Ralph G. Baker Jr., camdidate for the Fullerton City Council

By Ralph G. Baker, Jr.

Candidate Statement

I have been a resident of California since 1955 and Fullerton since 1988. I have been involved in politics since 1966 and started attending the meetings of the Fullerton City Council in 1998. I became a member of the Fullerton Chamber of Commerce and graduated from CSUF in 2006. I am against the new jail project and the tax increase that would come with. I want to select your new Police Chief next year. I want to restore the finances of our city government. I want to restore the Fox Theater, save as much of the Coyote Hills property as possible, and I support the Fullerton Police Officers Association.
I first heard about the new jail project in 2000 and six years ago it would only cost the taxpayers $3 million. Now the project will cost at least $7 million and our city government could not spare $90,000 to help out Adult Education. I see no need for a new jail in Fullerton and even if we did need it, then the price of $7 million is too high. The Utility Tax would be chump change compared to the tax that would be needed. I am against the new jail project and the tax increase that goes with it.
If elected I would have the honor of selecting your new Police Chief in 2007. I was raised as an old-fashioned conservative Republican and have always given law enforcement the fullest support. I have never been against collective bargaining for the Fullerton Police Officers Association. I have never been against hiring more police officers. I think that hiring police officers and Firefighters is a good long term investment.
Our city government has been turning one organization after another empty handed for at least a year. Is our city government flat broke? I say let our city council stop acting like it is broke. Our city council can at least vote to pass a resolution that will encourage our citizens to give generously to the worthy organizations in our community.
Recently, the wax museum in Buena Park has closed down. Now the need for quality entertainment in Fullerton is even greater. My solution is the Fullerton Entertainment Committee. The goal is to promote the Fox Theater restoration, help the Fullerton Civic Light Opera Company, and other ventures that will give the people of Fullerton quality entertainment. The committee will have five volunteers who live in Fullerton who will search for opportunities to improve the entertainment available to people in Fullerton.
A vote for Baker is a vote for a new city council with new leadership. Your vote in November will give you no new jail and no new taxes with it. A vote for Baker is a vote for a new Police Chief who you can be proud of. Your vote in November will restore the finances of our city government. Worthy organizations will not be turned away empty handed by our city council. A vote for Baker is a vote for a new Fullerton Entertainment Committee that will promote quality entertainment in our community.