NWCA Candidates Forum 3/14/12

The forum was held at the Civic Center Library. It was well attended. Ken Wright the president of Northwest Civic Association moderated. All the candidates were present except for Guillermo Briseno who owns a small business in Chula Vista and could not come at the last moment.

These are links to the candidates’ submitted resumes:

Seat 3: Pamela Bensoussan (incumbent); Larry Breitfelder; Robert Castaneda

Seat 4: Mary Salas; London Meservy; Linda Wagner

This is the link to the candidates’ answers to:

Question #1: What should be done about the terrible imbalance between homes and jobs in Chula Vista-too many homes and not enough jobs?

Question #2: What is your position on District elections and why?

Question #3: Will you work to straighten the border between Chula Vista and National City?

Question #4: How do you feel about a contiguous Bayfront Park?

Question #5: One reason you want to be a council member and what unique thing do you bring to the job?

Question #6: What is the first thing you would do when elected?

Question #7: What will you do to help Hispanics in Chula Vista?

Question#8: Do you support any tax increase in Chula Vista and if yes why?

Question#9: What are you going to do about the projected increase in crime in Chula Vista?

Question#10: Several Council members now have office hours or send out emails telling about what happened at council meetings. If elected will you reach out like this to those of us who are employed and cannot get to council meetings so we can be informed?

Closing Statements:

Seat 3: Pamela Bensoussan (incumbent); Larry Breitfelder; Robert Castaneda

Seat 4: Mary Salas; London Meservy; Linda Wagner

I am very sorry but I did not record, but thought I did, the comments of a fireman that we need paramedics on our fire engines like the rest of the county and the candidates’ agreement, nor did I record the candidates answer to the question about whether they supported putting on the June ballot the measure that would allow council to select an independent counsel whenever they felt the Elected City Attorney had a conflict as well as lower his salary and impose term limits on the job. This is a question on the questionnaire the candidates agreed to fill out for the SWCVCA Candidates Reception (a chance to talk one on one with candidates) on April 30 at the South CV library at 389 Orange Ave. room B 6PM to 8PM. The questionnaires will be posted as soon as I receive them.

Link to Questionnaire answers for Seat 3 Candidates.

Link to Questionnaire answers for Seat 4 Candidates.

Summary of financial reports:

Candidate	total amount donated	total number of donors	loans	#donors/amount donated by developers, families employees	#donors/amount donated by mobile home park owners, families employees	#donors/amount donated by people who do not live in Chula Vista or Bonita
SEAT 3 3
Pamela Bensoussan	$23,689	89	0	26/$6,600	16/$4,800	59/$14,900
Larry Breitfelder	$13,244.55	29	$5,000	3/$500	1/$300	6/$1,200
Guillermo Briseno	nothing reported
Robert Castaneda	0		$1,100	0	0	0
SEAT 4
London Mesery	$9,528.87	23	$4,050	0	0	16/$4,200
Mary Salas	$32,084	141	$1,000	17/$4,500	20/$4,300	74/$16,800
Linda Wagner	$6,873	27	$1,000	0	0	8/$1,550

Links to candidates' websites:

Seat 3: Pamela Bensoussan (incumbent); Larry Breitfelder; Bob Castaneda (not yet); Guillermo Briseno (not yet)

Seat 4: London Meservy; Mary Salas; Linda Wagner