Candidate Forum by Southwest Chula Vista Civic Association

Seat 3 Seat 4

On April 28 at 6:45 PM Southwest Chula Vista Civic Association held a candidate forum. We sent questionnaires to all the city council and San Diego School Board District two candidates. Scott Vinson, Russ Hall and Jerry Rindone did not return the questionnaires. Pamela Bensoussan, Yuri Pavlo Bilokonsky, Steve Castaneda, Jose Preciado, and Pat Moriarty completed questionnaires. At the forum we had these questionnaires available for the attendees. We were able to translate the first two questions and had those answers available in Spanish as well. We had a Spanish translator hired, but no mono-lingual Spanish speakers attended.

Pamela Bensoussan and Russ Hall were the two candidates for seat three who attended. We called Devonna Almagro many times , but never got a response. Their introductory and opening statements can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/v/eaFqrEJV_dA .

For seat four Steve Castaneda and Pat Moriarty attended. Their introductory and opening statements can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/v/InjGv3aJs-s . Scott Vinson said he had a fund raiser scheduled for this night and did not come.

For County School Board District 2 only Jose Preciado attended. His presentation can be seen at YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/v/X2ewNcxisQI. Yuri Bilokonsky did not have transportation to the event, and he did not notify us of this until the next day, so was unable to come. Jerry Rindone refused to say whether he would come or not and did not.

Tanya Mannes from the Union Tribune attended, Tawny Maya McCray from the Star News was there. Several reporters and a photographer from the San Diego County Times attended as well.

Our purpose was to expose the candidates to issues in the southwest and learn what their positions were. These are some of the questions and links to videos of the candidates’ responses:

1 Funding for infrastructure in southwestern Chula Vista has not been a priority for City officials and many residents are frustrated by the lack of improvements and maintenance. How would you address these concerns and what do you feel is the solution for funding the City’s infrastructure needs, including additional parks (dog, athletic and other)?

Answers: http://www.youtube.com/v/AKLnbyNNoCc

2.: Currently, the City has an Overlay District for mobile home parks. Would you like to see this become permanent and what do you think needs to be done to protect mobile home park residents when facing park closures?

Answers: http://www.youtube.com/v/mUocUy3c_yA

3: Power plants are a major issue facing the residents of Southwest Chula Vista. What is your position on finding alternative sites to locate peaker plants and what can the City do to protect established neighborhoods from the placement of new power plants near them (The General Plant calls for a 1,000 ft. buffer)?

Answers: http://www.youtube.com/v/1AulYJ

4.: Many Southwest businesses have complained about the City’s Code Enforcement officers issuing frivolous citations and intimidating businesses to point of driving them out of business. What do you think should be the priority of enforcing code compliance and how would you address these concerns from the business community?

Answer: http://www.youtube.com/v/G06JJRd_kf4

This table shows how the candidates feel about various propositions:

Candidates, etc.	Proposition 98 eminent domain anti-rent control	Proposition 99 eminent domain	Proposition E, height limits	Elected city attorney	Proposition C, CV eminent domain
Seat 3 CV council	Governor opposes				(Passed last year)
P. Bensoussan	oppose	support	Supports vote	No position	support
R. Hall	?	?	oppose	?	?
D. Almagro	?	?	?	?	?
Seat 4 CV council
S. Castaneda	oppose	support	Supports vote	Oppose	Support
P. Moriarty	support	support	oppose	dislikes	Support
S. Vinson	oppose	oppose	oppose	?	?
SWCVCA	oppose	support	support	support	support
Crossroads II	oppose	support	support	No position	support
CV City Council	oppose	support	oppose	Oppose	mixed

Russ Hall and Devonna Almargo did not turn in questionnaires. Russ was asked his position on the propositions after the forum but did not state them. Scott Vinson’s answers were given at forum held 4/21/08. Proposition C and city attorney did not come up at that forum.

