PASS ELECTIONS 2012: Banning City Council Candidate Adam Buchanan

The next Banning City Council candidates forum is scheduled Oct. 8 at Sun Lakes.

In the coming days, Banning-Beaumont Patch will devote space to each of the six candidates.

At the first forum Tuesday Oct. 2, construction worker Adam Buchanan made his closing remarks in Banning Council Chambers:

Buchanan: I'm running on solutions and not just complaints. I'm here to, anybody up here can sit up here and complain about the past. That doesn't do anything for our future. The future generations are going to be struggling here in Banning if we don't do something. And that is why I decided to run.

We need a, the bottom line issue behind most of these questions came to funding. Well the city doesn't have funding. The way to get funding is to produce more businesses in this community so that way we can get revenue off of them. So we have to do those things like fee ordinance reform, as well as code reform. And make this place a more accessible community for businesses.

I have a lot of people I grew up with that are still struggling right now. I just got out of the military. It took me almost six months to find a job in this area. With my resume, being a manager, being a leader, as a first lieutenant in the military, if I had a hard time, what is that saying for the rest of this community? And that's what made me decide to stand up here today.

Now I know I'm young and I still have a lot to learn. But I'm willing to learn. I spent countless hours with Andy Takata and Bill Manis, our city manager and economic advisor. I talked to previous council members, to get their sides and to figure out how this works. I'm here to make this place better for the future of Banning. I'm not here to complain about the past. And I'm a candidate with solutions and I know I will be able to work with the current council as well as whoever's elected for these next four years. Thank you.

Editor's Note: Buchanan and the other candidates on Tuesday did not bring up recent revelations that Buchanan is facing sentencing for three misdemeanors in Idaho. Contacted by Banning-Beaumont Patch, Buchanan summed up the situation.

Buchanan said he faces sentencing Oct. 15 and Oct. 17 in Idaho for two driving under the influence convictions and one concealed weapon conviction. The first DUI offense was in November 2011 and the second DUI offense was in April 2012. His vehicle was impounded on the second offense and law enforcement discovered Buchanan's .40-caliber handgun in the vehicle, which resulted in the concealed weapon offense.

Buchanan said he expects to receive a sentence of two years unsupervised probation, a fine and a restricted license.

Buchanan, 23, emphasized he has never been charged with a felony. He also underscored that he served six years in the military, beginning with his enlistment in the Army National Guard at age 17 and including his commission as a second lieutenant in 2009. Buchanan received an honorable discharge earlier this year, he said.

"I hope people will focus on the issues facing the city instead of my personal life," Buchanan said. "This is my hometown I know the issues."

The candidates as they appear on Banning sample ballots are Art Welch, Larry L. Tucker, Edward Miller, Don Robinson, Adam Buchanan and Don M. Peterson.

Every registered voter in Banning will be able to vote for three candidates on Nov. 6.

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