My 2024 Campaign Platform
With my candidacy now established for the November election, I am pleased to present my general platform for the campaign.
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.
Park Improvements
Coordinating with agencies to secure over $4M in park improvements to the Leroy Jackson Sports Complex. Making numerous improvements in parks and facilities city wide including shade at the Kerr-McGee Fields and Softball Fields, the upcoming improvements to the Skate Park, the WIFI initiative to bring internet access to our parks, and the wonderful revitalization of Pearson Park following the 2023 floods. Our parks are better then they have ever been and will be getting better throughout 2025. Read More
Ridgecrest Health Care
Advocating at all levels of government over the importance of healthcare to this community. Working with numerous agencies to craft solutions to ensure that Ridgecrest is moving toward a better level of care for our citizens. Read More
Ensuring Public Safety
Securing all aspects of public safety to ensure that the City of Ridgecrest has the best people, the best resources, and the best tools available to protect citizens and property. We have two new fire engines, ten new police vehicles, and our police force is nearly back to full strength.
Read MoreCommunication
Focusing on improving communication and implementing video, social media, and direct communication to both educate citizens and to assess their needs. Listening to our community and driving us forward in the use of technology Read More
Trash Service
The simple explanation is that the bi-weekly pick-up was an effort to keep the costs down for our citizens while bringing the city into compliance with Cal Recycle. SB1383 required that we add four stops for organics to the existing six stop trash route. Instead of raising the citizens bill to the 10 stops (as Kern County is proposing at a cost nearly $200 higher than the City of Ridgecrest annually), we opted for a strategy that would encourage the use of the recycling and organics containers and keep us at 8 stops. Remember each stop requires a truck, driver, and schedule which adds cost. We recognize how this is effecting citizens and continue to listen until the next contact negotiation period. If we attempt to return to weekly service at this time, the cost impact to citizens will be substantial. Read More
Rebuild Pinney Pool
Pressing City Staff and Vendors to ensure the groundbreaking of the new Pinney Pool in 2024 and completion in 2025. A project spin-up timeframe of less than two years! Breaking ground in August 2024! Read More