Here are the completed questionnaires:

Seat 3

Pamela Bensoussan

CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE NAME: Pamela Bensoussan For City Council

CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE ID #:1299632

CAMPAIGN CONSULTANT: Rose Kapolczynski, Progressive Strategy Partners

Please explain your purpose for running for City Council and what qualifications

you have that would benefit the residents of Chula Vista:

I am running for office because I care deeply about the future of Chula Vista, my home town.

We need to do a better job of providing basic city services, including street and sidewalk repair, a strong police and fire presence, libraries, and neighborhood parks. Developers need to pay their fair share of providing those services.

We need to grow responsibly, while protecting the character of our neighborhoods. We need to revitalize downtown and the bay front, and create good jobs and educational opportunities right here in Chula Vista.

And last but not least, we need to be careful stewards of taxpayer dollars. As a small business owner, I understand the impact of city decisions on business and I’m honored to have the endorsement of the Chula Vista Taxpayers Association.

I raised my son and daughter here and I want Chula Vista to remain a great place to raise a family. I have a long history of helping to make Chula Vista a better place to live. I served on the General Plan Update Steering and Environmental Committees that struggled for years to write the best possible plan for our city’s future. I currently serve on the Planning Commission, the Redevelopment Advisory Committee and TAVA’s Design Committee. I am also proud to be president of the Northwest Civic Association and believe strongly in enabling citizens to have a voice at City Hall. In all of those positions, I have worked with all segments of our community, with business owners, workers, and residents, with Democrats and Republicans, with the west side and the east side. I know how to bring people together to solve our problems.

Please list all of your major endorsements from individuals and organizations:

Hon. Bob Filner, U.S. Congress District 51, Hon. Mary Salas, California State Assembly District 79, Hon. Rudy Ramirez, Chula Vista City Council, Hon. Ben Hueso, San Diego City Council District 8 and California Coastal Commissioner, Hon. Nick Aguilar, San Diego County Board of Education Trustee, Hon. Terri Valladolid, Southwestern College Board of Trustees, Hon. Teresa Thomas, Director Sweetwater Authority,

League of Conservation Voters San Diego, Chula Vista Taxpayers Association, San Diego County Democratic Party, San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council, Planned Parenthood Action Fund of San Diego & Riverside Counties, Eastlake Bonita Democratic Club, Democratic Unity Coalition South, San Diego Democratic Women’s Club, IBEW Local 569, SEIU Local 221, Unite HERE Local 30, Jim Hill, Jose Preciado, Eduardo Valerio, April & Lowell Blankfort, Patricia Aguilar, Craig Noel, Mitch Thompson, Laura Hunter, Norma Cazares, Andrea Skorepa, Lynda Gilgun, Larry & Vivan Sherrill, Claudia Satriano, Judy Cave, Jill Galvez, Gus Chavez, Charles Ulrich, John & Nancy Parks, Russell Coronado, John Stassi, Manny Ramirez, Pie Roque, Frank & Susan Luzzaro, Georgie, Stillman, Theresa Acerro, Joe Casillas, Bea Fernandez, Judy Cascales, Gonzolo Lopez, Gloria Casillas, Jose Contreras, Connie Mihos, Ivan Loebs, Sandy Duncan, Daniel Renk, Sandra McHale-Renk, Betsy Cory, Susan Walter, Jim & Muffy Pennington, Dr. Sue Hauwiller, Peter & Susan Watry, Carlene & Jerry Scott, Penny Bollinger, Dorothy Braidic, Paula Perry, Melanie Sepe, Sonny Chandler, David Wood, Jo Anne Springer, David Danciu, Jonathan Laverick, Dorothy Braidic, Elizabeth Galligan, Danielle & Bob Madsen, Lupita Jimenez, Thomas Stanley, Jackie Lancaster, Felix & Leticia Delgado, Gretchen Evans, Jan Giamanco, Joe Wavra, Paula Perry, Joyce Green Barnes, Tom Salvestrini, Rodofo Ramirez, Sally

