Candidate for
Councilmember; City of Morro Bay

I have been very involved in trying to get back beach access for people and dogs on a leash. I think historical, recreational beaches should be available for use by the people who pay taxes to maintain them. Horses, kites, balls, Frisbees, dogs and people should be welcome on the beaches within our city limits. Between beach closure and campground remodels the state parks people are causing Morro Bay to lose countless tourist dollars.

I'm a big supporter of the fishermen in this area, both commercial and recreational. These hardworking people are the one's that built this town. They are being regulated out of business. I think we need to fight this.

We need to make it easier for people to fully utilize their property. We desperately need more housing. Second units, where possible, are a good thing and I support them. We need to promote combination commercial/ residential projects where it is feasible.

We are currently housing our fire trucks in a tent. We need a new fire station and a substation in the northern part of town. We also need more firefighters. The fire department is the first to respond to emergency medical calls in this city. The people of Morro Bay need to know that someone will be available if there is an emergency.

Morro Bay , like many other cities, is going through tough economic times at present. The closure of the state park campground, the minimal use of the Duke Power Plant, beach closures and fishing closures have all caused a great loss to the city tax base. Last year, Morro Bay used money from it's reserve account in order to meet ongoing expenses. This practice cannot continue. We all need to work together to come up with solutions.