Photo via Kenny Carswell.


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When Kenny Carswell launched his campaign for the Ward 2 seat on the Eureka City Council, many were suspicious.

As a project manager for Security National Properties Holding Company, Carswell maintains close ties with the company’s founder and president, Rob Arkley, the semi-local tycoon who has poured millions into both the “Yes on F” campaign and a series of lawsuits aimed at thwarting the City of Eureka’s plans to convert downtown parking lots into apartment buildings. Carswell’s critics fear, if elected, he would use his position on the city council to advocate for Arkley’s interests.

Another point of contention: Carswell closed escrow on a house in Ward 2 just one week before he filed his candidate paperwork to run for the Eureka City Council. Before that, Carswell lived just outside of city limits, which means he was not eligible to vote in Eureka’s municipal elections, let alone run for a seat on the city council. 

In a recent sit-down interview, Carswell told the Outpost that he’s wanted to represent Eureka’s Second Ward – the neighborhood he grew up in – on the city council for “over a decade.”

“Honestly, this is something that I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” he said. “With having multiple jobs in the past, my schedule didn’t really allow for it. … I’ve always wanted to be civic[ally] engaged and take an interest in our local politics because it seems to be the place where I can actually have the most impact.”

The Outpost caught up with Carswell over a cup of coffee on Tuesday morning to talk about his first-ever campaign and the various hot-button issues swirling around the upcoming election. Our conversation has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

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LoCO: Thank you for taking the time to chat this morning. Can you start off by introducing yourself to our readers?

Carswell: My name is Kenny Carswell, I’m a lifelong resident of Eureka, California. My family has actually lived in Ward 2 since the ‘60s and continues to live there. I’ve spent 27 of my 32 years living in Ward 2, or very close to [it], but always in the City of Eureka. 

Photo via Carswell.

I love Eureka and I see this [election] as my opportunity to give back to a city that’s given so much to me. This is where I plan to retire. I’ve got deep roots here. I’ve got a very diverse network of friends here. I’ve spent almost half of my life working in retail. … I’ve had my current role [with Security National] for about seven years. I’m a project manager – I also put on many hats – and I deal with leasing, project development, land acquisition [and] disposition. I have a pretty good depth of knowledge of dealing with local state agencies, along with public and private agencies as well. I have a good group of connections where I can help connect people to the right person if I don’t have that answer for them myself. I’m excited to have this opportunity to do something and give back to the city.

LoCO: You’ve lived in Eureka for most of your life –

Carswell: All of my life. 

LoCO: All of your life. Can you tell me how [the city] has changed over the years?

Carswell: In the time that I’ve been in Eureka, I think that our homeless issue and mental health crisis have definitely gotten worse. I don’t think that that’s any fault of Eureka specifically, I think it’s a problem that we’re dealing with here in California. 

I do appreciate all of the services that we offer here in Humboldt County and in Eureka specifically. I’m a huge supporter of Betty Chinn and what she does. Her story is super inspirational, and for her to have so much compassion and empathy for people [who are] struggling, I think that’s something that everyone needs to pay attention to and support. 

… I think safety – maybe due to some of these mental health issues – has become more of a concern. I don’t know if I would be allowing my child to hop on a bicycle and ride it all over town [like I did as a kid], and [that was] before the days of cell phones when I was doing that. I just think that it’s gotten a little more dire, partially due to our police force being understaffed. I think that they need some more support, [though] I do think that their recent raise is a good step in the right direction to get them to comparable [law enforcement agency] salaries. In conversations with them and during ride-alongs that sentiment was mirrored. I think that they’re happy with the direction [this city] is going, but [they] still need some support moving forward.

LoCO: As I understand, you currently serve on the Humboldt County Workforce Development Board and the Rotary Club of Old Town. What encouraged or inspired you to run for the Eureka City Council?

Carswell: Honestly, this is something that I’ve wanted to do for a long time. With having multiple jobs in the past, my schedule didn’t really allow for it. I’ve been working towards being in a position to be able to do this for, I’d say, over a decade. I’ve always wanted to be civic[ally] engaged and take an interest in our local politics because it seems to be the place where I can actually have the most impact. 