Bartlett, Lasha Allen, Angela Brill, Alan Campbell, Scott Lhor, Sylvia Ramirez, Sam & Barbara Longenecker, Jack Stanley, Sally Bartlett, Zachery Schlagel, Dennis Klepin, George Hanak, Sherry Vasquez, Joan Johnson, Carol Smith, Fran Preisman, Liz Mozvik,

Paul Johnson, Louise Torio, Steve Veach, Hamza Houidi, Dr. Gil and Hillary Dumas,

Carlos Fox, Norbert Stein, Steve Wood, Nieves Aispuro, John Ocheske, Jim Bell, Susan

Fuller, Jim Hunt, Norma Hernandez and many more!

Please list your top three issues and what you will do to address them if elected:

1) Transparency and accessibility of government and public participation in government.

2) Investment in people – jobs, education, neighborhoods, infrastructure improvements, libraries, parks, health and safety

3) Environmental Sustainability and Environmental Justice

If you give me your support, I pledge to you that I will bring people together to move Chula Vista forward and manage your tax dollars wisely. We must build partnerships

among stakeholders and focus not on our differences but on our common goals. We must also take serious steps to conserve our natural resources for the future and exercise true leadership in bringing sustainable/green building to Chula Vista…In doing so we will also position ourselves to benefit from the new job markets that are evolving

in these industries.

It is time for our government to invest in people – to focus on a better quality of life for

our citizens – particularly on good jobs & education, affordable housing solutions and on

meeting our ever growing health and safety needs.

1. The City has precise plans for every project in the Palomar Gateway area. This appears to be a way to get around not having a specific plan. Many residents worry that this bypasses the public process and residents are being excluded from participating in the development of a specific plan for the area. Would you support a moratorium on all Precise Plans in the Southwest redevelopment areas until the community can be involved in one or more specific plans for these areas?

Possibly, though I would like to know more about the current and planned efforts.

2. Currently, the City has an Overlay District for mobile home parks. Would you like to see this become permanent and what do you think needs to be done to protect mobile home park residents when facing park closures?

Yes. This needs to become permanent and the current draft of a proposed Mobile Home Park Ordinance, which is currently in a state of flux, needs to be revamped. The appraisal process for valuing mobile homes needs to allow for Fair Market Value methodology with consideration of comparable sales – rather than the proposed “replacement less depreciation” formula being proposed. The mobile home inspection program run by the City should not be canceled and turned over to the State as was proposed by the City Manager in the last round of budget cuts.

3. Power plants are a major issue facing the residents of Southwest Chula Vista. What is your position on finding alternative sites to locate peaker plants and what can the City do to protect established neighborhoods from the placement of new power plants near them?

The City needs to follow its own General Plan and not locate power or peaker plants within 1000 feet of residences, schools, etc. The City should take an active role in preventing the Main Street peaker plant from expanding and in advocating for alternative energy solutions. If peaker plants are required, they must be placed far from any residential neighborhoods or schools.

4. Many Southwest residents have complained about the City’s Code Enforcement officers issuing frivolous citations and intimidating homeowners. What do you think should be the priority of enforcing code compliance and how would you address these concerns from the community?

Code enforcement shouldn’t be used as a lucrative source of revenue. Rather, more outreach and education should take place to work with residents and business owners to address compliance and the reasons for compliance must be clear and justifiable. Code enforcement shouldn’t be targeted or selectively used –but should be fair and equitably applied.

5. Funding for infrastructure in western Chula Vista has not been a priority for City officials and many residents are frustrated by the lack of improvements and maintenance. How would you address these concerns and what do you feel is the solution for funding the City’s infrastructure needs?

Developer fees should be raised in the Western areas to the levels in the Eastern neighborhoods and developers should not be given a free ride. Development should pay its way and should be discouraged where overwhelming negative impacts to traffic and infrastructure would result.

6. The General Plan amended and changed the designation of some residential areas to other land uses in Southwest Chula Vista. What is your vision for this area and do you support preserving residential neighborhoods?

