Candidate for
Council Member; City of Chula Vista; Seat 2

1. What qualifies to represent 250,000 Chula Vista residents?

2. What should Chula Vista do about the increasing number of homeless in the city?

3. Should the city of Chula Vista spearhead effort to unify governing school boards in South County (Sweetwater and Chula Vista)

4. How do you increase revenue for city of Chula Vista?

5. What issues need immediate attention

Dan Smith for City Council, Seat 2 2014

1. With my wife, Layla Villegas Smith, I live and successfully run a real business here. For a decade, we have been involved in parent teacher groups, organizing educational fund-raising, volunteering in community clean up, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, to name a few. With a degree in Economics I automatically run cost-benefit analysis to problems. With my law practice I understand the issues - when to fight a problem and how to fix the others with legal solutions. Chula Vista City Council needs businessman that runs a real business dealing with real problems with the experience and education to lead.

2. I noticed the disproportionate number of parolees walking by my office on the Third Ave. Central corridor. I investigated. J.Keifer, Supervising Probation Officer emailed me. Mr. Smith... "As for the offenders returning from state prison being supervised by state parole, my understanding is that the only parole office is the one you mentioned in Chula Vista." I was outraged My answer is to move the parole office to an industrial area where vocational training and jobs, such as NASSCO are nearby. Who ignored the County dumping on us? Where was Chula Vista City Council?

3. I am opposed to unifying governing school boards until the Sweetwater District is cleaned up. Not just the shameful "so called prosecution" of the indicted , but the culture of "mordida" as they call it South of the border. We have to examine the relationships between the jobs the trustees have and the potential for the lure of impropriety, bribery, and nepotism. Then we must change the rules to limit the temptation to be the queen or king of the contracts awarded.

4. You increase revenue for the city of Chula Vista by increasing sales. Make the city business friendly and remind people that everything you need is here. Recently there was an attack by code enforcement on signs of businesses on Third Avenue and elsewhere. I was told my "additional parking in rear" needed a permit when specifically excluded in the ordinance. The sign ordinance is poorly written and capriciously enforced. Read it. My point is that the city does not make money on "for lease" signs. Chula Vista businesses need signs to attract friendly business.

5. Immediate attention should always be to anticipate potential problems with public safety, fire protection, city infrastructure and city employees. If you see a problem developing, do not sit on your hands. The Bayfront Development needs to start asap. The residents have spoken in Prop 8, now let's get started. Soon the 905 will connect with the SR125, so how will that affect us? And, we cannot ignore the need for a four-year university close to the Olympic Training Center. We have the potential to be the Boulder, Colorado of San Diego.