Candidates: Taking on the Status Quo

Seven candidates. Three open city council seats.
With Election Day drawing near, we’re giving voters the opportunity to get to know their candidates for Glendora city council. Every week until the election on March 8, we’ll ask the candidates a question and give each candidate the opportunity to answer and speak their mind. Have a question you want the candidates to answer? E-mail them to hazel.lodevicotoo@patch.com or tell us in the comments.

This week’s question was submitted by a reader.

Question

In Glendora, the city staff, such as the manager and the other department heads, have a tendency to stay on until they retire. It is a high paying occupation with little public oversight to what their roles truly entail and why more people are being hired. An increase in pay doesn't seem to enhance our city services. In private business, leaders are challenged to do more these days than just status quo. As a citizen, I just don't see that from our city.

If you were elected to city council, would you encourage City Hall to do more than just status quo and become more proactive than reactive to various urban issues, such as economic development, homelessness, racism, infrastructure, resource management, and urban planning? Or do you believe it is not City Hall's role to take on this task, and it is City Council's responsibility to offer such direct action?

Doug Tessitor
I disagree with the premise of the question.

In the last three years we have cut $4 million out of our budget and reduced staff by 28 full time employees with no reductions in service. City staff is doing more than just maintaining the status quo and should be congratulated!

We have been very proactive in all areas mentioned. Fifty percent of our sales tax revenue comes from 12 businesses that weren’t here eight years ago. We have added hundreds of jobs to our daytime population. Infrastructure has seen substantial improvement because of our water capital improvement program. Street repairs are following. The city’s Master Plan has been revised with neighborhood input.

In the last four years, the city manager, deputy city manager, city clerk, the directors of public works, finance, parks and recreation, planning, and the chief of police have all been replaced. The city attorney is not a city employee and by definition is reactive. The library director has more than four years tenure, she has seven.

No city council has been more proactive!  Ever!

John C. Fields
To implement positive change, the city must be run more like a business. This means pursuing all possible sources of revenue and decreasing expenses, seeking the most cost effective way to provide essential high quality services.

Most of all, it means attracting and retaining the best qualified leadership team, both on the elected side and the staff side. Throughout my campaign, I have consistently asserted that the city should operate from a proactive position of strategic leadership, rather than from its ongoing reactive standpoint. I can provide the fresh, innovative, creative vision we need. 

Yes, absolutely, if elected, I would empower employees to abolish the status quo. The city must create and design its own future concerning all the issues mentioned in the question. You must lead, follow, or get out of the way.

With an MBA from Claremont Graduate School and 30+ years of professional management experience, this candidate is ready, willing, and able to lead our Glendora into its next 100 years.

Please direct future questions to www.electjohnfields.com or visit me on Facebook.

Judy Nelson
The city manager is hired and supervised by the city council. The department heads are supervised by the city manager, with direction given by the city council. The city council members are officials elected by the citizens of Glendora and are charged with ensuring and improving the quality of life for all Glendorans by balancing residential, business and environmental interests in a fiscally responsible manner. Of course, the management style is and should be proactive; planning, implementing, evaluating, adjusting and processing.

The city of Glendora staff at all levels, are evaluated regularly and their performance is held to exacting standards which are listed in great detail in the Adopted Budget. The budget and the performance measurements for each department are public record and can be reviewed by any citizen who is interested.

Cynthia Carrasco
Thank you reader for your question. Your concern highlights an issue raised by many Glendora residents: Is our local government truly being run efficiently and focused on producing results in the best interest of Glendora?  

I am confident I can work with the council during these discouraging economic times and contribute my resolute voice to guide the direction of our city. Glendora is fortunate to have a team of experienced and educated employees  who value their role as public servants. I believe our citizens deserve high level of service provided in a financially responsible manner and will work with our team both in and outside of City Hall to ensure we operate with integrity.

Please read my open letter to residents at www.CynthiaForGlendora.com to understand how we can govern proactively and serve all residents fairly.

Joe Santoro
I respectfully disagree with the author of the question on several issues. However, there is little doubt that economic development is very important to our city now and in the future, so important that if elected to the city council I will recommend the formation of an Economic Development Commission that will be charged with bringing together members of our community to work with city staff to reach outside of our city for companies to relocate to Glendora - and inside of our current business districts to encourage and assist existing businesses in upgrading their property and businesses potential.

I believe our city staff is doing a good job. However, we must continue to increase our focus on developing relationships with all businesses and streamlining the current building permit process into a smoother and less resistant process while maintaining strict standards on design and development of existing and future facilities.

Development needs to enhance our community, insure economic viability and maintain the unique hometown spirit and quality of life in Glendora that we all cherish.

Jason Nagy
My background comes from a very competitive work environment that focused on the fact that you are only as good as your next successful negotiation. I believe that the status quo in any organization mutes the potential to be the best we can be as people, and as a city. The culture starts from the top down with the city council and the vision that is set forth.

I believe in setting a tone and culture that both creates clear objectives and accountability. I also believe in giving the proper tools to equip people and our city for success. All to often objectives and goals are set without providing the necessary tools to be successful. In order for us to truly be successful we cant just set an objective we must be willing to support that vision with the right tools.

Erica Landmann-Johnsey
City Hall should be representing ALL people of Glendora and not give the impression of maintaining the status quo, so I believe it is only the right thing to do in order to continue making Glendora an outstanding place to live, work and play.

I believe the best practice is to be proactive, as opposed to reactive. Being proactive allows the city to save money in the long run and by looking ahead in order to prevent problems in the future, whether it involves adjusting salaries, street maintenance, traffic, attracting businesses, etc. We need to look at regional planning and working closely with the surrounding cities in order to address the issues of homelessness, gang activity, at-risk youth programs, foreclosed homes, struggling businesses, etc. Problems can be solved if we all work together to address them.