Candidate Statement

By Mark Leyes

Elect Proven Leadership: MARK LEYES for MAYOR

I have been proud to represent you and our shared values on the Garden Grove City Council since you first elected me. I will be honored to have your vote for Mayor, and I ask for your support.

As the senior member of the Garden Grove City Council, I have worked with Mayor Broadwater to bring new investment and new jobs to our community, while fighting crime and keeping taxes low.

With Mayor Broadwater not running this year, we must elect a proven leader who can keep Garden Grove moving forward while preserving and protecting our neighborhoods, our families, and our quality of life.

I was born and raised in Garden Grove. My wife, Wanda, and I own our home and are active in our neighborhood and Church. I attended local schools and earned a Masters degree from Cal State Fullerton.

My accomplishments for Garden Grove include:

• Under my leadership we implemented "Community Policing" to cut the crime rate over 50%. I led the effort to post a citywide "Megan's Law" database and to save our D.A.R.E. program to protect our children from gangs, drugs and sex offenders.

• I worked to synchronize our traffic signals, build freeway soundwalls, and to widen the 22 Freeway.

• I led the fight against a plan to use eminent domain against hundreds of Garden Grove homes.

• I have always stood up to Special Interests. For example, I fought out-of-town Gambling Casinos who wanted to make millions while we suffer from the crime and blight they bring to our community.

• I established the Garden Grove Community Foundation to hold free summer concerts in our parks.

• I promoted accountability in government, public budget hearings, and term limits for local politicians.

• I fought tax hikes, assessment increases, and water and sewer rate increases.

As Mayor I will:

• Fight to protect neighborhoods, keep taxes low, and maintain property values.

• Improve our streets to stop dangerous traffic from cutting through our neighborhoods.

• Create new parks, recreational opportunities, and Seniors' programs.

• Restore the D.A.R.E. program and put more police on the streets.

Thank you for your vote for Mark Leyes for Mayor.