CITY BUDGET A KEY ISSUE IN CITY RACE HOPEFULS EYE 2 COUNCIL SEATS.Byline: Nicholas Grudin Staff Writer GLENDALE - Seven candidates vying vy·ing v. Present participle of vie. vying vie for two City Council seats are looking at the same issues but with divergent plans of action. Rent control, overdevelopment Overdevelopment refers to a process by which natural resources are impacted by urbanization and/or road construction, at a rate significantly harmful to the ecosystem. Environmental activism is a frequent response to overdevelopment, as well as are many fields of academic study. , traffic, pedestrian safety and the looming state budget crisis make up the majority of the campaign discourse in Glendale, where two incumbents will try to fend off Verb 1. fend off - prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening; "Let's avoid a confrontation"; "head off a confrontation"; "avert a strike" deflect, forefend, forfend, head off, avert, stave off, ward off, avoid, debar, obviate five challengers in the April 1 election. ``The budget is the issue that I'd be hammering at right now if I were running,'' said Councilman Dave Weaver, who is not facing election. ``Everything stems from the budget - everything stems from having enough money to do it.'' Councilman Gus Gomez, 40, a prosecutor with the state Attorney General's Office, and Mayor Rafi Manoukian Rafi Manoukian is a former member of the city council in Glendale, California. He was recently notified that he has been selected by the Board of Directors and the Selection Committee of the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO) as a recipient of the 2006 Ellis Island , 42, an accountant in Glendale, will face challengers from widely varied backgrounds. The challengers are John Robert Christopher, 51, a video editor; Rick Dinger Dinger can refer to:
n. A psychotherapist, usually a psychiatrist or a clinical psychologist, who is trained in psychoanalysis and employs its methods in treating emotional disorders. ; and Dave Wallis, 66, an electrical engineer. The top two vote-getters will take their seats on the City Council on April 14. The new council will have difficult budgetary issues to contend with, as state cuts are expected to be passed on to cities this summer, Weaver said. Gomez, who was elected to the City Council in 1999 and served as mayor from 2001 to 2002, wants to keep the council's focus on Glendale's general quality of life, by bolstering the police force, addressing traffic issues, and restricting overdevelopment. ``I have the most experience fighting crime out of any of the candidates, and I have experience passing a balanced budget Balanced budget A budget in which the income equals expenditure. See: budget. balanced budget A budget in which the expenditures incurred during a given period are matched by revenues. for the city,'' Gomez said. Gomez is endorsed by state Assemblyman as·sem·bly·man n. A man who is a member of a legislative assembly. assemblyman Noun pl -men a member of a legislative assembly Noun 1. Dario Frommer Dario Frommer (born October 22, 1963 in Long Beach, California) was a member of the California State Assembly from 2000 until 2006. He served as Majority Leader from 2004 until 2006. Frommer also served as Chair of the Health Committee. , U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff
Adam B. Schiff (born June 20 1960) is an American politician. He first served in the California State Senate. , state Sen. Jack Scott and Sheriff Lee Baca Leroy David Baca (b. May 27 1942, East Los Angeles, California) is the Sheriff of Los Angeles County, California. After graduating from Benjamin Franklin High School (Los Angeles) in 1960, Baca worked his way through East Los Angeles College before starting with the L.A. , along with the Glendale police and firefighters associations. Manoukian also has broad support from state officials, with endorsements from Frommer, Schiff, Scott and fellow councilmen Frank Quintero and Bob Yousefian. Manoukian's primary concern is balancing the budget, he said. On top of preparing for cuts to programs, Manoukian says that he will consider innovative ways to raise revenues. ``There's interest in letting the movie industry rent out the old jail Old Jail can refer to one of the following locations on the National Register of Historic Places:
Christopher wants to see sweeping changes within the city, including measures to stabilize rising rents, empower neighborhood councils Neighborhood councils are governmental or non-governmental bodies composed of local people who handle neighborhood problems. They can be found in many cities throughout the world. and improve traffic downtown. As the only Glendale tenant among the candidates, Christopher is also proposing that an average rent price be set, and that tax disincentives and incentives be imposed for landlords who charge over or under the city norm. ``We've got to grow up and be a big city. In the shadow of big brother Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. , it's hard to remember that we're actually a big city and we should act like one,'' Christopher said. Dinger - the youngest of the candidates - disagrees with Christopher on imposing any type of rent control. He would like to see Glendale's success flow from a flourishing economy, which he said has been stagnated by the current council. Realizing the proposed Town Center project would be among Dinger's top priorities. ``I'm pro-downtown development and it's imperative that we tie in a transportation component. ... I am completely opposed to rent control,'' Dinger said, adding that he opposed the Oakmont V development, which the city managed to block last year. Dinger is endorsed by the Glendale Association of Realtors, the Foothill Apartment Association and the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles. Miller agreed that increased business is essential to Glendale's success, and that the city must cooperate with local organizations in order to make it through the budget crisis. Miller would like to see the city stretch its funds further through partnerships with other city organizations, such as the joint city and school district Edison-Pacific project that Miller helped spearhead while working for the Department of Parks and Recreation. ``Everything is going to stem out of the economy,'' Miller said. ``We need to encourage our economic engine ... and do more partnerships within the city - that will make our tax dollars go further.'' Sussman - the top choice of the Glendale Tenants Association although she says she opposes rent control - wants to see the budget dealt with before moving forward with any other city issues. ``We need to revitalize re·vi·tal·ize tr.v. re·vi·tal·ized, re·vi·tal·iz·ing, re·vi·tal·iz·es To impart new life or vigor to: plans to revitalize inner-city neighborhoods; tried to revitalize a flagging economy. our downtown business and preserve our neighborhoods, but the immediate shadow is the budget. The budget needs to be dealt with because it is going to affect everything - it will affect whether the streets are cleaned,'' Sussman said. Sussman said that her professional experience with conflict resolution and critical debriefing de·brief·ing n. 1. The act or process of debriefing or of being debriefed. 