My Plan For A Better Riverside County

By Mike Soubirous

As your County Supervisor:

I'll cut waste and mismanagement to free money for vital services. I'll make reforming government part of the solution. As a county leader, I'll set an example.

A NEW DIRECTION

We can't fix Riverside County with the same old politics. Riverside County has an $80 million budget deficit. Unemployment is near 13% ++ higher than the state and national averages. And we lack the jail space needed to house the convicted criminals likely to be given early release under the state's new realignment plan (AB 109). Public safety and other vital services are being cut, while taxes are going up. Our spending does not stop. We spend money we do not have!

Our politicians are not listening to us - and business as usual politics is not working.

To fix these problems, we need change, not more of the same!

I am running for the Board of Supervisors because I want to end business-as-usual politics and get our county moving again. I believe our best years are ahead of us.

TAXES AND GOVERNMENT SPENDING

Riverside County has an $80 million budget deficit that isn't getting fixed. Taxes are too high, and there is pressure to raise them even higher. Vital services, like public safety and other services, are being cut, and yet the county wastes millions on projects the Riverside County Press Enterprise newspaper says are "mismanaged."

To protect your hard-earned tax money, I'll work tirelessly to eliminate government waste, stop runaway government spending, and protect services like public safety. I'll demand better board oversight of county projects and programs, and I will conduct a top-to-bottom review of all county expenditures to root out wasteful, duplicative or inefficient programs. I'll treat tax dollars with respect, because every tax dollar is important! We need to stop the practice of our county department managers operating in the archaic "use it or lose it" environment when it comes to their budgets. We can't penalize these managers for "giving" back unused budget money. This is counter-productive to running an efficient government. We must work smarter!

EMPLOYEE PENSIONS

Employee pensions and benefits are a "hot topic" these days. Most taxpayers have concerns about government paid pension benefits and how to ensure sustainability, and not be burdoned with a huge pension payment obligation in the future should the current system fail.

I am committed to pension reform. I believe that if we do not reign in abuses, our current system will suffer and shift the burden directly to the taxpayers. Currently, Riverside County allows employees to retire AT or OVER 100% of their current salary - this is wrong and needs correction! Board of Supervisors can "retire" with no "cap" limit, meaning they can retire at 100% or higher of their last year's salary. Our supervisors actually get a "second" pension consisting of a county funded 401(a) plan.

When elected, I promise to REFUSE a county paid PERS pension (or any compensation in lieu of), the county paid 401(a) plan, and will voluntarily REDUCE my pay to less than $100K a year. I will lead by example. Leadership starts at the top!

JOBS AND THE ECONOMY

Riverside County's economy is in trouble. Our unemployment is nearly 13% ++ higher than the state and national averages. We are losing good paying jobs that support Riverside County families, and we're not producing new jobs to replace them. Without jobs and a vibrant economy, Riverside County families will suffer and vital county services will be in jeopardy. Our residents spend far too much time commuting to other counties for good paying jobs. They work there and spend dollars there. We need to keep our people working and spending in Riverside County. Less time on the road means more time with our families - and a better quality of life!

To create jobs, I'll work for policies that encourage businesses to locate or expand in Riverside County. Needless regulations should be eliminated, and costly "red tape" should be cut. Delays in project approval are costly to our local businesses. To help attract businesses, we must also keep taxes low, provide good schools and better roads for our residents, and keep our neighborhoods and business environment safe. Our County is far too dependent on property tax revenue. We need to balance our revenues with more business and manufacturing. We need keep our tax dollars in Riverside County.

We need to encourage investors and business owners to relocate their businesses to Riverside County. To do this, we need to ensure we have the best restaurants, shopping, recreation and other amenities that draw people and their families to Riverside County. When we become a "destination," we will attract and keep tax dollars here and businesses will invest here. We should not be satisfied with being a domicile for other counties.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Riverside County faces some difficult public safety challenges. Rank and file deputy sheriff positions have been scaled back due to budget cuts, and we lack the jail space needed for convicted criminals being sent to Riverside County from state prison under the state's new realignment plan. Riverside County has far fewer jail bed spaces than neighboring San Bernardino County and our County's population is higher! We failed to plan ahead in order to keep pace with our growing population and Federal requirements. This lack of planning will keep us scrambling to find proper jail space for years and will require our county to release "less risk" prisoners.

Our County's deputy numbers are shrinking fast. Many years ago we suffered from a lack of deputies patrolling our unincorporated areas. It took about 16 years for Riverside County to raise the number of deputies from .75 per 1,000 residents to 1.2 per 1,000 (considered Nationally to be a normal minimum safe service ratio). Due to reckless spending, that number has recently decreased to .90 deputies per 1,000 residents. Our sheriff projected we will be at .75 per 1,000 residents by this summer (2012) due to attrition and the fact the County is not hiring patrol deputies. We simply cannot allow this to continue! The safety of our residents is paramount and is a quality of life issue. We are seeing a recent rise in crime and the cause of this is two-fold. It is directly related to the fewer and fewer deputies on the street and more and more criminals being let go from our jails due to the state mandated jail realignment (AB109).

