Colusa City Council candidate: Ponciano

Even the other five candidates for Colusa City Council concede Greg Ponciano has run the most visible campaign.

Ponciano, 46, concedes being elected is not enough. He wants to collect the most votes, and the only way he knew how to do that was to energize his campaign.

As far as Ponciano is concerned, it is reflective of his promise to work hard for the city.

Oddly enough, it is his comments about the many roles he is willing to take on as a councilman that has raised some of the most unique questions about him.

Ponciano, who works for Ramos Oil, has made it clear he wants to be the most accessible councilman the city has ever had.

He knows that will take up his time.

Ponciano also has said he is willing to go out and knock on the doors of businesses in the Yuba-Sutter area and other neighboring cities to find those that might be willing to expand into the Colusa area.

He knows that will take up his time, too.

Some pockets of the public want to know if he can deliver.

Ponciano said running for council was not a spur of the moment thing. He said he had been thinking about it for a couple of years, and this was the right time because he does have more time to dedicate to the job.

However, Ponciano admits when he talks about knocking on doors to encourage economic development, he is counting on the other members of the council to do the same.

"A lot of things when I say 'I," I'm talking about the City Council," Ponciano said. "I am not going to be the only flag bearer, but I will lead the charge."

That may be easier said than done depending on who joins him on the council. There are those who do not believe that is the role of the council.

But he strongly believes the city has to rely on its own resources, and that starts with the council. He also believes the city needs to tap the experience and knowledge of the staff, local business owners and residents in order to move forward.

Ponciano also believes the rebuilding process must start from the inside out, with more emphasis on rebuilding what the town has always had, rather than hoping for the monster project that may never come to fruition.

He said one of the encouraging things he has come across during the campaign is the residents of Colusa share that passion for the city, and also want to see some of the business traditions return.

Ponciano does not favor the current direction the city is taking with regard to recruiting a city manager.

He said if elected he will voice that opinion with designs of starting the process over, and emphasizing a role that is closer to another department head than as an administrative executive.

He thinks it is critical that person does have a financial background, and it would be helpful if candidates also had experience in grant writing or other experience in finding funds.