Candidate for
Council Member; City of Tustin

Stephen Melvin: "My platform"

The biggest challenge for any city in the US over the next few years will be safety. We need a plan for measures that will keep our families safe. We also need a local government that is open and accessible to the people. And we need to elect officials who are fiscally responsible, people who can creatively "think outside the box" in order to come up with new ways to generate revenue and preserve our services without imposing additional taxes or fees on our residents and businesses. I'd like to explain how I will deal with some of these issues:

1. Community Safety
2. Open and Accessible Government
3. Fiscal Responsibility

Community Safety The rules have changed # and we have to change with them. There is currently no one on our council, nor is there any other candidate in this race who has either a military or a community safety background. I have years of experience with Orange County Fire and with the Local Emergency Planning Committee. I keep people safe for a living. We need a plan to strengthen existing bonds and build new bonds between groups in our city. I will help implement the Citizens Corps program sponsored by President Bush so that we can help to keep our community safe.

I care about our families. I intend to work hard in order to make Tustin safer. The safety of you and your family must NEVER be taken lightly. We should make certain that at least one member of the team which will guide our City into the next generation has community safety experience.

Open and Accessible Government I believe in open and accessible government. I plan to hold regular town hall meetings where you can come and share your thoughts on our community. Your thoughts and opinions are important to me and I look forward to speaking with each one of you. As an elected official, I'll always remember that I am a servant of the people and that it is my job to serve you.

Fiscal Responsibility We have a responsibility as elected officials to treat every City penny as a public trust granted by the taxpayers. We need to determine which expenses are necessary and which are luxuries. We need to set priorities so that when times get hard, we know which expenses to cut first.

I am researching new sources of revenue such as public-private partnerships which will bring money into the town and supplement our ability to provide services without raising taxes. We need to protect our critical infrastructure by reinvesting in our community # but we need to do so responsibly. We need to make sure that the return on investment on any proposed City project is worth the expense. I will review projects to ensure that they will in fact provide an adequate return on our investment so that we can protect your tax dollars.

The City's money belongs to you. As an elected official, I will never forget that we need to spend your tax dollars wisely.