TORRANCE TRIBUNE April 10, 2014 Page 5 ELECTION 2014 City Council Candidates ` from page 4 Burkley & Brandlin LLP A T T O R N E Y S A T L AW Living Trusts/Wills, Probate, Employment Law, Personal Injury Trust and Estates Litigation, Business Litigation, Civil Litigation 310-540-6000 *AV Rated (Highest) Martindale - Hubbell / **Certified Specialist Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law, State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization I am proof positive that if you work hard in America that success is possible. You may have heard the term “academic entrepreneurialism.” I am the author of a study called “The Academic Entrepreneur” and it is based on my doctoral research. I am an academic entrepreneur who helps students transition into high paying careers and to higher institutions of learning. Kurt Weideman: Torrance has been my home for more than 40 years. My mother still owns the home I grew up in on Sonoma Street, I started Kindergarten at Madrona Elementary School. I remember when the current Del Amo Fashion Center was strawberry fields and the Madrona Marsh was wild, and undeveloped. My wife and I worked at Hi-Shear on Skypark Drive. We married in Torrance, bought a house, and raised and educated our four children here in Torrance. When our children were young, we were involved in PTA, Girl Scouts, Little League and the North High Kashiwa Student Exchange Program. We love going to the Armstrong Theatre for performances and the Torrance Farmer’s Market for vegetables. We have enjoyed the benefits of living in a diverse, balanced city, protected by one of the best Police and Fire departments in the US, for the 32 years we have been married. I have devoted time and effort to the community that has given so much to my family. In 1996, I was appointed by the City Council as the Torrance business representative to the local Workforce Investment Board. In 2002, I was named the first Chairman of the El Camino Bond Oversight Committee. Since my retirement in 2006, I have served as the President of the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation, and the Torrance Historical Society; I am a Board member of the Torrance Library Foundation and am member of many local non-profit organizations devoted to improving the quality of life in our community. In 2006, I was appointed to the Torrance Planning Commission, where I served until my appointment to the Torrance City Councilmember. 2. What inspires you/motivates you to serve the community? Heidi Ashcraft: My first involvement with volunteering in Torrance was with the organizations my children were in. I enjoyed meeting and working with the people. When an issue with curriculum in Torrance Unified School District came up, because of my involvement with schools, a group of parents encouraged me to run for a position on the School Board. I won the election, enjoyed serving and after that term ended I ran 2 more times, being elected to a total of 3 terms on the Torrance Board of Education. I did not seek a fourth term. I never planned to run for public office, it was a wonderful opportunity that just happened, and led to my involvement in so many other organizations. Being involved in the Torrance community is a natural part of my life and my husband’s life. My work at Ashcraft Design is part time so I am available to be involved in the city. I have been instrumental to numerous South Bay programs and have had the honor of serving as president or chair of many of them. I am driven by my love of the city and its people. The expertise I’ve honed from the many governance positions I’ve held has served me well on Torrance City Council thus far. Tim Goodrich: After returning from my deployments to the Middle East and seeing people living in real poverty and under dictatorship, I came home a changed man and resolved not to take life for granted. Ever since then, I’ve been involved. I also like to work to get more people involved and engaged in our community. We already have a great City, but we still need all the citizen input and ideas we can get in order to continually improve. Michael Griffiths: Answer not submitted by deadline. Milton Herring: My personal philosophy is that, ‘Service is the rent we pay for living in this great country’; to that end, I have given my entire adult life to public service. I have served as a Civil Servant with the Department of Veteran Affairs for 24 years and 28 years in the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army Reserves. I retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2009, my service in the Army included two 12 month tours in Kuwait and Iraq (2004-2005 and 2008-2009). I served as a member of the South Torrance Lions club, and I am a member of the Torrance Kiwanis club. I served on the board of directors for the South bay National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependency (NCADD) for eight years, and now I chairperson of a Preventive Community Council which focus on drug abuse among teens. I hold a doctors degree from California School of Ministry and I graduated from a military school, U.S.Army Command and General Staff College. As a Traffic Commissioner, I would consider it an honor to give back in a more responsive way to a City which has given so much to me and my family. Rahmat H. Khan: Answer not submitted by deadline. Leilani A. Kimmel-Dagostino: When I became a Registered Financial Consultant ten years ago, I became aware of the terrible fraud that was perpetrated on senior citizens in the financial services industry. I vowed to maintain a high standard of ethics and to only recommend appropriate products for my clients. It seemed like I could do more for this vulnerable group of citizens so seven years ago I took the Commissioner Training Certification class and six months later was appointed by the City Council to serve on the Commission on Aging. I was the Chair for 4 years and have been the Vice Chair for 2 years. During my tenure I have worked to continue funding for the Senior Tour Program and the Dial-A-Ride Taxi Program and coordinated with the Police Department in the presentation of Senior Scam Alerts. I believe in a safe and secure city so I took the Partners in Policing Class and volunteer to help the Torrance Police Department in traffic control, security, education, and outreach. I also do volunteer work with the Fire Department in publicizing earthquake preparedness. I attend the City Council meetings and every week and often bring issues to the attention of City Council for action. Ryan H. Mand: I am motivated to serve the community because of my mentor Randy Firestone. He is the Philosophy department head at El Camino College and his lectures inspired me to make a difference in the world. In accordance, I want to create the best future for Torrance residents. I am driven to save the planet from pollution and global warming. I am driven to reform pensions to keep our budget balanced. I am driven to improve our roads and traffic flow. Aurelio Mattucci: I am proud of