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I was co-founder of a successful high tech company in the Boston area. The sale of this business in 2000 allowed me to move my family to Poway where our daughter attended Poway schools and currently is finishing her MBA at Point Loma Nazarene Univ. I have always been an active volunteer in local schools and in our church to enhance the lives of those around me and to give back blessings to others. I currently serve as HOA President where I am responsible for 87 homes in my neighborhood. I was also Vice Chairman of the City Budget Review Committee where i worked closely with the City Manager and various department heads.
As current Councilmember, I serve as a member of the Economic Development Subcommittee, Delegate to the California League of Cities, Delegate to the Goodan Ranch Preserve and the Alternate to the San Dieguito Riverpark Trail Network.
My political philosophy is very simple. I am a common sense guy. I believe in the rights of property owners and I believe in small government. In Poway we are able to accomplish much with few people and we take care of each other. We are blessed with large cash reserves as the result of careful fiscal management and we have the safest city in the county due to our relationship with each other and our Safety Services Department. We also have the best streets in San Diego County because we make a committment to an intelligent maintenance program. We are proud to provide balanced budgets and high service levels to our citizens.
My goal is to continue what we do best and to improve our ability to provide core services to our residents. I view my job as a Manager of an $83m business and I continue to set policy that benefits our City and its residents. I also view myself as a strategic visionary and builder of our city for future generations. I am committed to a better Poway and the needs of the citizens.
I grew up and have lived in Poway for most of the last 26 years, I am 33 years old now and am raising a family of my own here in Poway. I went through the PUSD school system and graduating from Poway High, before joining the United States Navy. While serving in the Navy for 8 years, I worked as a Nuclear Engineer in the power plants on air craft carriers. I currently work as a Senior Systems Engineer for SAIC. My family and I live in the Garden Road community and my son is now in PUSD. I take a great deal of pride in researching issues and ensuring that all sides of an issue are presented fairly. Any effective government needs the support of the people to work, “…executive power derives from a mandate from the masses”; to that end I will side with the voice of the people in matters brought before the council. If the laws are already in place, they should be followed; or changed to create the community we all want to live in. If there are problems they should be heard and equal consideration given to all aspects of the issue before making a decision. As a veteran I believe in the rights afforded to every person by the constitution, and I believe it is the people who give power to the government to enforce and protect a way of life. If you believe this is not being done then you should be using that voice to vote and make a difference. Put your Hopes in Votes for Olps!
I believe that the most significant issue facing Poway is the loss of its character. Poway is unique and maintains a community where its citizens are involved and active. Slowly over the years many of the things unique to Poway have left or been outsourced. This process is continuing and now has some major projects which would change the heart of the community. I believe we need to keep our community one where the residents are reflected and equitably represented. We need to make sure that the our children can grow up in the same city which has raised me over the last 26 years.
I was born and raised in San Diego, and have lived in the North County area my whole life. I have fond memories of my Mom bringing me to Poway when I was a boy. We would go the old Bible bookstore, Miller’s Outpost and then to Del Taco for lunch (I sure miss Del Taco).
Twenty years ago my employer moved to the Poway Business Park. Through my experience of working here in Poway, I gained appreciation for its high quality of life and the uniqueness of being the “City in the Country.”
In 2004, around the same time that I started dating my wife, Tina, I was contemplating buying a home. The choice was clear to me. I knew that raising a family in Poway would be the right decision for me and my future family.
I know that I am not alone; families have been making that wise decision for decades. Poway represents so many good things to so many: San Diego County’s safest city, great schools, tight-knit communities, excellent property values and so much more.
During the past eleven years, my family has grown with the birth of my daughter, and Poway has experienced growth as well. As Poway continues to evolve I want to be a part of a team that helps Poway continue to be the city that we Powegians all know and love, and to do that with fiscal responsibility and accountability.
For the past year and a half I have had the privilege of serving on the Poway Road Corridor Study committee, where it is has been my goal to influence the direction of City policy that will lead to the revitalization of this important thoroughfare.
I believe that several challenges lie ahead for City leaders, including equitable water rates, attracting quality businesses for jobs and shopping, and utilizing technology to better equip families and businesses meet their potential in Poway.