Stable neighborhoods and neighborhood character should be protected throughout Chula Vista. Polluting businesses should not be located within residential neighborhoods.

7. There are several ballot initiatives on the ballot this year that will affect local land use decisions in the future. Please explain why you support or oppose the following:

PROP. 98 – A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT FOR EMINANT DOMAIN AND LIMITS OF GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY.

Oppose 98 because, among other things, it would abolish rent control in Chula Vista’s mobile home parks.

PROP 99 – EMINENT DOMAIN. A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT LIMITING GOVERNMENT ACUISITION OF OWNERSHIP OCCUPIED RESIDENCE.

Support 99 because it affords real protection against eminent domain misuse.

PROP E – THE CHULA VISTA GENERAL PLAN PROTECTION INITIATIVE.

I understand the need for the people of Chula Vista to vote on this initiative. There has been too much willingness on the part of the city to amend the general plan resulting in a lack of trust our government.

THE CHULA VISTA ELECTED CITY ATTORNEY INITIATIVE.

No position, but I’m in favor of letting the people vote and make their decision.

8. Do you support or oppose Prop. C, a local eminent domain initiative that was overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2006? What would you do to preserve the intent of Prop. C?

Support Prop C.

Seat 4

Steve Castaneda

CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE NAME: Castaneda for City Council '08

CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE ID #:

CAMPAIGN CONSULTANT: Self

Please explain your purpose for running for City Council and what qualifications you have that would benefit the residents of Chula Vista:

To continue the work I begun in 2004. In my first term, I promised the people of Chula Vista that I would open their government to our neighborhoods. While much progress in the area has been made, more needs to be done. More, than ever Chula Vista needs a Council representative that will represent our community not the special interests that seem to have more influence at city hall than at any time in our history. I believe my record of accomplishment and my understanding of our city and the issues that our citizens face give me the requisite credentials to qualify for re-election and the support of the members of the Southwest Civic Association.

Please list all of your major endorsements from individuals and organizations:

Chula Vista Firefighters, Labor Council, Chula Vista Employees Association, League of Conservation Voters, Chula Vista Taxpayers Association, Dozens of Chula Vista citizens.

Please list your top three issues and what you will do to address them if elected:

1. Making City Hall more accessible to our neighborhoods. - I want to support the establishment and activities of community groups throughout Chula Vista. I have always viewed the input of our neighborhoods as an enhancement to the process NOT an obstacle.

2. Ensure that we have adequate public safety resources in EACH of our neighborhoods. I'm proud to be supported by the Firefighters because even thought the City Manager wanted to cut resources I stood strong to ensure that we have adequate protection. To provide the community with a greater understanding and provide input into how Chula Vista protects its neighborhoods, I established the Public Safety Committee - which has held meetings in our neighborhoods to illicite public comment from our citizens.

3. Environment: Reducing the need for fossil fueled energy plants and adopting the recommendations from the climate change working group. I will also continue my efforts to rid our city of the polluting South Bay Powerplant. My environmental record speaks for itself and has earned me the endorsement of the League of Conservation Voters.

YES.

I'm proud to have the support of numerous Chula Vista mobilehome leaders. They have supported me consistently because I fought for their rights in rent control, unfair park closing and abuse of residents through neglected mobilehome communities. I voted for the overlay district and I fully support that decision.

First of all, I voted for a general plan that discourages the installation of peaker plants in or near residential neighborhoods. I've also worked hard to identify alternatives to the South Bay Powerplant that would be located away from our community.

Code Enforcement in the City of Chula Vista should be complaint based. I do not believe that our enforcement officers should be surveying neighborhoods in an effort to penalize our citizens. I've said that publicly and truly believe that.

Funding for all infrastructure has been a major priority during my time in office. I led the vote to establish a western Chula Vistan transportation improvement fee. Also, I have long been an advocate for reducing spending on consultants and staff from our redevelopment funds and redirecting those resources to improving sorely needed infrastructure in SW Chula Vista. I'm appalled that SW Chula Vista has generated more redevelopment funds than any other area in CV and has not received anything close to the investment it has generated.

