Why vote for Sandra Benitez as Mayor of Riverbank?

By Sandra Benitez

I will continue the positive trend that is now being experienced in Riverbank.

Riverbank is better now that it was four or five years ago. The business community is continuing to grow. Housing is also on the rise. This past year our property values in Riverbank have risen seven (7) per cent. I want this positive type of action to continue. We are making drastic improvements in our waste water treatment facility. This is the first time in many years that the WWTF has had major improvements. I realize that the rate for the sewer was increased, but for the first time ever the home owners did not have to bear the cost. The fee schedule was structured so that the ones that use the most water pay the higher rate. This increase is being set aside in a special account for future repairs and improvements.

I believe the City of Riverbank should have well paid employees. For the first time we have a staff of professional and competent people. We have a bi-lingual employee that is helpful for our Spanish speaking friends. We have employees that are capable of writing for grants. Grants are quality of life improvements. We have been awared a grant to build a Compressed Natural Gas Station. We will also receive grant monies to purchase CNG vehicles. Riverbank will be doing something to help clean the air by utilizing these grants. We also will be planting 700 trees throughout Riverbank because of a grant we received from the Forestry Service. We have grants that help first time home buyers with down payments on new homes. Grants to rehabilitate older homes, with options on how and when to pay the loan. This is rather new to the city and I want to see this type of work continue in Riverbank. We also received a grant to rehabilitate Jacob Meyers Park. This will make the park more appealing to families for outings with their children. I have voted for these grants because I feel that we in Riverbank deserve all the improvements we can possibily make.

I have a vision for Riverbank. We should have a child development center/child care facility in our city. We also need a teen center, a senior center and a skate park. I will work with the city employees and other agencies to make this vision come true.

I have lived in Riverbank 35 years. My husband, Art, is a native of Riverbank. I am from Modesto, but will always call Riverbank my home! I serve on the ROTA executive board and I am one of the orginal board members. I am on the executive board of the Healthy Start at Rio Altura School. I believe every school campus in Riverbank should have a Healty Start Program. I am a member of the Riverbank Federated Woman's Club and serve the executive board as second vice president. I've held this office for two years. I belong to the Latinos Mujueres. I attend and support the anti-graffiti/anti-vandelism committee in Riverbank. One of our duties is to go to the school and teach the students the reasons not to vandelize or graffiti property that does not belong to them. I teach a religous class at my church. I volunteer for the Rotary Read-in each year. I helped raise the money needed to rebuild our community swimming pool by accepting the challenge of being the chairperson of the committee.

I really care about the city and will continue to be an advocate for Riverbank and her residents. I believe I am one of hardest working Mayors this fine city has ever known.

Please vote for me, Sandra Benitez. Thank you!