I have a lot of friends and family here. My friends are all having kids now, and it’s making me think more about the future. I want a community that’s safe for our children and a great place to have them grow up and maybe not want to leave. … I don’t know who said this but I thought it was a very interesting quote: “Our greatest export in Humboldt County is our children.” I would like to change that. I think [Eureka] is a beautiful place with a ton of potential and I would like to work with the people of Eureka – and more specifically Ward 2 – to make it a better place for people that want to stick around.

LoCO: Before we get into the finer points of your campaign platform, I’d like to ask you about your recent move to Ward 2. As I understand, you were living at an address just outside Eureka city limits up until a few months ago. Can you tell me why you decided to relocate to Ward 2?

Carswell: Yeah. So, prior to the pandemic, I had actually purchased that home – which is just a couple blocks outside of Ward 2 – and I was hoping to get in and flip it and move into something else. Then, obviously, the pandemic happened. I ended up staying there for a little while longer and I’m just finishing up construction on that house. I’ve actually put in offers on homes for about the last year and a half or two years – four different homes – and the offers weren’t accepted. So, yes, I did just get an offer accepted on a house and it did happen to be in Ward 2 before the [campaign filing] deadline but I thought, “You know what? I’m going to throw my hat in the ring and do this.” I do wish that I would have had a little bit more of a runway before [the deadline] because it was a bit of a scramble getting all the paperwork and finer details together, but I’m excited to have the opportunity to represent Ward 2. 

LoCO: You also changed your political preference from “Republican” to “No Party Preference” when you changed your address. Can you speak to that as well?

Carswell: So, when I moved, I obviously re-registered to vote. Politics right now are so polarizing, and at the time I registered as a Republican, the political scene was very different. Now, looking at the [two] party system, I can’t say that I wholeheartedly agree with either party. I way more identify with a No Party Preference. I think there are pros to both sides, but I’m definitely, very much so a moderate. So it just made sense [to change it].

LoCO: Let’s talk about your campaign platform. What are your top priorities for Ward 2 and for Eureka as a whole, and how do you plan to address them if elected?

Carswell: I’d like to start with the community. In my door-knocking and talking to a lot of people, I don’t feel that people are feeling represented by our current city council. I think that their voices are falling on deaf ears. In the past few years, I’ve attended quite a few city council meetings where I’ve watched people basically line up to speak in opposition to something, only to have it unanimously pass without further consideration [from the council] – myself being one of those speakers a couple of times – and that kind of frustrated me. I felt like we weren’t being represented properly. I want to bring that back.

Also, community-wise, I want safety for our children. Touching on what we spoke about a little earlier with law enforcement … we need to help them retain officers. It’s [the same thing] for the firefighters – they’re understaffed and they’re very overworked. These are the people that respond to, you know, anything outside of a police response or 9-1-1 call. You want them on their A-game when they show up. I’ve had the privilege of doing several ride-alongs with them and had some great conversations. In fact, the Humboldt Bay Firefighters Local 652 endorsed me. … I think it’s important to support them, and I think it’s the foundation of a healthy community. …

Homelessness and the housing epidemic is another issue. We have a problem with housing. I think that we need to be looking into the long-term future of Eureka before we place this housing. I do think it is a huge need, and I do think that it affects the retention of law enforcement, firefighters, health care workers and professors at the colleges. If we have housing for them, it will make people want to stay here. I’m a big supporter of housing projects. 

Another thing I’d like to touch on is just [the importance of] being very communicative. I want people to be able to get in touch with me, sit down and have a cup of coffee like we are right now, you know, give me a phone call or an email. I’m already getting emails from people in [Ward 2] and I’m connecting them with resources that I know of to help them with problems. That’s a part of this that I enjoy. I’m very social. I like having conversations with people and connecting with them, and I just want to let everyone know that I have an open-door policy. 

LoCO: Expanding on what you just said about housing … What specific policies would you propose, if elected, to address housing affordability and homelessness in Eureka?

