Ciudad de Imperial BeachCandidato para Consejo Municipal

It has been an honor to serve as your City of Imperial Beach Council Member for the past four years. Thank you.

I am running for re-election to the City Council because I believe our best days are still ahead.  I, like you, want Imperial Beach to prosper, but also to keep that small town atmosphere, and be a place our children can be proud to live in decades from now.  I feel that everyone needs to give back to their community and I am ready to do more.

Imperial Beach truly embodies the term “Classic Southern California”.  We are sun, surf, family, nature, community, safety, small business, open space and opportunity.  The past four years have been an exciting time in Imperial Beach!  The “Pier South Hotel” and the “Sea180” restaurant are open and thriving! Our new library broke ground and is nearing completion! The 9th and Palm “Breakwater Town Center” is under construction!  New restaurants and businesses have set up shop.  Neighborhood improvements are ongoing and recreational opportunities for all ages have greatly expanded.  We continue to attract new homebuyers who value the qualities of life in a small coastal community.  Imperial Beach has become the Community of Choice to live, work and play!

We have accomplished much, but there is more to do...and more to protect.  Over the past four years I have cultivated solid, bi-partisan relationships at all levels of government to ensure Imperial Beach has a seat at the table on key issues and receives its fair share of revenues.  I will apply my knowledge and experience as a Councilmember so we can continue to better Imperial Beach while still maintaining the core values that our community demands.

As a 24-year elementary school teacher and acting principal, I bring insight into working with our local youth, listening skills and patience.  As a 30-year retired Imperial Beach Lifeguard II and EMT, I bring the perspective of a first responder, a first-hand understanding of the importance of public safety in our community, and the ability to calmly evaluate but act quickly in emergency situations.  As a 10-year Miramar College Instructor for the San Diego Regional Lifeguard Academy, I bring an understanding of the importance of preparedness and respect for the rigorous training all public safety personnel go through to keep us safe and secure.  And as the founder of the Imperial Beach Junior Lifeguard Program in 1995, I bring experience in creating, coordinating and administering a youth program, and understand how safe youth programs and recreational activities for all ages improve our quality of life.

I have been an Imperial Beach resident since 1985. My wife Katie and I are homeowners, choosing Imperial Beach to raise our family, because we love its warm sense of community.  My community ties span decades and have provided me a perspective on the diversity and the dedication of so many residents who give freely of their time on behalf of Imperial Beach.  I was recently elected by parents to serve on the Mar Vista School Site Council 2016-2017 and served as Assistant Coach for the Imperial Beach Charter School Surf Team.  Additionally, I am an Auxiliary Member of the Fleet Reserve Association, VFW and American Legion.

I offer a balanced, fair and thoughtful approach and pledge to represent Imperial Beach with integrity and respect.  I have demonstrated leadership skills, backed by seasoned experience and determination.

My commitment to our community and its residents is proven, longstanding and unwavering and I am honored to be a candidate for the 2016 Imperial Beach City Council. 

I would be honored to have your support and vote. 

Thank you.

 Imperial Beach’s small-town atmosphere and warm sense of community is more than an identity...it’s a way of life.  Imperial Beach is sun, surf, family, nature, community, safety, small business, open space and opportunity.  All of these elements create the foundation for an unparalleled quality of life.  As a Councilmember for the past four years, I have been and will continue to be, ever-vigilant in protecting these elements and our small town quality of life.  My family and I treasure these values and I pledge to work hard to preserve them.

I, like you, want Imperial Beach to prosper, but also to keep that small-town atmosphere, and be a place our children can be proud to live in decades from now. I believe we can continue to improve Imperial Beach and still protect our identity and quality of life.  The City Council and citizens must work together as we consider the full range of activities necessary to maintain a livable community.  Shopping, jobs, recreation, public safety, transportation and open space must all be balanced with safeguarding our core values.

Neighborhood improvements are ongoing and recreational opportunities for all ages have greatly expanded.  New restaurants and businesses have set up shop.  We continue to attract new homeowners who value the qualities of life in a small coastal community.  Imperial Beach has become the Community of Choice to live, work and play. There is more to do ... and there is more to protect.

We have experienced an unprecedented interest in commercial development.  But opportunity also demands responsibility and an experienced hand to keep us on course. When new commercial zoning regulations resulted in several “unintended consequences”, I met with citizens and took action to close the loopholes and make it right.  We can't just build our way into fiscal stability.  Additional development also creates additional strains on our public services, infrastructure and community livability. Good planning for a well-balanced community shouldn't be sacrificed for “quick fixes” to bolster our revenues.  I will continue to insist that all development strictly adheres to hard-fought zoning standards, protects our neighborhoods, respects our natural environment and delivers sound economic benefits.

The next Council will be responsible for the direction of our City’s future.  The next Council will be challenged with making decisions on tough issues that could place our small-town quality of life in jeopardy.  Issues such as increased height and density to accommodate new housing, additional beachfront hotels and others could potentially place our “Classic Southern California” way of life on the chopping block.  Any rush to decision, made simply to shore up our revenues, could potentially threaten our long-term quality of life and destroy a lifestyle that residents overwhelmingly support. 

My commitment to protecting our neighborhoods and maintaining our small-town quality of life is proven, longstanding and unwavering.  I offer a balanced, fair and thoughtful approach and pledge to represent Imperial Beach with integrity and respect.  I have demonstrated leadership skills, backed by seasoned experience and determination. 

I believe our best days are still ahead.   Working together, we can create an even better Imperial Beach and I would be honored to have your support and vote on November 8^th.