Candidate for
Member, City Council; City of Tustin

Anthony "Tony" Kawashima is a native Southern Californian and a 35-year resident of Orange County. In February 2000, Tony formed a committee to seek a seat on the City Council in the November 2000 election. His experience and commitment to Tustin as a planning commissioner, small business owner and volunteer make him a logical choice for one of three city council seats that will be open.

Tony's #1 priority is to look after the best interests of Tustin and it's citizens by protecting quality of life, property values and economic growth. Tony will bring strong, independent leadership based on building partnerships with government, community and business to find common sense solutions to local issues.

As a member of the city planning commission, Tony has helped many new businesses get established and expand. Former eyesores and vacant lots are now job-generating members of the Tustin community. Tony's hard work and fairness was recognized by the city council by his unanimous re-appointment in 1999.

The owner of a successful small business for over 23 years, Tony believes in the free enterprise system and will apply successful business principles to local government. He will use his experience to bring a "can-do" attitude to Tustin City Hall. As a City Councilman, Tony will be committed to:

· The integrity of the MCAS-Tustin re-use process. No land give-away to Santa Ana that would undermine Tustin's economic growth and bus over 4,000 SAUSD students into Tustin. · Working to make Old Town Tustin the destination point and centerpiece it deserves to be. · Giving higher priority to the senior center, library and unfinished parks. · No increased air traffic over Tustin. · Making sure our fire and police services have high morale through competitive pay, benefits and equipment.

Tony has been married for over 11 years and has two sons who attend Tustin Memorial Elementary School. The only announced candidate whose children attend public school, Tony is an active PTO member and has volunteered many hours to classroom activities. He has also been Tustin Memorial's science lab coordinator for the past three years. In 1999 the school district honored Tony for his outstanding volunteerism and contributions to his children's school. Tustin Ranch residents for more than 10 years, the Kawashimas attend Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Tustin.

A professional photographer since 1977, Tony's clients include many of Orange County's most respected businesses and organizations. Specializing in corporate photography, his work has been featured in ad campaigns, Web sites and calendars, as well as in collateral materials ranging from annual reports to newsletters. Tony has earned numerous awards and the respect of his clients; many of whom he has worked with for more than 20 years.

Three of Tony's grandparents immigrated to America in the early 20th century and worked as a migrant farmer, fisherman and housemaid, respectively. His Hawaiian-born maternal grandfather was a career army master sergeant who served in both World War I and II. Tony's father is a retired machinist and Korean War veteran who served in the elite 82nd Airborne. Despite a long family history of serving the United States, Tony's grandmothers and mother spent three years in an internment camp during the war.

A graduate of Marina High School in Huntington Beach, Tony was active in student government and a first-team, all-league tennis player. After receiving an A.A. degree from Golden West College, Tony then graduated with honors from California State University, Long Beach with a B.A. in Journalism and a minor in Anthropology.

Tony's campaign for councilman has received support from throughout Tustin, including small and large businesses, community leaders, and residents from many neighborhoods. Among those pledging their support are Mayor Pro Tem Tracy Worley, former Mayors Ursula Kennedy, Leslie Ann Pontious and Chuck Puckett, 5th District Supervisor Tom Wilson, Tustin school board member Jon Abelove, former Tustin school superintendent Dr. George Mannon, planning commission Chairman Steve Kozak, planning commissioners Cheryl Bell, Linda Jennings and Leslie Ann Pontious, seniors activist Margarete Thompson and community leader Erin Nielsen. Todd Nicholson, former CEO of the Orange County Business Council, is his key campaign advisor.