In my opinion, our local law enforcement has done an exceptional job of keeping our community safe. I believe that Yucca Valley residents have a high level of confidence in the professionalism and commitment of our first responders.

I applaud the previous and current Town Councils who have made public safety the highest priority and have committed a significant percentage of our financial resources to the contract with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. The department is well-run under Sheriff John McMahon and the enforcement resources available through our contract far exceed what the Town could do on its own.

In Yucca Valley, we have experienced our ups and downs with regard to criminal activity, but I believe that our local law enforcement professionals have taken appropriate action when necessary to identify and squelch threats to our community’s residents.

Recent California legislation has relaxed the consequences for lawbreakers and made enforcement of the law much more difficult. I support any reversal of this trend as well as any new legislation that puts the safety of citizens above compassionate treatment of criminals.

During my career, I worked for the Town of Yucca Valley, the County of San Bernardino and the State of California. I also worked for the Federal government as a sailor in the United States Navy. I believe that these experiences have provided some realistic general insights about the workings and responsiveness of government.

Without a doubt, I believe local government is most efficient, responsive and accountable level of government. Residents have a much better opportunity to voice their concerns and influence outcomes when their elected representatives are also their neighbors. Similarly, local elected officials are much closer to the people they serve than are County, State or Federal representatives. Communication and feedback are inevitably more personal. This observation is largely responsible for my interest in serving at the local government level.

I have also seen first-hand that strong, active ties and communication between the various agencies and levels of government are key to maximizing the cooperation that leads to solutions for local problems. I believe my work experience is an asset that will be useful in identifying opportunities for responding to the needs of the Yucca Valley community.

I agree with the principle of equal opportunity for all citizens.

I can easily understand the value of districts in larger cities where some areas might be heavily populated by certain ethnic groups – leaders from those districts would likely be more tuned in to specific issues and concerns of that segment of the population. But, while I hope that breaking Yucca Valley up into districts will prove to be beneficial, I am somewhat skeptical at this point.

Over the next few years, our community will make adjustments and ultimately decide if the move to district-based voting was best for us. Will it yield the best opportunity for minorities to be represented? Will it produce highly qualified leaders? Are the rules adequate to prevent manipulation? Will the Council members be concerned only with their district or continue to be responsive to the entire population?

Time will tell. Here’s hoping for the best.

Over the past several years, I have been a part of and met with many groups that are concerned with the economic stability, growth and sustainability of our town and the Morongo Basin as a whole. While many of us would like to shut the gates and keep Yucca Valley just like we found it when we move here, the reality is that every community will change – either for the better or for the worse, forward or backward – but it won’t stay frozen in time.

Identifying the right kind of future growth for our community is complicated and requires ongoing research, careful planning and informed vision. But it also calls for enough flexibility to recognize trends and take advantage of opportunities as they arise.

Our community leaders and various organizations regularly keep tabs on our unique assets as well as our limitations. Many of our local businesses are currently benefiting from an unprecedented level of tourism largely due to the Joshua Tree National Park. I believe that tourism and significant events such as the Morongo Basin Art Tours should be recognized and encouraged as significant contributors to the financial well-being of the Morongo Basin communities.

I believe the Town of Yucca Valley has been responsible in the use of tax revenue over the years and I appreciate the current Town Council’s transparency in reporting the expenditure of tax dollars. I have watched the various Town Councils make difficult budget decisions as they prioritize the allocation of funds for public safety, road maintenance, parks, animal control, and all of the other functions that contribute to our community’s well-being and quality of life.

While I believe Californians are over-regulated and over-taxed, I supported Yucca Valley’s Measure Y and Measure Z because both measures presented a rare opportunity to benefit our residents and property owners. We are already seeing the community benefit of Measure Y and most property owners will appreciate Measure Z when it comes time to hook up to the new sewer system.

I have not been in favor excessive government regulations or of measures like the recent statewide gas tax increase, especially at a time when the state budget has a substantial surplus. I am far more concerned about questionable spending at the State and Federal level because local government is much more accountable to the people it serves. Local government’s ability to function depends on tax dollars, but we must be diligent in weighing the benefit against the expense.

Since I announced my candidacy, some people have asked what I think about the marijuana initiatives. I understand that this is an important local issue with significant potential impacts to our community. I also know that studies can be found to support any position, but ongoing research is somewhat scattered and incomplete at this point in time.

I recognize that many people have experienced significant pain relief with the use of medical marijuana and therefore support its use in the same context as other prescribed medicines. I know people who have benefited from its use as a medicine, and I also have many friends and relatives whose lives and families have been negatively affected by their recreational use of marijuana. The local initiatives have not been about compassion for sick people.

I voted against the local initiatives that would have permitted marijuana dispensaries and growing facilities. I believe distribution of medical marijuana should be regulated and provided through pharmacies like other medicines. I am skeptical about the motivation of certain proponents who stand to make considerable profit with little regard for potentially negative community impacts. In my opinion, the efforts to promote these initiatives have often been disingenuous and, in many cases, deliberately deceptive.

I have confidence that our residents will continue to provide input as this and other important community issues come up in the future. The world is changing in many ways, and our community has shown that we can engage in respectful debate and collaboratively determine our own future.