Why should you vote for me?

By Jennifer "Jenn" Welsh

I will establish policies that eliminate closed door deals. The lack of transparency, or as I like to say, sunlight on the proceedings of this city, is a major concern for the good of our community. Far too many of the city council sessions are closed door. I think it is wrong for elected officials to make decisions that the people have no input on, yet must abide by. I will provide all council meetings and work sessions on the Web. This ensures sunlight will fall on every meeting. I will limit closed-door sessions. I am already demonstrating my openness to the citizens of Imperial Beach by holding public gatherings at sunset, where public officials cannot hide behind parliamentary procedure. I will continue to air the city's business to the people.

I can't believe that in a society as technologically advanced as ours, we have been unable to stem the tide of untreated waste that contaminates our beaches. This is a political problem, and can be solved by political means. While I cannot dictate policy to the sovereign state of Baja California, I will be a force in bringing the appropriate players to the table to effect change. We successfully treat waste and provide clean water in thousands of communities across America + we can do it here.

The show of force by the San Diego Sheriff's Department, hired at a great expense to the people of Imperial Beach, is a problem. A local police force would have a better rapport with the community. I will review the data to reveal if this show of force is actually working. Perhaps the police can revert to helping protect the beach instead of having to deputize our lifeguards. Let the lifeguards save lives, and let the police be peace officers, ideally living in the community they serve.

My interest is in preserving our current way of life in Imperial Beach while strengthening our financial base. I want to be able to say that the people of Imperial Beach have been empowered to have meaningful input into the governance of the community in which they live and security in the knowledge that their city will continue to be the finest small-town-by-the-sea in America.