the fact that I have no political ties. I have not asked, nor do I want, the endorsements of any past or current politicians. I feel Torrance needs a fresh start and we need to cut the chains that connect us to past and present administrations. Torrance needs a true Independent candidate, one that owes no favors to anyone. My loyalty is with the people of Torrance. I am inspired by the fact that in our country, the people have the power to move mountains. The city belongs to the people and if given the opportunity, I would love to be their voice on City Council. Come June 3rd, I invite you to a fresh start, no more politics as usual. Vote Aurelio Mattucci for Torrance City Council. Omar Navarro: I graduated from West High School in 2007, and then furthered my education at ITT Technical Institute where I received my BA in Criminal Justice and attained a certificate from USC in Information Security and a Certificate in Loss Prevention. I have worked for world-renowned technology companies such as Sony and Samsung. I have always had a passion for finding solutions to problems especially involving our city government. I have also worked for the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office assisting victims of crimes for the victim assistance program. Clint Andrew Paulson: I am not taking money from anybody in support of my campaign. Can any other candidate say the same? I am motivated to serve the community because I am concerned about the amount of money in Torrance politics. When I see Gerber ambulance and McCormick ambulance pouring money into this election, I worry that the next city emergency services contract will be based upon who gave the most money instead of who provides the best service. When I see a host of development companies giving money, I worry that the next development project will not be based on what’s best for Torrance. When I see Robinson helicopter giving money, I worry that residents concerns about noise pollution will never be addressed. I am also motivated to serve because I believe that wasteful spending by City Council has put us on the brink of financial insolvency. In 2013, Torrance City Council voted yes to all but one of approximately 500 motions. They have forgotten how to say “No” to wasteful spending. This spending included $4M dollars plus on an athletic field, and several millions on outside legal counsel and DC and Sacramento lobbyists. With ballooning pension costs, we can’t afford to be wasting taxpayer money. I won’t. Geoffrey Rizzo: Answer not submitted by deadline. Alex M. See: Torrance is a diverse city and has a well-balanced community. Community service is very important to my family and me and because of that I have always found ways to stay involved. I would like to volunteer my time and resources to be an integral part of the success of this community. I am confident that my unique cultural heritage and background will add a different perspective to examining city issues and solutions. Norm “Opa” Segal: My decision to run for City Council was made just 2 months ago. Until then I would have bet you that this is about the last thing I would ever do. Here is my story: My neighbors and my wife and I have had a problem on our street that has been festering for at least 10 years. There is a run-off from the hillside above us that causes a slippery condition on our street. A few of us appeared before the Council on several occasions and were able to convince the Council that this problem should be addressed and included in the following year’s budget. We explained the problem, demonstrated our logic and finally prevailed. It was a great experience at being involved with government in action. I realized that I have not served my country since being in the Army and that the Council would be the best way to be involved again. I have the time available and the accounting and business expertise to qualify for this important job. Thanks Neighbors Charlotte Ann Svolos: I am inspired to serve my community because I want every part of my life to be the beast that it can be. As scholarship and charity chair, I receive no greater satisfaction than the look in our young people’s faces when we hand them a check and say “we believe in your future.” Win or lose, I will be involved in my community because I believe that responsibility begins with choosing to act. I have friends ask me all the time why I do so much and stay so busy. My answer is posted on my personal Facebook page. What is of so little importance, that I can choose not to do it? The answer to that question is what every member of our community should be asking. We will be electing a majority of the city council this election. Make sure you elect the people who share your values and your vision for Torrance. I would be honored to receive one of your precious votes. I will not personally profit from this office because I don’t own a business and do not work for the city. My only interest is that I want a community that spends its resources on what the community wants. John Paul Tabakian: I am fighting to keep Torrance on the right path to prosperity, while keeping our small town feel. This requires sounding the alarm against the installation of parking meters. Torrance removed its parking meters from Old Torrance in 1960 and there is a possibility that they may return. You may have seen me walking around the city wearing an anti-parking meter shirt and hat while distributing my door hanger. Many believe that the issue only pertains to the business district of Old Torrance. I believe that the reintroduction of parking meters will spread to other parts of the city, including our parks. Imagine feeding a parking meter at Wilson Park $1.25 per hour, just like Redondo Beach. Torrance is one of the richest cities per capita in the state of California, yet there is consistent talk of bankruptcy and how it will affect “Generation X” and “Generation Millennium.” As one of the richest cities in the state, multiple interest groups are funding campaigns specifically to take control of our city. We are not a social experiment. Torrance is our home. I do not want my city to become another over-developed, over-taxed, under-serving community. Kurt Weideman: My family’s roots are in Torrance. This community has educated my family, protected them and provided essential services. The community has accepted me, embraced my family and given me a wonderful life. For these reasons, I have endeavored to contribute to this city that has meant so much to us. I believe that my involvement and history with the community, combined with my energy, enthusiasm and business skills are assets that will allow me to provide the leadership and continuity required as Torrance transitions from the stable current City leadership. Torrance is a great city; the outlook for the future is bright. We need the right leadership and experience in the coming years to flourish and grow into even a better City. Thank you Candidates! •
Torrance 04_10_14
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