Political Philosophy for Gary Thompson

Candidate for
Council Member; Proposed City of Rancho Santa Margarita

The primary issue that cannot be ignored during this final step to achieve cityhood for Rancho Santa Margarita is the establishment of the city itself. As this election involves election of the FIRST city council for a new city, a significant amount of detailed effort on the part of the elected city council will be required to ensure the city is ready to function on January 1, 2000. For cityhood to be successful, it is paramount that those candidates who possess the background and experience in guiding the cityhood effort through the governmental process, and have gained the understanding of the enormous complexity of this task, be elected.

There were three fundamental goals for incorporation that were established by the community and have been the cornerstone for the cityhood process- increasing law enforcement, constructing a regional inter-generational community center and maintaining economic viability for the new city. Providing additional youth activity opportunities, providing increased educational opportunities, resolving certain local traffic related issues and opposing a commercial airport at El Toro are also significant issues that are germane to the desires of the residents to pursue cityhood.

I am committed to ensuring a fiscally sound and responsibly managed, community oriented city, responsible to the residents and businesses to whom the city will serve. I adamantly oppose a commercial airport at El Toro. I support increased law enforcement and public safety, the construction of the regional inter-generational community center and providing additional avenues for youth activities. Other areas of concern that I will address are traffic circulation and safety issues throughout the new city that exist, but have never been considered priority issues for the county, and supporting efforts for increased educational opportunities for our current and future generations of residents.

And above all, my involvement in leading the 4 year cityhood process, working very closely with all local, county and state agencies and offices in developing, negotiating and promoting the concept of cityhood, the projected financial plan, the revenue neutrality agreement, the development of the fundamental cityhood goals, and having the direct historical working knowledge required to achieve those goals, places me in the best position to ensure that the transition to cityhood is a smooth process. The first city council has an enormous responsibility in establishing the new city, and unless those council members have been directly and intimately involved in the process, the road to cityhood could lead to disaster. Myself, along with the four other candidates who I have endorsed and am working together with as a team on this campaign- Carol Gamble, Neil Blais, Jim Thor and Debra Lewis, have the experience necessary to ensure success of the new City of Rancho Santa Margarita.

For additional info visit http://www.pacrsm.org