Candidate for
Council Member; City of Lodi

Public Safety

Public safety is clearly the first priority of the City!  Public safety comes in many forms.  First, with our Police and Fire to protect the lives and property of our residents and guests so we are secure in our home, neighborhood, at work and in public places.  Second, we want safe streets and secure, operable utilities (water, sewer, gas and electricity) so citizens are confident they work and do not endanger our lives.  Third, we want to protect our way of life, our property values and our jobs from un-welcomed intrusion from our friends and neighbors. This is why the Lodi Professional Firefighters, Lodi Police Officers Association, and teh Lodi Police Mid-managment Organization have all endrosed Dixon for Council!

The Greenbelt

tockton's development north of Eight Mile Road is an attack on our property values, our way of life, our business development, and our historical tie to the farm community.  We do not want North San Joaquin County to become another Los Angeles or San Jose. We need to protect Lodi's interestts and maintain Lodi landowner's private property rights.

  The Eastside

The Eastside is made up of many cultures and ethnic groups.  This makes Lodi diverse and a wonderful place to live. Residents want safe neighborhoods, safe and clean streets, and to see the value of their properties protected. So how do we do this? We need to continue to invest in the Eastside by improving streets, water and sewer systems, providing a continuous police presence, and working with leaders on the Eastside to find solutions to their concerns. 

Quality Growth

Farmers are now being offered prices for their farms that are 10 to 20 times higher then they were 10 years ago for development.  At these prices it is difficult for farmers to say "no."

To protect the quality of life we have in Lodi and to protect the property rights of farmers, Lodi needs to update the General Plan and invite everyone to sit down and map out the growth of Lodi for the next 20 years.  This will be my number one priority if elected.  We need to include city and county officials, property owners, developers and the citizens of Lodi in developing this plan.  It will take a minimum of 2 years to get this done and it must be our number one priority.  Time is of the essence.  Through this effort we as a community will define "smart growth."

Affordable Housing

I measure my quality of life by first having a job, being able to own a home in a safe community and being able to provide for my children.  Our children need affordable homes, good jobs, good schools, safe streets and playgrounds, and activities when the parents are at work so as to encourage creativity and productivity.   

Our seniors need a secure environment, affordable medical care, and activities to ensure they have an opportunity to enjoy retirement and can give back their years of knowledge and experience to their children and grandchildren.  And our seniors need to know that we are doing everything we can to protect the value of their homes and that their savings are secure.

Lodi is surrounded by beautiful vineyards and orchards which sit on some of the most valuable farm land in the world.  Most Lodians treasure this long standing relationship with the farm community and wish see to this valued relationship continued.

New Business Growth

We must reverse the position taken by a few outspoken individuals and some members of the City Council that say Lodi is not a business friendly place.  Our water and sewer rates are going up and will continue to do so under the current contamination strategy of the City Council.  We are denying development rights to property owners that have complied with the rules and regulations laid down by the City years ago.  That is flat wrong and would discourage anyone from starting a business in Lodi or expanding an existing business.

A new General Plan should lay out future growth for commercial and industrial development. Industrial development should focus on high tech industry and other emerging industries that bring in higher paying jobs.

Lodi should provide economic incentives to attract and retain the best businesses we can attract to allow us to compete as a community now and for the next 20 years. 

Private Property Rights

There should be no question that government exists to protect the property rights of individuals. This is what makes America strong.  Individual property owners can then decide what is best for them.  In the end, the market will make the best decision for the allocation of property. Government should stay out of this decision process.  We serve the public and property owners best by allowing only the minimum number of rules and regulations.

Animal Shelter

I believe we should build a new animal shelter, as soon as possible!