Candidate for
City Council; City of Vista

First, I'm a fiscal conservative who worked part-time throughout high school, and put myself through college. As a beginning teacher, I worked after school, on weekends and during my vacations to put my wife through college. I understand the value of a dollar. When it comes to social issues, however, I would consider myself a moderate.

I am committed to seeing the downtown redevelopment project completed with a theater, shops, restaurants, and a landscaped river walk. Just remember the present contractor is working with only 1/3 of the entire project. The plans for the river walk and the remaining 2/3 of the site will still have to be finalized by the City Council in the next few years. I'd like to think that in the not too distant future you will calling your friends up and saying "Why don't you come to Vista where we can enjoy lunch in the sunshine along a beautiful stream while a musician plays on the green?" This will become Vista's Heart, Vista's Identity.

Also, my wife and I love coaching my daughter's soccer team, but when we show up to practice at Beaumont, we find that we are sharing this tiny field with 5 other teams. This is happening all over the city. Presently, I am working with The Vista Youth Sports Field Foundation to establish more fields for soccer, football and baseball.

I am for safe neighborhoods. I have been on the Vista Crime and Substance Abuse Prevention Commission and helped in both their Safe Streets and Crime-Free Multi-Housing Programs. I learned how to help people take back their neighborhoods from the criminal element. I am for additional motorcycles in Vista to reduce some of the speeders in town. I am for working with the patrol officers to make them feel a member of our city.

Here is a problem we all share. I am for better traffic flow in Vista. I am a member of the Vista Circulation Element whose job it is to set up the future traffic patterns in town. I am for constructing new arterial roadways. But, I am also for the privacy of our neighborhoods and will not support changing them into major traffic arteries. I am for the opening of Melrose Avenue connecting to Palomar Airport Road and will see that happen if you elect me to the council.

Finally, I understand that the City of Vista and North County Transit came to an agreement on the rail line from Oceanside to Escondido. I believe we must take a serious look at the rail system as a logical solution to our future transportation concerns. San Diego County is projected to grow by a million more people in the next 20 years. And in that time our highways will become parking lots, and the price of gas will continue to rise. Therefore, I see the rail as a convenient alternative way for business people to make a connection to the MetroLink and Coaster and their jobs. I also see it as an inexpensive way for students to get to both Palomar JC and Cal State San Marcos.

In conclusion, I am asking for your vote on November 7th and any assistance you can give me prior to that date will be greatly appreciated. Just remember "Gronke, the key to good government." And remember Ted Cole supports me 110%.