Louis Rivara, a longtime educator and real estate broker, will run unopposed for La Center City Council seat one this November, though his views on the outcome are mixed.
“I’m pleased that I’m running uncontested because it means I don’t have to spend as much money to accomplish the objective,” Rivara said. “On the other hand, I’m disappointed that more people didn’t show up. I think that the city benefits when more people show up … One of the things I’m hoping to find out from people is what they would like to see to make La Center a better place for them.”
Rivara said he plans to go door-to-door to meet residents and earn their vote, even without an opponent.
“I think it’s an insult if I don’t … earn their vote,” Rivara said. “Even though some of the races are uncontested, I think it’s important that people get out to vote.”
Preserving La Center’s small-town identity
Rivara, who moved to La Center about two and a half years ago, said he and his wife were drawn to the city for its close-knit community and slower pace.
“My wife and I both very much like the small town feel,” he said. “The town is gonna change, but it’s got to be done right. I don’t want to see what’s here destroyed for the benefit of progress.”
Rivara’s first priority centers on preserving La Center’s “hometown feel” as the city grows. He said growth is inevitable, but it should reflect the city’s values and geography. He supports commercial development near the freeway rather than in the downtown core. With the county projecting the city's population to double to approximately 8,000 residents and establish about 1,200 new jobs by 2035, managing this growth while preserving the small-town atmosphere may prove a challenge.
“I do think that we need to find a way to keep the larger commercial out by the freeway,” Rivara said. “I don’t want to see a Starbucks in downtown, really … I don’t think that is what downtown La Center should be about.”
He described Downtown 2.0 and Timmen Landing as opportunities to bring life to the city without losing its identity, envisioning small-scale businesses and community spaces along the waterfront in Downtown.
“What I see more for the downtown are activities that would engage children more, activities for families, a speaker series as I mentioned before, maybe some events with food trucks,” he said.
Supporting the arts and small businesses
A lifelong supporter of the arts, Rivara’s second priority is to strengthen local cultural and small business life. Before moving to La Center, he and his wife helped launch a performing arts foundation in Pleasanton, California, that eventually raised millions to build a community theater. Margene Rivara, his wife, is a commissioner on the Clark County Arts Council.
He said La Center could benefit from similar creative opportunities.
“What I see for the arts is to be a part of what I see happening on a broader scale,” Rivara said. “For the businesses, I think we serve the local businesses by making the community a more engaging place.”
He also praised the work of regional artists and groups, including the Love Street Playhouse in Woodland, saying their success shows the potential for arts-driven community growth in smaller cities.
Encouraging community involvement
Rivara’s third key goal is to strengthen civic participation. He expressed disappointment in low voter turnout and said engagement needs to go beyond elections.
“I think that the city benefits when more people show up,” he said. “Typically, if you go to a meeting, you’ve got the same few people showing up unless something directly affects them.”
Rivara hopes to use his door-to-door outreach to encourage residents to attend meetings, share ideas, and take pride in shaping La Center’s future.
“I’d like to see more people concerned from the beginning,” he said. “I’d like to see more people engaged with the schools.”
He said genuine relationships between neighbors, residents and leaders are what keep a small town’s spirit alive even as it grows.
“It’s based upon helping to create a community where people truly do care about what’s going on and they care about one another,” Rivara said. “As we grow together as a community, it will benefit all of us.”
He also highlighted public safety as an important long-term concern, noting that as La Center expands, the city will need to keep pace with law enforcement resources.
“We need to be cognizant of law enforcement needs as we grow,” Rivara said. “The safety and security of the community has to stay intact.”
