Candidates say quality of life, not lower fees, will attract Ridgecrest development

At the Ridgecrest candidate forum, incumbent Mayor Eric Bruin and challenger Travis Endicott discussed what would make Ridgecrest more attractive to developers, with both pointing to quality‑of‑life improvements rather than fee cuts.

The topic matters because developer interest affects housing supply, jobs and the city’s tax base in a community that candidates said lacks many external revenue streams.

Mayor Eric Bruin said he did not plan to cut permitting fees to attract builders. “I’m not gonna lower fees. I’m not gonna try and do it that way. I’m gonna try and raise the quality of life for the community as a whole,” Bruin said. He listed parks, health care, infrastructure and public safety as the priorities that make a place desirable.

Bruin argued Ridgecrest’s finances are constrained and that community investments—improved roads, parks and public safety—drive long‑term growth. He said recent projects and tax measures have created “momentum” and that the city needs to preserve it.

Travis Endicott, a mayoral candidate, agreed that civic engagement and retention are key to attracting employers and builders. He told the forum that stronger local civic ties and improving workforce retention—citing his work on the base and concerns about employee retention—are central to making businesses want to stay and expand.

Neither candidate produced specific fee schedules, permitting changes or an immediate incentive package for developers during the forum. The discussion did not include a formal council action or amendment to permitting policies.

Questions about permit fee comparisons with neighboring towns (for example, Tehachapi) were raised by moderators, but no detailed cost comparisons were provided on the record.