I have supported the improvement and the expansion of residential uses in Southwest Chula Vista. I have worked hard to secure funding for the community plan. It is in this process that the community will have a voice in the future of their neighborhood.

7. There are several ballot initiatives on the ballot this year that will affect local land use decisions in the future. Please explain why you support or oppose the following:

PROP. 98 – A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT FOR EMINENT DOMAIN AND LIMITS OF GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY.

Oppose

PROP 99 – EMINENT DOMAIN. A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT LIMITING GOVERNMENT ACUISITION OF OWNERSHIP OCCUPIED RESIDENCE.

Support

PROP E – THE CHULAVISTA GENERAL PLAN PROTECTION INITIATIVE.

I support the General Plan and the height limits contained therein. I believe that the voters have a right to choose their own destiny and will make the right decision in June.

THE CHULA VISTA ELECTED CITY ATTORNEY INITIATIVE.

I do not support the politicization of the attorney's office.

8. Do you support or oppose Prop. C, a local eminent domain initiative that was overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2006? What would you do to preserve the intent of Prop. C?

Support. Have consistenlty opposed staff's efforts to subvert the will and the intent of the voters on eminent domain use in Chula Vista.

Pat Moriarty

CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE NAME: Pat Moriarty For Chula Vista City council

CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE ID #: 1301257

CAMPAIGN CONSULTANT: Larry Beamer

Please explain your purpose for running for City Council and what qualifications you have that would benefit the residents of Chula Vista:

I am running for the city council because we must move forward! We have too much in fighting. We need ethics and coalition building. I have the ability to do both. I am on the Human Relations, Safety & Traffic Commissions, and I teach Ethics at a local college.

Please list all of your major endorsements from individuals and organizations:

Mary Salas, Patty Davis, Arlie Ricassa, Dave Ruch, San Diego County Democratic Party, San Diego Democratic Women, Eastlake Bonita Democratic Club, Democratic Clubs Coalition South

Please list your top three issues and what you will do to address them if elected:

1. Ethics back to the council-open communication

2. Bring business and jobs to Chula Vista- work with TAVA, Chamber and Community Groups to support business and jobs

3. smart Growth-density, walkable areas, mixed housing, affordable housing.

If elected my first action would be to move Southwestern Chula Vista to the top infrastructure repair/install list. I would not support a plan that does not include the community.

If a park is closing the residents should be reimbursed for their loss at fair market value.-I do support the overlay.

I would like to see no peaker plants anywhere, but if they are allowed they should follow the General Plan. They should not be by schools or homes.

I do not know enough about the homeowners complaints-no one should be harassed.

I would move these improvements to the top of the list. We have not followed through on our promises made 30 years ago.

We should always preserve residential neighborhoods. Southwest Chula Vista should have a plan where the community participates in the decisions.

7. There are several ballot initiatives on the ballot this year that will affect local land use decisions in the future. Please explain why you support or oppose the following:

PROP. 98 – A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT FOR EMINENT DOMAIN AND LIMITS OF GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY.

I Support 98. I support 98, taking one person’s land to give to another is wrong.

PROP 99 – EMINENT DOMAIN. A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT LIMITING GOVERNMENT ACUISITION OF OWNERSHIP OCCUPIED RESIDENCE.

I Support 99-again no one should have the right to take away someone’s home.

PROP E – THE CHULAVISTA GENERAL PLAN PROTECTION INITIATIVE.

It is written poorly.

THE CHULA VISTA ELECTED CITY ATTORNEY INITIATIVE.

I agree we must make the city attorney more responsive to the citizens, however I don’t like this initiative.

Do you support or oppose Prop. C, a local eminent domain initiative that was overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2006? What would you do to preserve the intent of Prop. C?

Yes I support C-to preserve it I would follow the law.

County School Board, District 2:.

