In 2020 when I ran for Mayor, I got involved because I feared the challenges the pandemic would have on our community. I felt a duty to ensure that our city leadership was focused on its citizens and not on themselves. I think our unified council and incredible city staff has accomplished that over the past four years.

In 2022, when I ran for re-election, I committed to the mission of improving the Quality of Life for our citizens. This was going to come with difficult interruptions to our daily life (aka Carmagedon) but investing in our community was not just overdue but desperately in need. Again, the vast number of projects our City has been working on is testament to the success we have had over the past two years.

My platform in 2024 is not that different but I have a few new areas I hope that we can explore.  

First, public safety must remain our TOP priority. Regulations and decisions at the state legislative level have continued to place our local community at risk. We have not yet turned the corner in which lawmakers in Sacramento are willing to accept that “soft” crime policies are hurting the citizens of California. This is why it is more important than ever to recruit and retain the dedicated men and women who protect our lives and our property. We must renew Measure V and ensure that our police force is well-manned, capable of swift response, and that safety within our city remains our top priority. This effort needs to include an examination on implementing body cameras for our officers to protect both the officer and the citizen.

Second, we need to continue to build a community which supports the growing diversity and demographics of Ridgecrest. Our community is growing. We have new families, new businesses, and new needs to be addressed. Improving the quality of life means continuing our investment in our local parks. The efforts currently underway represent only about half of the projects we have been working on to bring to our citizens. Our community pool is now underway in its rebuilding process and the work being done in Leroy Jackson will transform that facility. Yet it is the small things like the new bathroom for the Softball fields, the shade structure over Kerr-McGee Fields, and the new grass in Pearson Park which really life the quality of life for our citizens. We have done a lot but so much more is still needed. It remains my firm commitment to see an “inclusive” playground installed at Freedom Park as no child should be prevented from access to community resources due to a disability or special need.

Third, I want to continue to build on the successful expansion of our communication platform. In the past four years, we have engaged so many citizens through these new channels. Our neighbors, our co-workers, and our youth are all finally engaging in constructive communication about the needs of our community. Our community events are bringing neighbors, co-workers, and new friends together in a way our community has not seen in years. We must continue this effort to promote our community and further or recruitment and retention efforts.

Fourth, continuing to repair, restoring, and enhancing the city infrastructure needs to remain a priority. We have made incredible strides over the past two years with extensive street repairs, new internet infrastructure, and continued advancements in our abilities to respond and repair community needs. We need to continue and expand these efforts. The list of projects is daunting: Waster Water Plant, Curb/Gutter/Lighting in Ridgecrest Heights, ADA curb and gutters, and continued street rehabilitation and repair. Investment in our infrastructure is investment in the future of this community.

Finally, I fully support the renewal of Measure V. This measure has demonstrated to not only be a critical need but also the most effective way for Ridgecrest to take control of its own future. Ensuring that Sacramento or Bakersfield cannot further tax our citizens for efforts which do not support our citizens is critically important. We have control of our own destiny and we must continue that going forward. The loss of this revenue would be devastating to both public safety and our infrastructure efforts. This measure continues our commitment as citizens to ensuring that public safety is protected, roads continue to be repaired, and that the resources needed and desired by our citizens are provided.

Above all it has been my honor to serve as Mayor for the past four years and I hope you have been pleased with my efforts and support my re-election.