Colin Parent
Tell us about yourself, work that you have done in the City Council and/or community and why you are running for City Council.
I am an East County native, and a graduate of Fuerte Elementary and Valhalla High School. My first job was with the East County Economic Development Council on La Mesa Blvd., just a few blocks from where I live today.
Colin Parent
Tell us about yourself, work that you have done in the City Council and/or community and why you are running for City Council.
I am an East County native, and a graduate of Fuerte Elementary and Valhalla High School. My first job was with the East County Economic Development Council on La Mesa Blvd., just a few blocks from where I live today.
I am an attorney by training, and I began my career working for DLA Piper, one of the largest and oldest private law firms in the region. I represented large local companies including Qualcomm.
For two years, I served in Governor Jerry Brown’s administration working on economic development policy. Now, I work at Circulate San Diego, advocating for public transit and safe, walkable streets. Last year I co-founded La Mesa Conversations, a civic engagement organization where La Mesans can discuss issues of public concern.
La Mesa needs a vigorous council that works hard for our residents. La Mesans adopted term limits two years ago, but they do not apply retroactively. We need to elect new members to the Council to see change at City Hall. I am also proud to have the endorsement of the Heartland Firefighters of La Mesa.
I am the only Democrat in the race for City Council. La Mesa hasn’t had an elected Democrat since the 1990’s. It’s time to bring some ideological diversity to our city government.
What are your three top priorities for La Mesa if elected?
Strong Public Safety – Crime is up in La Mesa. The Chief of Police reported in August that we experienced a 30 percent increase in both robberies and in violent crimes over just one year. We need to fix the retention issues in the Police Department to ensure our officers focus on policing, not training new recruits.
Fixing our retention issues will require more competitive benefits for our police. La Mesa has historically been on the low end of police pay for the region. We should also negotiate longer contracts with the Police Officers Association. That will give more certainty for officers, especially those just starting out their careers. The same-old two-year contracts preferred by the current council are insufficient.
Enhance our Quality of Life – La Mesa should strongly support the creation of a new business association to revitalize our downtown. Older businesses and new entrepreneurs need support to thrive. We need to save traditions like Oktoberfest, to promote La Mesa for all.
We can reduce traffic congestion by investing in road repair, signal technology, and transit and bicycle infrastructure. La Mesa’s current plan for traffic calming aims to address one seventh of the city each year. A better approach would be to prioritize street safety treatments around schools, and around intersections where data shows that injuries are occurring. A data-driven approach can help make our streets safer, and save lives.
Open Government – La Mesa recently hired a city manager without any public process. That was the wrong approach. The person hired will likely do a good job, but it is unfortunate that hiring process was not informed by any public input. Government must be accountable, and if I am elected, the council will not make important decisions behind closed doors.
With current budget still being an issue, what steps would you take to ensure that La Mesa retains a balanced budget and reserves?
La Mesa should continue to pay down its pension debts. Retiree security is a moral obligation between government and its employees. We also have a duty to taxpayers to ensure that responsibility is maintained consistently and is not deferred into future generations.
The City of La Mesa should also focus on developing our economy to generate both local jobs and local revenues. The recent change in management for Grossmont Center presents an opportunity to enhance a treasured asset, one that already generates large tax revenues for the general fund. We should also attract more restaurants and entertainment destinations into the Downtown Village to keep our dollars local, and to attract patrons from throughout East County.
Where do you stand on Measure U and if California Proposition 64, Marijuana Legalization passes what steps would you take to allow or disallow sales of marijuana in La Mesa?
The City of La Mesa has been asleep at the wheel for marijuana enforcement. Anyone driving down University Avenue can see the scourge of unregulated dispensaries. Many of these underground shops operate 24 hours a day, disrupting nearby neighborhoods. Making matters worse, many are clustered in close proximity to Helix High School.
These dispensaries are hiding in plain sight, many of which are advertised in the Reader. The City Council in La Mesa is pretending these dispensaries do not exist, pointing to a blanket ban. But the ban means nothing after years of no enforcement. Other cities in the region have shut down illegal dispensaries, reporting costs at about $10,000 per shop in legal fees and expenses. La Mesa should wake up and begin the process to shut down these illegal operators.
Measure U provides a new set of regulations that will limit where medical dispensaries can operate, forcing them away from neighborhoods and schools, and into industrial areas. It will also require operators to close by 9 PM, and to hire security. I support this measure because it will force the Council to reckon with its failed policy, and provide opportunities for people to access dispensaries only when they actually need them for medical purposes.
If proposition 64 passes, La Mesa will not be required to allow the sale of recreational marijuana. I do not believe that La Mesa should allow for recreational sales. Instead, we should focus on enforcing our rules, and limiting sales to dispensaries where clients have actual medical needs.
