Mohave Daily News: Local

LAUGHLIN - An impaired Val Starr took the stage to discuss his qualifications vs. incumbent Mohave County District 3 Sup. Buster Johnson at the Avi Resort & Casino on Wednesday. Starr, who bills himself as a Constitutionalist, was seen drinking prior to and during the forum.

Johnson opened by citing some of his past accomplishments, then outlined his goals should he be re-elected Nov. 4.

“I would like to see us roll back some of our secondary taxes,” Johnson said. “We should be crediting that back. People need jobs and I'm looking forward to getting more industry in the area with those jobs. There are only 2,600 acres of land available for industrial development in Los Angeles. They are running out of land. They are shipping businesses out. The trucking industry especially. A new board with a new attitude and we can go after those businesses.”

Starr, who was slurring his words and was at times unintelligible, was heard talking loudly from the audience several times during the Superior Court Division 5 Judge portion of the forum.

He also used profanity several times during the evening in response to questions - including calling the people who worked on the budget names.

“We should've never closed the offices in Bullhead City and Lake Havasu City,” Starr said. “They saved the money to help the senior citizens center, that's totally cool. I believe in that, but it's ridiculous. We should never allow our government to stop services to our people, because some (expletive) didn't figure the numbers right. The budget's screwed, it's still screwed. They're working on it now, but they're not tax accountants, and I am.”

Starr, who reportedly is a Master Watershed Steward, also said he will be able to affect change to several areas of concern, water-wise.

“I think our water is in jeopardy,” Starr said. “The only way to protect it is to have a real program organized, focused on saying this is our water.

“The county can't spend money by state law if they don't tell the people that they are paying the money for. I will make sure that happens. I'll pull the books. I'll cut costs, I'll cut taxes and I'll make sure that were the money goes is where it goes. I'm a Constitutionalist. That means that you can't pass a law unless it passes certain muster. The muster is that it has to pass the Constitution.

“I will fix the budget, I will fix the water issues, I will fix the budget, and you guys will help. I'll come to your homes, to your businesses, and you and I will decide the new budget.”

Johnson closed out his portion of the forum by discussing other issues.

“One of the first things I'd like to do is reopen the (county) treasurer's offices in Bullhead and Lake Havasu,” Johnson said.

“We have to bring ourselves into the 21st century,” he said. “With the price of fuel going up, there's no need for the people to have to come up and attend our meetings. We need to make it available on the Internet and be interactive so you could sit anywhere in the world and watch it and type in your questions and watch them get answered.”