDT

TRAVERSE CITY — Jim Carruthers considers himself a voice of the people.

Carruthers, a self-described "gadfly" who first won election to the city commission in 2007, seeks a second term. He's often quick to raise a fuss at city meetings, especially when he believes he's sticking up for citizens.

"I think I've been a very active voice in the city for the residents, and keeping government open and honest," he said. "I'm out there willing to listen to all sides of issues."

Seven candidates will vie for three commission seats during the Nov. 8 election; citizens also will choose a new mayor in a separate vote. Carruthers and Barbara Budros are the lone incumbents whose terms expire and who are trying to retain their commission seats. Current Commissioner Ralph Soffredine is running for mayor.

Carruthers has drawn criticism for being a "naysayer" when it comes to business development, he said. He's voted against a few projects in recent memory, including the proposed downtown expansion of Cherry Republic.

He's been especially skeptical of any projects that involve public funds, and he'll continue that stance if re-elected.

"If there's going to be public subsidy for a project, we want to know what the public benefit is," he said. "You can call me a naysayer, but I think that's a good thing, because we're questioning if this is a viable project for everybody."

Carruthers said he isn't anti-development, but acknowledged that he strongly values the city's small-town feel.

"My platform will continue to be that I believe in Traverse City, and I believe in our small-town atmosphere," he said. "I think it's what people want."

He also recently was on a commission subcommittee that recommended possible changes to the way tax-capture works in the city, particularly in the downtown area.

The city has two tax increment financing (TIF) districts that "capture" nearly $2 million in taxes each year. A portion of city, county and other local taxes on properties within the districts — one includes all of downtown — are set aside and earmarked for improvements within those districts.

Carruthers believes it might be time to let some of that money flow to the neighborhoods or other business areas.

"What about West Front Street? What about Eighth? What about Woodmere? What about Garfield? What about 14th?" he said. "We have other business cores."

He also prides himself on researching issues before casting his vote and asking hard questions, if necessary.

"I study, I try to get the information, I try to make the phone calls and do my research, and I'm not afraid to ask the tough questions," he said. "Sometimes, your heart is just pounding, you're terrified of what you have to say, but you say it. I'm not afraid to do that."

And he's accessible, he said, more so than other commissioners.

"You email me, you're going to get an email back. You call me, you're going to get a call back," he said. "I'm open, you know where I live, knock on my door."

Carruthers is on the Traverse City Light & Power board. The city-owned utility has millions of dollars in the bank, and he's in favor of possibly spending some of Traverse City Light & Power's fund balance on worthwhile city projects.

"We need to consider the value of our assets, one being Light & Power," he said.

Light & Power, while city-owned, generally only spends its money on its own projects.