Free Zone
As a councilmember, I will be open and available to residents.
Residents can visit www.colinparent.org, email me at colin@colinparent.org, or call my personal cell phone at (619) 567-6856.
Kristine Alessio
Tell us about yourself, work that you have done in the City Council and/or community and why you are running for City Council.
I’m a 24-year La Mesa resident, a Mom to a high school student and the second La Mesa born person to be elected to the Council (the first was our Mayor Mark Arapostathis). My professional background is law, working in the realm of land use. Prior to my election four years ago, I was a member of the City’s Planning Commission for ten years, as well as volunteer for the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center. Since taking office, I have worked to increase government transparency via the Open Gov system, increased fiscal stability with our reserves now being increased from 36 percent in 2012 to 60 percent in 2016, we’ve created a new award winning Urban Trails program, and have kept community events such as the Oktoberfest and Flag Day Parade going, brought free parking to the Downtown Village during our construction project and have made policy decisions to increase pet adoptions from our local shelter. As a community member, I have served on the Lemon Avenue PTA, the Boards of Directors of both the East County YMCA and the Boys & Girls Clubs of East County, I’m a long time donor to the Grossmont Cuyamaca College Foundation and a donor to the East County Boys & Girls Club’s Brady Family Clubhouse which will be constructed soon near La Mesa Arts Academy and serve the youth of our community who are in need. I am running for re-election as I believe that public service is an important calling and the everyday person, not a polished politician, should be involved in their community and give back though service. Even before I was elected to the Council, service to our community has been paramount for me and this is an extension of that commitment to La Mesans.
What are your three top priorities for La Mesa if elected?
Continue to pay down our unfunded pension liability so that we are never faced with bankruptcy like other small California cities have declared.
Continue to ensure our public safety personnel are fairly compensated so that they can provide the best service possible to our residents.
Continue to improve our streets and roads to create safe neighborhoods for our residents to drive, walk and bike.
With current budget still being an issue, what steps would you take to ensure that La Mesa retains a balanced budget and reserves?
The key to maintaining reserves is a strong revenue source. The single largest percentage of our revenue comes from sales tax and property tax. Encouraging businesses to come to La Mesa, keeping La Mesa on the radar screen of potential investors, whether they be businesses or homeowners is the key to La Mesa’s financial health. As noted before under my leadership our reserves are up significantly and we have taken steps to pay down our unfunded pension liability. We also must reserve any possible future taxing authority to La Mesa, not the County of San Diego; otherwise we will be faced with a situation where we are legally unable to raise revenue in the event of an emergency. The City Council and City staff has streamlined our operations to control spending and we will continue to do so.
Where do you stand on Measure U and if California Proposition 64, Marijuana Legalization passes what steps would you take to allow or disallow sales of marijuana in La Mesa?
As the mother of a teenager, I have seen the negatives associated with marijuana use as it affects our kids. In the City, dispensing, cultivating and delivering medical marijuana have been associated with severe adverse impacts affecting our neighborhoods such as crime and blight. These adverse impacts have resulted in numerous citizen complaints and police responses, which drain City resources that would be better spent on civic purposes. I am not against legitimate medical use of marijuana but I am opposed to Prop U. Medical marijuana should be dispensed in a pharmacy like every other federally regulated drug. If Prop 64 passes, La Mesa needs to take measures to control the where and when of the sales and use. That means restricting locations of sales and also restricting use in public places, much as we do with alcohol and cigarettes.
Free Zone
I am your neighbor, have been so for many years and am invested in La Mesa. Your needs and concerns are my needs and concerns. I am your voice at City Hall no matter your political party, age, gender, I don’t have big out of town money and a fancy campaign but I am committed to you and only you, no politics, no gimmicks and no special interests. Shop local, dine local and vote local! www.votealessio2016.com or call me 619-806-4058.
Ruth Sterling
Tell us about yourself, work that you have done in the City Council and/or community and why you are running for City Council.
Councilmember Ruth Sterling is a native of San Diego and lived in the City of La Mesa (1963) more than 50 years. She is a graduate of Mesa College Nursing Program, and named “Outstanding Student.” Ruth retired her License in Vocational Nursing and continued with her political commitment. During this she raised four very young daughters single-handedly.
Ruth is blessed with a natural compassion for people and wanted to expand this nurturing gift through the medium of public service. Elected to the La Mesa City Council in 1992, now serving her sixth term in office. Through a rare combination of punctuality, persistence and persuasion, she created and implemented the passage of initiatives that serve people of all ages in constructive, progressive ways.
In response to a residents concern with the general condition of the area Ruth responded with initiating a cleanup effort, “Adopt-A-Block” Community Volunteer Program. This wonderful program has been implemented and the area is free of litter with volunteerism and civic pride on the move.
