Candidate for
Mayor; City of Grover Beach

VOTE YES ON MEASURE I-12

I believe converting the Grover Beach form of government from a General Law to a "Home Rule" Charter City will give citizens greater control over municipal affairs, improve the City's efficiency and preserve and protect local dollars. Currently the City derives its ability to operate from a constitution that is dependent on State law. As a Charter City a locally drafted charter approved by the voters becomes their constitution.

In recent years the State has raided City funds on numerous occasions, taking millions of dollars without repayment. Even so, we have continued to balance our own budget. The City operates under State Law. Our Charter would provide some protection from state raids on our funds. Changes to the charter can only be made by going to a vote of the people.

The City Council carefully developed a charter that would provide the greatest benefits for the City's residents. The Charter will:

Reduce Sacramento control over local affairs
Provide greater protection from State revenue grabs
Provide greater protection from State unfunded mandates
Promote the use of local business and support Economic Development
Enable the City to establish local purchasing and bidding procedures
Establish a 6 month residency requirement for Council candidates
Allow the City to exempt itself from prevailing wage requirements for local projects funded by City generated dollars
Support use of volunteers in municipal projects

The Charter does not change:

Council Member compensation
The election process or procedure
Term Limits
Current taxing authority or create taxes

The Charter will help keep the State out of local affairs and will allow for more cost effective and efficient operation of the City. Savings from local purchasing and bidding procedures along with the easing of prevailing wage requirements will provide more funds to preserve services and complete more projects.

Please vote. Make Grover Beach a Charter City.

A 'Yes' Vote on Measure I-12 is about local people using local dollars hiring local workers and companies to complete local projects. The Charter, or City Constitution, allows Grover Beach the flexibility to set local standards and procedures for the bidding and awarding of City public works contracts.

Becoming a Charter City will not eliminate the competitive bidding process. Public works projects will continue to come before the City Council for public hearings prior to the awarding of contracts.

The City, under the Charter will continue to uphold a fair, open and transparent government. The Charter allows the Council to be more accountable and do more with your tax dollars.

Vote Yes on Measure I-12 to take control of your local tax dollars and protect your best interests."