SOUTHWEST CHULA VISTA CIVIC ASSOCIATION

2008 County School Board CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE

NAME: Yuriy Pavlo Bilokonsky

Please explain your purpose for running for County School Board and what qualifications you have that would benefit the residents of Chula Vista:

I am best qualified to represent district 2 on the School Board by my understanding of technology. We are facing new difficulties in the budget that can be remedied by the efficient use of computers, networks, and software. In all but the most specialized areas of study information is now available in the public domain. This information is easily accessed through the internet and the library. Pictures and diagrams can be obtained without difficulty. Teachers can use computers to compile this information and print it out so that children do not need to carry overpriced textbooks which weigh nearly as much as they do. Many administrative tasks can also be fully computerized and automated.

Please list all of your major endorsements from individuals and organizations:

Please list your top three issues and what you will do to address them if elected:

I will help to end the budget crisis by eliminating textbooks.

I will improve the nutritional value of the school lunches by allocating funding for them. Additionally, I am running because the quality of the diet in America has become steadily worse over the last century and our children are paying the price for it. The schools in San Diego County are excellent in their attention to our children's minds, but they lack the resources and the incentive to do anything about it. I plan to bring this issue to the table. What a child eats has a large effect on how a child thinks.

I will protect people's right to home-school their children by granting certification to anyone who wants to do so. As a third point of focus, no matter how good our system of public education gets nothing can beat the single-minded attention given by a parent to a child in the case of homeschooling. In our society few parents have the time to teach their children personally and so we have to make do with public education. I will ensure that whatever may happen with the laws of California the San Diego County School Board will protect a parent's right to take over her child's education.

What is your position on geographic area elections for School Board Members from the CHULA VISTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT (CVESD) and SWEETWATER UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT (SUHSD)? Do you support or oppose having geographical Trustee Areas for each numbered seat, where School Board Members would be elected by voters of the entire school district, but would represent the "trustee area" in which they reside?

Please explain why you would support or oppose geographical Trustee areas.

I am in favor of ensuring that people from each geographic area represented on the Board. This ensures that no single area is represented more than the others. It is against good sense to have the majority of the seats on the Board filled by people who share a common interest geographically. This is why I support geographic trustee areas.


Jose Preciado

CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE NAME: Preciado for County Board of Education

CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE ID #: 1302354

CAMPAIGN CONSULTANT: Self

Please explain your purpose for running for County School Board and what qualifications you have that would benefit the residents of Chula Vista:

I am seeking to serve as a member of the San Diego County Board of Education to engage the broader San Diego community in a dialogue to strengthen our neighborhood schools. I have served as a college opportunity professional for the past 10 years at San Diego State University. A central aspect of my work has been to establish and support educational partnerships to increase student achievement.

Please list all of your major endorsements from individuals and organizations:

Congressman Bob Filner, Assemblywoman Mary Salas, Councilman Rudy Ramirez, School Board Members - Bertha Lopez, Arlie Ricasa, Blanca Brown, George Gastil, Shelia Jackson and former Mayor of Imperial Beach Diane Rose. I am also supported by the following organizations: San Diego County Party, Eastlake/Bonita Democrats, San Diego Women's Democratic Club, San Diego Democratic Club, and the Chicano Democratic Association.

Please list your top three issues and what you will do to address them if elected:

1. Support County and School District efforts to close the achievement gap that

persist among students from low-income backgrounds and those from high income backgrounds.

2. Support increased parental involvement at school sites.

Please explain why you would support or oppose geographical Trustee areas.

I support geographic area elections for Chula Vista and Sweetwater Union

Districts if they are run like the San Diego Unified School District Board elections.

This means they would need to be setup to have a primary and a general election.

In addition, I support term limits and campaign finance changes to mirror those of the city of Chula Vista.

Seat 3 CV council

Governor opposes

(Passed last year)

Seat 4 CV council

SWCVCA

Crossroads II

Seat 3

Pamela Bensoussan

Seat 4

Steve Castaneda

Pat Moriarty

2008 County School Board CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE