Candidate for
Mayor; City of Riverbank

Greeting Hello, my name is Chris Crifasi and I would like to thank you for your interest in my campaign to be re-elected as Riverbank's Mayor.

Family My wife, Becky, and I have made Riverbank our home for the past nine years. I was born and raised in Modesto and have lived in this area all of my life. We certainly have enjoyed raising our twin boys here for the past three years.

Education/Experience I am a graduate of CSU Stanislaus with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance. I worked for 10 years as the Manager of Accounting for a local privately-held company before leaving to pursue additional experience in order to become a Certified Public Accountant. I am currently employed as a Tax Manager with Grimbleby Coleman CPAs in Modesto and pursuing my Master's Degree in Taxation.

I have truly enjoyed serving as Riverbank's Mayor for the past four years.

My Priorities I am running for re-election for the sole purpose of ensuring that the projects that were of great importance to me and the citizens of Riverbank over the past four years are seen through to completion with the best possible result.

I have listened to your concerns and your concerns are my concern.

Growth

You want smart, planned growth. The City of Riverbank Community Development Department will take on the task, once our General Plan is adopted, of taking that General Plan and creating smaller specific plans that will define (specifically) growth for Riverbank. In addition to controlling growth it will provide the opportunity to run scenarios to see if the projected growth will pay for itself.

Economic Development

Downtown, Four years ago I stated that Downtown Riverbank was the heart and soul of the City. Well, we've followed through and are following through on that vision. With the successful creation of the RDA we have channeled large amounts of dollars into the downtown to recreate the downtown infrastructure ahead of our plan to create a marketing plan to draw customers and businesses back downtown. One of the first steps that we have just undertaken is to light up the entire downtown with free WiFi coverage.

Jobs creation

Our residents need good paying jobs and benefits that will support a family. We are thrilled with the jobs and opportunities created by the Crossroads Commercial Center but we also need to provide job opportunities to our residents with special skills. The city is on the verge of acquiring the Army Ammunition Plant from the Army and the Federal Government. We have just submitted a bold reuse plan to the Army and are awaiting their review. I foresee the new Riverbank Industrial Complex as an incubator for businesses to co-create and grow with assistance from the City of Riverbank and each other. Currently there are ten businesses (aside from NI's ammunition activity)that are set to expand and grow. That growth coupled with the city's new "green industrial park" could provide the city with close to 500 jobs in the near term and potentially double that number in the few years to come.

Financial Responsibility

With the decline in the economic markets everyone is in for a bit of a bumpy ride in the coming year or two. It is vital that the person at the helm of the governing body of the city has a financial background. I have been in the accounting profession for nearly twenty years and have had oversight over dozens of companies' books. The main difficulty for the City Council and their required oversight of the city's books is time. We all have full time jobs and it is difficult to find the time to keep our finger on the pulse of every detail of every transaction that passes through the city. That is why I am working closely with the city's auditors and the city's Finance Director to put measures in place that are "outside of the box" in order to make it easier for the Council to be accurately informed and fulfill our fiduciary duty to the residents of Riverbank.

Thank you for your interest in my campaign and your support in helping me get my message out to the public.

If you have questions or comments please visit me at my website http://chriscrifasi.blogspot.com

Chris Crifasi, CPA Candidate for Re-election to the post of Mayor of Riverbank