2. The information imparted during the process of being debriefed. Noun 1. will make her a valuable member of the council during the budget crisis. Wallis wants to see Glendale keep its small-town feel and would like the city to limit development, including putting a halt to the proposed Town Center project. He would also like to see the city cut double utility taxation and rid itself of ``unnecessary and intrusive'' services in order to brace for budget cuts. ``If development proposed leads to more people in Glendale, then I don't want it,'' Wallis said. ``I don't see any sense in increasing population or spending public money where there are vacancies elsewhere and traffic congestion The condition of a network when there is not enough bandwidth to support the current traffic load. congestion - When the offered load of a data communication path exceeds the capacity. already. I'd rather plant grass there right now.'' THE CANDIDATES Gus Gomez Age: 40 Occupation: Deputy attorney general Experience: Gomez has served one term on the City Council, including one year as mayor. He has been a prosecutor for the district attorney's office for 10 years Residence: Gomez, his wife and daughter live in Glendale. Web site/email: www.GusIsForUs(at)aol.com Top issues: If re-elected, Gomez wants to focus on three related issues: preventing overdevelopment, maintaining public safety and improving Glendale's traffic. Rick Dinger Age: 36 Occupation: President and owner of an insurance company Experience: Dinger has operated Crescenta Valley The Crescenta Valley is a small inland valley in Los Angeles County, California. Its name derives from its crescent-like shape, with the convex portion facing roughly northeast and the concave portion southwest. Insurance since 1999. He was licensed in 1993. He is director of the Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Crescenta Valley Sheriff Support Group, and vice president of the Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena Insurance Association. Residence: Dinger lives in Crescenta Valley with his wife and twin sons. Web site/email: www.rickdinger.com Top issues: Dinger thinks Glendale needs fresh leadership, and someone to stimulate development in the downtown. The proposed Town Center - which he says should have been done long ago - should be the city's priority. John Robert Christopher Age: 51 Occupation: Video editor Experience: Christopher has worked as a theater manager, and a district manager for theaters. Residence: Glendale Web site/email: John-robert-christopher(at)hotmail.com Top issues: Christopher strongly supports measures to stabilize rents in Glendale. He also wants to see traffic re-engineered in downtown Glendale, turning some streets into one-ways to improve traffic flow. Carole Sussman Age: 57 Occupation: Psychotherapist psy·cho·ther·a·pist n. An individual, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychiatric nurse, or psychiatric social worker, who practices psychotherapy. ; owner of a counseling office Experience: Sussman has directed nonprofit organizations Nonprofit Organization An association that is given tax-free status. Donations to a non-profit organization are often tax deductible as well. Notes: Examples of non-profit organizations are charities, hospitals and schools. , served as president of the Glendale Homeowners Coordinating Council and been involved in conflict resolution and disaster mental health consulting. She was a founding member of VOICE, the community organization that helped secure the Oakmont V property. Residence: Glendale Web site/email: www.carole4council.org Top issues: Building the downtown while preserving Glendale neighborhoods are Sussman's primary concerns. First and foremost, she said, the city needs to figure out its budget and discuss long range financial plans. Rafi Manoukian Age: 42 Occupation: Accountant Experience: Current mayor of Glendale Residence: Glendale Web site/email: Rafi4council(at)hotmail.com Top issues: Manoukian opposes rent control and says the city needs to focus on the budget and amending the city charter. Larry Miller Age: 54 Occupation: Owns a Glendale flower shop Experience: Miller was employed by the Glendale Department of Parks and Recreation and is now chairman of the board for the Glendale YMCA YMCA in full Young Men's Christian Association Nonsectarian, nonpolitical Christian lay movement that aims to develop high standards of Christian character among its members. Residence: Gendale Web site/email: Larmil(at)att.net Top issues: Miller would like to see the city forge more relationships with other organizations within the city in order to stretch tax dollars. Dave Wallis Age: 66 Occupation: Businessman and registered engineer Experience: Wallis was an Air Force captain and has taken professional courses in management and team building Residence: Glendale Web site/email: www.wallisphd.com Top issues: Wallis wants to limit development in order to cut back on overpopulation overpopulation Situation in which the number of individuals of a given species exceeds the number that its environment can sustain. Possible consequences are environmental deterioration, impaired quality of life, and a population crash (sudden reduction in numbers caused by and traffic problems. He also opposes rent control and wants the city to cut unnecessary and intrusive services. CAPTION(S): 7 photos, box Photo: (1) GOMEZ (2) DINGER (3) CHRISTOPHER (4) SUSSMAN (5) MANOUKIAN (6) MILLER (7) WALLIS Box: THE CANDIDATES (see text) |
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