Carswell: I think that we need to continue to work with programs that we already have working for us, for one. I think we need to look outside of the city to see what’s working well in other areas as well. I did have the opportunity to talk with both Councilmember [Kati] Moulton and Councilmember [Scott] Bauer last night about them going to the League of California Cities [conference]. … I think that collaboration of ideas is huge. Like I said earlier, these are problems that face not just Eureka, they face the entire state and, honestly, the nation. It’s good to get out and see what’s working for who. I know that the City of Eureka actually won the Helen Putnam Award in regard to dealing with these things. It’s good to be at the forefront of a city that’s actually making a difference. I support any ideas. Let’s bring things to the table, let’s sit down, let’s talk about it and let’s continue to support programs like Betty Chinn.

LoCO: You’re a project manager with Security National, a local real estate servicing firm owned by Rob Arkley, who has bankrolled Measure F, the “Housing for All and Downtown Vitality” initiative. I want to talk to you about your stance on Measure F in a moment, but first, can you tell me what obligation you feel, if any, to advocate for Security National’s wants on the city council if elected?

Carswell: So, for one, it would be a conflict of interest for me to do so. I’ve had nothing to do with the Measure F campaign … . Anything that’s going to be voted on that has anything to do with SN I would have to recuse myself from and would do so willingly. Like I said earlier, this is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. That’s my employer. I definitely have learned a skillset working there that will help me in this role and dealing with problem-solving, but I don’t feel any obligation beyond that. 

LoCO: And what is your stance on Measure F?

Carswell: I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to talk to a ton of residents in Ward 2 and … in the conversations that I’ve had with them … the consensus is currently that they’re wanting the California Highway Patrol headquarters, which I fully support. 

As far as Measure F goes, whether or not that passes, the [CHP] can go to that site. Now, shifting to how [Measure F would] affect downtown, I do believe that there should be parking and housing, not either or. Like I said, I support housing but I also support our downtown area and the businesses thriving. I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but back in 2022, our own Eureka Main Street wrote a letter to the council talking about how it would be detrimental for us to lose the parking downtown for our already struggling businesses.

Another thing I’d like to touch on is just accessibility. We have a lot of wonderful events in Old Town that I personally love going to, you know, Friday Night Market, Arts Alive, the Fourth of July Fair and many, many more. We have an elderly community here that likes to attend those events, and if they can’t get there due to mobility issues then they’re cut out of that, which I think is a loss. 

Just to support our tourism industry here locally, I think we need parking for people who are passing through on Highway 101. Our businesses tax revenue and our tourism industry tax revenue – specifically with transit and occupancy tax (TOT) –  that’s what helps bolster our [city’s] tax revenue. [The city] is in a $1.1 million budget deficit right now and we need to be addressing that. 

So, I support Measure F. And as far as the Old Town parking and housing goes, I think we can have the best of both worlds. As far as the Jacobs site goes, I’m completely on board with the majority of [Ward 2] wanting the CHP there, and I’ll work to make sure that that happens to the best of my ability. … Whether Measure F  [passes] or not, this is going to the ballot at the same time I am. I’m glad it’s going to the people, and I’m willing to work on either side of this [issue] to do whatever I can for the people of Ward 2 … .

LoCO: City officials, including Ward 2 incumbent Kati Moulton, have expressed concern that the state would sue the city if Measure F is passed because it would contradict state housing laws. Can you speak to that?

Carswell: … [T]he California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) recently wrote a letter that was actually talking about how these are possible [issues], not guaranteed. I think looking [at] the future of Eureka and long-term planning, we’re going to be really kicking ourselves down the road when these projects are built and it puts the nail in the coffin for Old Town businesses. 

[NOTE: The letter he’s referring to – linked here – goes over the procedures the city would have to follow if Measure F were to pass. The city would have to amend the housing element of its General Plan to ensure compliance with state-mandated housing goals. If the HCD determines that the city is out of compliance, it could “revoke its finding that the city’s housing element is in compliance with Housing Element Law.” The state could also remove the city’s “pro-housing” designation. You can learn more at this link.]

