Riley Clark

By Riley Clark

candidate information

I am both fiscally and socially conservative, believing in limited government. I believe it is wrong for the government to tax the general public in order to support programs that do not directly benefit the general public.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: I earned a civil engineering degree from the University of North Dakota in 1980. From there I worked in the oil field industry, served as an officer in the US Air Force, and then practiced civil engineering in land development. While working as an engineer I enrolled in night school at the University of La Verne where I earned a law degree in 1998. I currently practice land use law and civil litigation while continuing to consult as an engineer.

GOALS FOR LAGUNA HILLS: As a member of the Laguna Hills City Council, I would like to accomplish: (1) improved traffic circulation; (2) enhancement of our neighborhoods through zoning and code enforcement; and (3) maintenance of the existing sound fiscal policies of the City.

Traffic flow can be improved on several levels, with varying costs and time frames. Initially, some intersections could be significantly improved through simple re-striping and signage (i.e., the El Toro/Carlota intersection near I-5). Another area of improvement would include minor traffic signal changes, such as allowing left turns without the left-turn arrow (i.e., on Cabot at the intersection with Valencia). A third area would be to synchronize traffic signals along major corridors (i.e., along La Paz, Moulton or Valencia).

Our neighborhoods have suffered from the increased traffic and parking congestion resulting from single-family homes being occupied by multiple families. This level of intensive use was not contemplated nor approved when our neighborhoods were proposed; it should not now be allowed. I believe this situation can be effectively remedied through enforcement of the original conditions of approval of the development in conjunction with zoning and code enforcement provisions.

The City presently lives within its means and retains a prudent surplus for unforeseen situations, while surrounding cities have deficits and cut backs. It is important to maintain these existing policies and not create programs or spend more than the City can support.