Working with the residents Ruth received a unanimous vote to designate the vacant County owned land at the intersection of Waite and Murray Hill Road for a future municipal five-acre park in the City General Plan. There will be a La Mesa Park on this site. Ruth has worked with two groups to enhance “Pocket Parks” in their neighborhoods to improve landscaping and provide a larger area to develop a neighborhood park. She financed tables and benches for the area from her City Council expense account.
Sterling worked with the residents of Prospect Street to completely update and renew landscaping in the historic, Lookout Park, and they said, “It couldn’t be done.”
Sterling was involved in the successful tree plantings in the Rosebud Lane neighborhood, working with the owner/residents and SDG&E.
Sterling is an innovator of programs for youth, including establishing a Trust Fund for free golf lessons. This was a community children’s contest where the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place contenders were provided and awarded by Ruth, a U.S. Savings Bond.
Sterling brought “Chess- In-The -Schools Program” to La Mesa schools. Taking part in a chess program develops logic, reasoning and problem solving abilities, memory, concentration and much more. Results are completely due to a child’s own abilities and efforts and a player must take responsibility for their own actions. Ruth initiated and implemented the new “Kids Paint -A-Tile Project.”
Sterling conceived the first East County Human Services Resource Directory. Utilizing Grossmont High School students, a Directory was constructed on the schools website, the first on the Internet and is continuously updated.
Sterling’s “Walkway of the Stars” Program recognizes each volunteer who contributed 10,000 hours with a permanent star in the La Mesa Boulevard/Allison Avenue walkway.
With vision and commitment of Sterling, La Mesa inaugurated its first annual Patriotic Flag Day Parade. On that same morning Ruth presented the first official La Mesa City flag to the mayor and presented the official marching flag to the Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol Color Guard.
The Heartland Viet Nam War Memorial was originally dedicated on Flag Day, during the war. She asked that the Heartland Viet Nam War Memorial be researched for any names missing since the ending of the Viet Nam War. The patriotic reverence of the first Flag Day Parade provided the ideal occasion for the rededication of the Heartland Viet Nam War Memorial.
The Exchange Club of La Mesa honored Ruth with their 2001 “Proudly We Hail” Award and their 2001 “Community Caring” Award.
Ruth joins Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, Carnation Chapter 3, to toss a wreath out to sea in memory of Dec. 7, 1941 every year since elected. The Association unanimously approved Sterling to be an Honorary Member. La Mesa Woman’s Club unanimously distinguished Ruth as their “Woman of the Year” 2002. She was again honored at the La Mesa Soroptimist International, “Women of Distinction.” Ruth was a member of the San Diego County Veteran of the Year 2003 Committee and nominated “Veteran of the Year”, Frank Pedersen, Superintendent of Public Works. Sterling is a member of the La Mesa Woman’s Club, the La Mesa Historical Society, Friends of the La Mesa Library, the Grossmont Community Concert Association and the East County Performing Arts Center.
What are your three top priorities for La Mesa if elected?
My three top priorities are to represent the citizens of La Mesa. Your safety, comfort and security are my top priority.
State-of-the-art tools and equipment for our Police and Fire Departments
Enhance older neighborhoods maximizing vibrancy
Trees, lighting and walkable neighborhoods are an asset for the homeowner as well as city traffic complicated by excessive speed. Our Neighborhood Traffic Management Program since implemented has proved to be vital in it’s sphere of influence. Citizen Traffic Commission continues to address traffic calming through a three-prong approach: Enforcement-Engineering-Education. I will continue to emphasize enforcement.
Phase 2 of the Downtown Village Streetscape
Homeless is another very important issue that will begin to be addressed by a Regional Taskforce.
It is important to continue a conservative approach in addressing the General Fund and the Reserves. Each department head takes care in overseeing the expenditures of their department, evaluating carefully before turning in their budget to accounting. La Mesa’s Moody Bond rating has been increased from A1 to Aa3.
Nine single-family homes have been completed and sold. There are over 239 housing units being built or in the works. Building permits issued has escalated. Tax revenue for the city looks positive, promoting a strong general fund and maintaining solid reserves into the future.
Where do you stand on Measure U and if California Proposition 64, Marijuana Legalization passes what steps would you take to allow or disallow sales of marijuana in La Mesa?
Measure U The City of La Mesa would have a Medical Marijuana Activity Zoning Ordinance. If California Proposition 64, Marijuana Legalization passes the City of La Mesa will regulate.
Free Zone
Investors are now putting their money in La Mesa, a well-run city, stable and a great place to live. I am part of that stability. I have been a key part of the process and it didn’t happen over night. I will stay the course.
I am running for city council 2016 to continue to serve and represent the people of La Mesa.
