Candidate for
Member of City Council; City of Fresno; District 6

Government in America was not founded to take care of every need and become the solution to every problem. This is certainly true in the City of Fresno. It is government's role to provide the essential services that cannot realistically be provided by any other means. To a city such as Fresno, this generally means public safety, roads, parks and the basic infrastructure that provides for economic growth. The role of city government is limited. The role of city government is to see how little it needs to do, not to see how much it can do. The people of Fresno can only thrive when the city government gets out of the way.

The City of Fresno is not alone in facing our challenges. We are part of a region that includes the City of Clovis and the County of Fresno. It seems obvious that we must work closely together with Clovis and the County of Fresno to address our problems as a team. But this is has not always the case. When we can begin working together we will have much better success. We must guard against putting our future in the hands of bureaucrats from Sacramento to make decisions for us.

Every time a tax is raised or a new law is passed, the government is saying that they know how to spend your money and live your life better than you do. This is wrong. After I am elected I will propose that for every new law or ordinance that is proposed for the City of Fresno, one must also be reviewed for repealed. This will at least begin to stop the increasing role of city government in our daily lives. I will not support an increase in fees or taxes until I am satisfied that our city is being operated in the most cost effective manner. The City of Fresno has plenty of your money. We just need to use it better and smarter. Increase in city revenues should come from economic growth, not increasing the burden on our hard working families.

As I have had the opportunity to walk and visit with the voters of District 6 there has easily been one concern that has risen above the others. That has been the public behavior of our City Council.

This is a concern that is not just recent but goes back over the last 8+ years. From the corruption of Operation Re-zone, the flip-flopping on issues and the public demeanor of some of the Council, It is quite clear that the voters of District 6 are ready to get a council that is more focused on solving Fresno's problems rather than getting on TV or in the newspaper.

It is the job of the City Council to set an example of professional behavior and dignity. It is the job of the City Council to set a mature, consistent image for our city. It is the job of the City Council to get things done and not fight to see who gets in the newspaper the most or who can run for the highest office. It is the job of the City Council to focus on developing the policies and providing the vision that will create the proper environment for our city's success.

It is important that the City Council is not just a stepping stone for higher office. There was once a time in our great city when a citizen stepped forward to serve because they simply cared and wanted Fresno to be a better place and then they went back to there real livelihood. We seemed to have lost this. It is critical that we begin focusing on building a team of council members that will focus on putting the needs of the people ahead of their own personal agendas. 

It is time for a City Council that is committed to Fresno First.