As a citizen of South Poway I see the impact of many of these decisions each day. I believe there is a need for South Poway to have representation on the City Council. The Mayor and Council represent the voices of all Powegians and as such I believe it is vital for a member of the Council to come from this area, especially when considering such things as water rates and community growth. I believe my fiscal conservatism and pragmatism would be a welcome asset to the Council.
I will work hard to ensure that I represent the interests of the working families of Poway, and I look forward to the chance to serve as a true representative of the people.
Many challenges face Poway in the years ahead, including; the revitalization of Poway Road, minimizing population density, providing proper oversight of City Hall, creating an equitable water rate structure that rewards savers, ensuring South Poway has a vote on the City Council and keeping the "country" in the "City in the country". Most significant among those, I believe, is the revitalization of Poway Road.
Poway Road has long been the lifeblood of consumers, commuters and citizens in and around Poway. Tens of thousands of cars travel through it on a daily basis. It is a vital part of Poway’s economy. We need to make it as efficient a thoroughfare as possible so that we can get to and from work and school as quickly and safely as possible. It needs to be an efficient means for Poway businesses to do their part in the local economy. Having Poway Road filled with vibrant restaurants, shops and other businesses will ensure the strong economic position of Poway, as well as help its residents to enjoy living and doing business in their hometown. Quality of life is a big reason why people move to Poway. Poway Road's revitalization will help keep it that way.
I believe the most significant challenge facing Poway is the quest towards continued increases in density by developers, the current Poway City Council and others.
I believe we have to say no to increases in density unless and until we have solved our traffic problems and our short and long term water supply issues.
If elected I will always vote to oppose increases in density during all four years of my term. (no exceptions)
The biggest challenge Poway is experiencing is how to move into the future in economic prosperity without losing the special flair of our community. If elected, I will support the need for an improved downtown revitalization. In addition, I have a vision for improved parks and sports facilities that can bring additional revenue to our city.
While in office, I will bring a fresh voice to the current board that supports family issues with a common sense approach.
I am currently a director of an international law firm. Previously, I was the director of administration for a trust company managing the daily operations and was also on the company's board of directors. I currently sit on four nonprofit boards and held various officer positions including chairman, president, and treasurer. I have two law degrees, a Master of Laws (LLM) and a Juris Doctor (JD), and Bachelors of Business Administration (BBA) degree.
The most significant challenge facing Poway is planned growth and redevelopment. We need to improve the Poway Road corridor to attract new businesses to come to Poway. We need more affordable housing and a new vision for the future growth of residential development as our City population continues to increase. Having the City Council act as the planning commission, housing authority and redevelopment agency is bottlenecking the process. There is no way that the City Council, which meets only twice a month, can adequately address these issues in a timely and intelligent manner. Citizen committees are also not working. Therefore, we need to create a separate planning commission for the City - one that made up of professionals from the community that can focus on these specific issues, hold workshops for community input, work as an intermediary between staff and the Council, and make thought-out recommendations to the City Council for action.
I am a fiscal conservative but liberal on social issues and respect for individual rights is of the highest priority to me. I believe in individual liberty, personal responsibility, free markets, the rule of law, and limited government.
I believe that Poway faces many challenges, from water issues to maintaining our facilities with sound financial structure, to revitalizing areas of Poway that are not fitting with the City in the Country motto all the way to fixing some negative interactions with residents.
The most significant issue currently is city communication with residents and transparency out of City Hall. Our city manager was essentially let go because he was cutting deals without approval and not bringing significant errors at city hall out to the public and the council. Our current meeting structure only allows comments before presentations are made and if issues or inaccuracies come up after the preentation, the public is not allowed to comment. This needs to change. The birght light of day needs to shine on all city operations, the public needs to be better informed and City hall needs to become transparent.
They replaced the manager with a 25 year Poway employee without even looking at any other candidates for the job. That does not show me a management looking to change despite all the issues that have come out in the last 2 years. We have been told over and over that there is a plan to fix the issues. But its has been months and not one comment has been made about what they are doing to prevent the problems.
That needs to change.
I have a history of turning around troubled systems and I am anxious to get started fixing Poway. I want Poway City Hall to be known as the most transparent and ethical City in California. Please help me by giving me your vote. And please tell your friends!
Poway Deputy Mayor Jim Cunningham reflects on the ultimate contibutions our
Veterans have made for our Country from the Civil War to Afghanastan.
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