Where I stand

By Chrystal Coleman

Environment, Public Safety, Government Transparency

Let me be Chrystal Clear on the issues: My focuses and priorities include responsible spending, government transparency, responsible environmental decisions, bringing livable wage jobs to Vista, preserving Vista's unique heritage and looking out for our children and seniors.   This city matters to me. I have deep roots here and I want to see it thrive. Ensuring that the quality of life for Vista residents is protected and that the needs of the people are represented is my top priority. You can count on me to make responsible, careful decisions and to push back against special interests. As a councilwoman my goal will be to listen before I speak and to always act with integrity and transparency. It's that simple.

Let me be Chrystal Clear on transparency in government: In the past, we have not seen responsible spending within our local government. Where are our hard earned tax dollars going? We have a 50 million dollar city hall with marble tile and mahogany wood, yet our streets and neighborhoods have fallen into disrepair and our parks and community programs have suffered. There are ways to balance the budget that don't involve cutting funding for parks, schools and public services.  We can save money by rethinking our priorities and investing in sustainable solutions that take into consideration our future generations. Why not encourage public participation instead of engaging in closed door back room deals? Why not live stream and televise our meetings, and give people a chance to voice their opinions? Why not reach out to the people who live here to instead of hiding behind closed doors?

Let me be Chrystal Clear on the future of Vista: For too long the people representing us have been those who cannot relate to us. Like you, I can see that the political games that are being played in government are nothing more than "good ole boys club" distractions that block progress. I won't play games. It is time to put the people back in politics and focus on the things that bind us together, instead of those that tear us apart. Preserving our small town atmosphere, strengthening our locally owned businesses and attracting jobs that pay livable wages are what is important to our future. Business as usual is no longer working. In order to implement the changes that we want to see we may have to not only think outside of the box, but, in some cases, we may need to do away with the box entirely. Lets raise our expectations and dream big for our city. Let's look at what is working and do away with the things that aren't.

The choices that we make today not only affect us- but every generation after us and that is why we need to invest in our future by taking action today. Think globally, act locally.

This November I hope that the choice is Chrystal Clear and I ask that you vote for me, Chrystal Coleman