Keep Ramona the place we all live here for.

By Joe Oviatt

Open, honest, and fair representation. Keeping the rural, agricultural atmosphere with controlled and managed growth.

I am seeking a position on the RCPG because some Ramona residents, who I greatly respect, suggested that I do so. I feel there is a need for unbiased residents, with nothing to financially gain, to be a part of this advising body. I am retired and therefore do not work in Ramona, nor do I own a business nor any major property in Ramona; therefore I believe my decisions would be based upon what the majority of Ramonans would like to see happen in our community.

My goals would be to assure that the Ramona residents have an open, fair, empathetic group to whom they can voice opinions, and that these residents would have confidence in knowing that the RCPG had members who were listening to them and would fairly pass along the input received, without bias, to the County Board of Supervisors, who at this time, are the final authority and decision makers. I am not an active member of the Citizens For A Rural Ramona (C-FARR), but I agree with their concerns and I support their actions and their candidates.

I believe the critical issues facing us are how we manage and control the growth that is inevitable for Ramona. I am concerned that the major motivating factor now used in these decisions is not necessarily the will of a majority of the citizens living in our community. Yes, we will grow, but decisions regarding streets, zoning density, commercial business, etc. must all be weighed closely so that the growth allows us to maintain why most of us live here - a rural agricultural community atmosphere. I would solicit the input from all Ramona citizens and, no matter my personal feelings, I would try to represent those citizen's opinions fairly, openly, and honestly.