Candidate for
Council Member; City of Mission Viejo

Trish Kelley was elected to serve as a member of the Mission Viejo City Council in November 2002. She currently serves as Mayor, and was also elected by her colleagues as Mayor in 2005 and 2008. Results matter, and Trish has fulfilled every campaign promise and has a solid record of achievements over the past 7 years.

Trish believes that quality of life, public safety, and transportation are the primary concerns of our residents, and she works hard to preserve and enhance those areas. In addition, the past two years have presented a significant challenge as the State and Nation have reeled under the recession, but Trish has helped to lead the City safely through the stormy economic downturn, and the budget will continue to be her main focus in the coming months.

Fortunately, Trish had worked with her City Council colleagues and city staff to pre-position the City to handle the economic downturn. While many cities and agencies are struggling painfully under the current recession, Mission Viejo's strong reserves and sound financial practices have protected the City. We have been successful in matching revenue declines with budget cuts. In the past 2 years, the Council cut municipal expenses by over $5 million, reduced staff, and required employees to contribute to their retirement. In addition, Trish took the lead on correcting the unsustainable pension plan which was put into place by a prior Council, as she introduced pension reform for future City employees. Mission Viejo has maintained a general fund reserve of over 50% of our general fund revenues. It is noteworthy that the City has received a AAA bond rating; one of only 25 cities out of 480 in the State to achieve this rating!

In addition to safeguarding the City budget through the economic storm, Trish has worked hard to preserve and enhance quality of life, public safety, and transportation in Mission Viejo. Mission Viejo has received recognition as the safest city in California each year since Trish was elected, crime statistics and traffic collisions have gone down, and School Resource Officers have been provided to our high schools and middle schools. Alicia Parkway has been widened, lanes have been added to Crown Valley Parkway, and the Oso/Marguerite intersection expansion is currently underway. Trish initiated and helped to develop our Dial-a-Taxi senior transportation program.

Our recreation centers, parks, and facilities and programs for children and families have been a priority for Trish. She advanced the expansion and renovation of the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center, the renovations of Montanoso and Sierra Recreation Centers, and expanded hours for the library. Trish has supported the Kids' Factory program, shade structures for Little League field bleachers, and enhanced park facilities. She led the effort to establish Mission Viejo as a Community of Character, and helped to write and develop the program, which won the prestigious League of California State Cities Helen Putnam Award of Excellence.

Mayor Kelley believes it is important that the City of Mission Viejo is well-represented in the region. She is the City's representative for the Orange County Fire Authority Board of Directors, and is the Chairman of the OCFA Budget and Finance Committee. She is the City's representative on the Boards of Directors for the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency and the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency. In addition, she serves on the Southern California Association of Governments Transportation Committee and the Orange County Parks Commission.

Trish has been a resident of Mission Viejo since 1977. Mission Viejo became her home when her husband, Jack, was assigned as a USMC pilot to the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. The Kelleys raised their three children here, and all were active in youth sports and activities in Mission Viejo and attended schools in the Capistrano Unified School District.

Trish has been volunteering in the community for over 30 years. She has served as PTA President at Capistrano Valley High School, Newhart Middle School, and Viejo Elementary School. Trish has also been a Girl Scout Leader, a volunteer with many youth sports teams, and has served at her church, Grace Community. Trish has been the Team Captain of Kelley's Heroes for the American Cancer Society's Mission Viejo Relay for Life since 2003. She serves on the Southern California Army Advisory Council, the Trauma Intervention Program Advisory Council, the Capistrano Valley High School PTSA Board, the Saddleback College Foundation Board of Governors, the Saddleback College Veterans' Memorial Advisory Council, and she volunteers with Fun With Chalk. Mayor Kelley is also an active volunteer on the City's Community of Character Committee, the program which she helped to create.

Trish has a solid record of results and promises kept!