Throughout my career as a law enforcement professional, I've worked hard to keep Riverside County safe. That's a basic right Riverside County residents deserve and pay taxes for. As a County Supervisor I'll fight the waste and irresponsible spending that's bleeding revenue from vital services like public safety ++ and I will always fight to ensure the public's safety - your safety - is the county's top priority! On the road, at home, in the workplace and at school - we need to maintain a safe and secure environment.

GOVERNMENT REFORM

To reform county government, I am proposing a three-point plan to make the Board of Supervisors more accountable. Again, leadership starts at the top!

-Term limits for Riverside County Supervisors.

A lifetime maximum of two 4-year terms on the Board of Supervisors. If someone in office can't accomplish their goals on the Board in 8 years, they should step aside and give another candidate with fresh ideas the opportunity to lead the County. If elected, I will serve only two terms and will push for a county-wide initiative for county voters to approve an ordinance to require all county supervisors to serve under term limits.

-Riverside County Supervisor pay is too high and should be cut.

Supervisors earned a whopping $170,000 last year. We should reduce pay for future Board of Supervisors to under $100,000. Our people are hurting ++ it's time our elected officials lead by example. I will voluntarily cut my own pay to below $100,000. I will not take a pension or other benefits. I WILL lead by example!

-Eliminate taxpayer paid pension benefits for members of the Board of Supervisors.

Currently, County Supervisors can retire with over 100% of the their annual pay for life. I will not take a County pension if elected, and I will encourage newly elected Supervisors to do the same. The current pension system for County Supervisors is an abuse of tax dollars and should be eliminated. They receive the 3% at 60 formula, plus a county paid 401(a) retirement plan - along with other "perks."

QUALITY OF LIFE

Riverside County has one of the highest registration rates for off-road vehicles (green stickers), yet Riverside County has the least number of suitable locations for OHVs. We need to develop places to ride and play locally to help keep out tax dollars here, and to provide our residents with close OHV parks to enjoy outdoor recreation. Doing this preserves our pristine open spaces and helps to maintain an environmentally friendly atmosphere that all can live and play with.

Riverside was once home to the Riverside International Raceway, which hosted major NASCAR road racing events and provided for NHRA drag racing. We let this "gem" turn into a shopping mall and made no plans to seek investors to relocate it or replace it.

Riverside County's shooting range locations have dwindled to just a few public shooting ranges. Shooting enthusiasts and gun owners have few places to practice shooting skills or practice for competition events. Again, this lack of shooting ranges forces our residents to go elsewhere - again a loss of tax dollars and a lack of accommodating our resident's need for recreation. We simple must develop such places in order to make Riverside County an attractive place for moving to and investing in our local economy.

Riverside County's District 1 has very few Regional Parks and places where families can enjoy a "park" setting. Our county residents, those living in our unincorporated areas, must often use city municipal parks due to a lack of county owned and maintained facilities. This is a result of poor planning and yet another case of not providing our residents with the quality of life infrastructure which is sorely needed to attract business owners and those who would invest in our local economy.

PUBLIC SERVICE

Since my youth I have been involved in various service organizations. I was a Cub Scout, a member of the Civil Air Patrol, and later a Boy Scout. I served in various capacities at my church as a youth and later in my teens. My parents taught me to respect all others, and that serving my fellow man was paramount to making a difference in my community.

I have been a public servant my entire adult life. As a law enforcement officer, I never forgot the fact I worked for taxpayers, and the role I played in serving them. I will bring that same attitude to the Board of Supervisors.

I will push for a more transparent government ++ ending back room deals, and ensuring the light of public awareness is shined on all public board decisions allowed by law. I will bridge the divide between differences of opinion so that reasonable solutions can be achieved. I will keep my office door open to everyone ++ making myself available to everyone in Riverside County who needs my help. And I will always remember that I am elected to serve you, not be served by you.

We can do this - I need your support and your vote to make this happen!

This election is very important. In order to get Riverside County back on track and change the direction of our Board of Supervisors, we need to collaborate our efforts with each and every resident, business owner and all those who work and invest in Riverside County.

If you have questions or concerns - or simply want to say hello - please call me. I will answer your call!

After all, if I am going to work for you, I'd better respond.

Please visit my volunteer and donation pages and consider what you can do to make a difference in changing the direction of Riverside County - I appreciate your support and trust.

I am honored to have your vote.

Mike Soubirous (951) 515-1663