Candidate for
Council Member; City of Banning

I have served as a Council Member for the past four years and despite the drastic economic circumstances we have made significant progress. We developed an Airport Master and Fix Based Operator Plan to take the Banning Banning airport and turn it into an earning asset for the City. We developed and implemented a plan to revitalize downtown Banning through investment in a facade program where businesses revitalize their buildings. Numerous buildings have been revitalized and along with the new Police Department Building, help facilitate a decision by the State of California to build a $60,000,000.00 Mid County Justice Center in downtown Banning. The goal is a vibrant downtown civic and business center where people can come and work, play, dine and be entertained. This is happening. For future growth major infrastructure projects were constructed including an 8,000,000 gallon underground water resevoir, large electric sub station (the City owns it own electric utility) to serve the expanding San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital as well as for future residential growth on the westside of Banning. Extensive effort and difficult decisions were made to balance the general fund budget and eliminate the structural budget deficit by reducing expenses by $5,000,000.00 and laying off 35 employees, golden handshakes, and other cost reducing measures. Support has been given to the Police Department and a new bulding constructed allowing all operations of the PD to come under one roof and one command and control. Fire Engine Company 20 was retained to serve the westside of Banning with fire and paramedic service while at the same time partnering with Beaumont and the County obtaining $500,000 each from Beaumont and Riverside County and thus savings the Banning Taxpayers $1,000,000.00. As the economy recoveries we need to expand our recruitment of clean industry to produce new jobs as well as recruiting more retails stores and restaurants, providing more shopping for local residents as well as increasing the flow of sales tax to the city where it can be invested in Code Enforcement and cleaning up Banning and expanded parks and recreation activities.