What Do You Most Enjoy About Rancho Mirage?
The people. We have a caring and sophisticated community. I have been a frequent visitor to the Coachella Valley for fifty years. My family has had homes in the Valley for forty- plus years. Rancho Mirage was the first and only choice for my wife Ann and me!
Trace Your Career Path?
My career commenced as a top aide/Chief of Staff to two Los Angeles City Council members, including the legendary Zev Yaroslavsky. I served on two government commissions and was an officer at two businesses. I will donate my first- year Council salary to local non-profits to demonstrate my passion for public service.
How Would You Improve City Government?
To have a more transparent and responsive City Council, alternate Council meetings between 1 and 5 p.m. to boost participation and implement technology to allow citizens to virtually comment from their homes. Council members should be subject to term limits of two, four-year terms.
Do You Oppose Appointments to the City Council?
Three of the five current council members were initially appointed. It’s not democracy to have four Council members hand-pick one of their “cronies” in a back room when vacancies occur.
Top Issues in our City?
Public safety is job #1. I will add a Sheriff’s patrol and accelerate the construction of a third fire station.
Any Issues you Oppose?
Short-term rentals can wreak havoc on neighborhoods. In 2017, my opponent, Ted Weill, voted to continue the use but without community safeguards. I support the current ban. CV Link’s route, costs, and impacts were ill-advised and ill-conceived.
Does Your Legal Experience help our City Council?
As a land use attorney for thirty-plus years, I’ll impose restrictive conditions on uses that impact our community. Our city spends approximately $1 million per year on legal fees. As the only attorney on the Council, I’ll hold the line on legal fees.
What About the ethics of our City Council?
The allegations that Michael O’Keefe and Ted Weill used taxpayer-funded buildings, their government offices, and even their official badges as political props are troubling. Public office is a public trust. Let’s see how the District Attorney and State Fair Political Practices Commission proceed.
One Unique Idea?
The Coachella Valley hosts significant golf and tennis tournaments—how about Rancho Mirage and other CV cities uniting to host major Pickleball tournaments?
*The opinions expressed in this or other articles written by 3rd parties and are those of the 3rd party writer, not of The Rancho Mirage Insider magazine or their affiliates.