LoCO: During my recent conversation with Councilmember Moulton, she expressed concern that Measure F would make the city’s planned housing projects virtually impossible to construct because the additional parking would cost so much money. Perhaps this is a question for a developer, but can you speak to that? Would the price tag make these projects infeasible?

Carswell: I am in development just enough to know some basics. When I last looked at these units – as is, without the parking – they were very expensive already. We’re talking over half a million dollars a unit. … From the penciling that I have done about these buildings that [would be built on] parking lots, it could add about five to eight percent to the project costs. … You know, we’re talking tens of millions of dollars to build these things, so adding five to eight percent is a chunk but when we’re looking at the future of Eureka and the vitality of Old Town, our business district and our tourist areas, I think that’s an investment worth making. I’ve also been looking into grants that can help fund this additional cost to maybe bridge that gap. 

LoCO: I want to go back to the Jacobs site for a moment. Eureka City Schools is in active negotiations with CHP, and if that property acquisition goes through, there is no guarantee that housing could be built on the Jacobs Campus. You’ve expressed support for CHP building a headquarters there if that’s what the community wants. Can you talk more about that?

Carswell: The typical footprint for a CHP office is much less than eight acres. Being a state agency, they’re going to have somewhat of a fiduciary duty to do something with that other acreage there. I have a pretty good gut feeling that that’s going to open that up for housing development. … In that part of town it really does make sense to do some housing there, but, you know, we’ll see what the CHP does on that. I can’t really speak to that.

LoCO: You’ve also talked about the importance of boosting the economy in some of your recent interviews. Tell me more about that. 

Carswell: One of my functions [at Security National] is to court retailers. I do work with economic development, both here in the county and in other places around the country. … That being said, these are not my projects but I have heard some pretty solid rumors of some larger national retailers moving into both the Sears building at the Bayshore Mall and the Kmart building on the south end of Highway 101. I think that’s great and I would fully support these things. …

Economic development snowballs. It’ll start small and it will gradually start picking up … [other businesses] that will follow larger tenants to markets. So when they’re green-lighting markets, they’re actually looking to see if these key retailers are in the market. If so, they’ll usually follow because they know that the demographics match up just from doing it across the country. … I really just want to help court businesses here and also really support the businesses that exist now. I really want to support more small local businesses.

Something I touched on at last night’s candidate forum was Measure O. … If passed, Measure O is going to raise our sales tax in the city of Eureka to over 10 percent – that’s like Bay Area sales tax numbers in the small city of Eureka with a 30,000 population. That is crazy. … If I were a small business looking to establish here in a small community, I’d probably be looking outside of Eureka if there was an over 10 percent sales tax. …

I do understand the need for road repair. We are hundreds of millions of dollars behind in road repair. I would like to kind of see a little more accountability on past ballot measures. The auditing and accounting of the county has been tumultuous at best. I think we need to go back to the drawing board [and assess] what we’ve already voted in as far as ballot measures before we look to vote in another one.

LoCO: Well, I think we’ve covered all of my questions. Are there any other issues you’d like to talk about? Closing thoughts?

Carswell: I think that we do need to shine a spotlight on health care here. People are having a hard time finding doctors, and I think that goes back to the issue of retention, housing and quality of life.

Something fun I’d like to talk about … I’d like to really praise city staff and what they’re doing for our parks right now. I enjoyed the parks a ton growing up as a kid and I think they were a little newer then, obviously 20-25 years ago. They’ve been in need of some love and they’re getting that love. It is phased and it’s taking a little bit of time, but on the other end of that is something that really increases our quality of life here and I’m really excited about that. …

If you haven’t met me, please reach out. … I just want to continue to have conversations with people, let them know that their voices are heard and work to make Eureka better for everyone. 

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You can find more information about Carswell’s campaign on Facebook, Instagram and his website. If you want to get in touch, email him at ward2kenny@gmail.com.

Election Day is Nov. 5.

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