Election 2016: Fountain Valley City Council
For the past few years, Fountain Valley has faced an economic lurch with a depleting general fund. In response, the city has cut an array of public services, lowered the amount of city staff and may potentially close its fire station on Newhope Street.
The city is now looking to voters to decide whether a 1% sales tax increase, dubbed Measure HH on the Nov. 8 ballot, is the next viable solution to fund community services such as police and fire personnel.
Opponents of the measure, including City Council candidates Kim Constantine and Patrick Tucker, have been critical of city leaders, calling their spending wasteful and the proposed sales tax increase excessive.
Mayor Cheryl Brothers and Councilman Steve Nagel, who are both up for reelection, support Measure HH and have said increasing the sales tax is necessary, as it may be the best solution to generate revenue. Fountain Valley currently needs $1.7 million of its general reserve fund to balance next year’s budget, they contend.
High-density housing and high-rise office towers have also been a topic of debate, with talks about the Fountain Valley Crossings, a central shopping mall area similar to Bella Terra in Huntington Beach. Many longtime residents have opposed high-density housing. Supporters say Fountain Valley Crossings would encourage residents to stay in the city to shop and dine instead of traveling to neighboring cities.
Here are the candidates for the two open seats on the five-member council:
Name: Cheryl Brothers
Age: 70
Occupation: City Council member
Education: Some college
Time lived in city: 42 years
Previous public service: Service on Fountain Valley City Council, 2002-10, 2012-present; Planning Commission 1996-2002; co-president of Fountain Valley Historical Society; former president of Assn. of California Cities, Orange County; 27-year board member of Shadow Run Homeowners Assn.
Immediate family: husband Lee, two adult children
What are three things you hope to achieve if elected?
1. Fiscal stability for the city with support of Measure HH. Prepared to make painful necessary cuts if this measure does not pass.
2. Keep Fountain Valley safe by providing the best safety services within the budget. Continue affordable programs for seniors and our youth.
3. Attract and retain superior businesses through smart planning.
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Name: Kim Constantine
Age: 50
Occupation: Businesswoman
Education: High school diploma
Time lived in city: 20 years
Previous public service: Fountain Valley Chamber of Commerce member since 2010, board director from 2011 to 2014 and selected as its Ambassador of the Year in 2011; Fountain Valley Community Foundation Member 2014 to present; Fountain Valley Summerfest committee member 2015
Immediate family: Not stated
What are three things you hope to achieve if elected?
1. I look forward to operating within our financial means and stopping City Hall’s wasteful spending, as in the $24,950 wasted on a biased survey to a select few residents in February.
2. I will continue to fight against high-density housing and high-rise office towers being promoted and enabled by rezoning designed to displace good job-providing, revenue-producing, industrial/light manufacturing businesses that support our community. I’m referring to the 162 acres near the 405 Freeway known as Fountain Valley Crossings.
3. I will ensure Fountain Valley remains a prosperous place to do business, as well as a nice and desirable place to live for our current residents and future generations. It is important to retain our businesses while attracting new ones — the same with attracting families in our city.
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Name: Patrick Tucker
Age: 52
Occupation: Retail vice president
Education: Some college
Time lived in city: 23 years
Previous public service: Fountain Valley High School baseball boosters board member for four years, former member of Fountain Valley Planning Commission
Immediate family: Married, two children
What are three things you hope to achieve if elected?
1. Eliminate budget shortfalls though spending cuts, not tax increases. We can cut 4% waste, which is what we need to balance the budget.
2. Open City Hall for residents five days a week. Eliminate “dark” Fridays.
3. Oppose high-density housing being championed by the incumbents. Keep Fountain Valley a bedroom community, keeping property values intact.
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Name: Steve Nagel
Age: 64
Occupation: Retired fire marshal/building safety manager, battalion chief, fire captain, firefighter/paramedic for the city of Fountain Valley; former associate instructor at Santa Ana College; certified respiratory therapist
Education: Bachelor of arts degree in vocational education, Cal State Long Beach
Time lived in city: 14 years
Previous public service: Fountain Valley City Council; Fountain Valley representative for Orange County Sanitation District; board member for Fountain Valley Community Foundation; board member for PONY baseball, cross-country/track; member of Boys & Girls Club of Huntington Valley board of directors; Rotary Club
Immediate family: Wife Nina, son Brett, daughter Allison
What are three things you hope to achieve if elected?
1. Fiscal stability to assure police, fire and city services remain the top priority.
2. Continue to work with the City Council and city staff using a strategic planning process; set goals and reevaluate regularly to stay within a balanced budget.
3. If Measure HH is passed, using these sales tax dollars to pay off long-term liabilities sooner, rather than later, which will reduce city debt by many millions of dollars as well as support city police, fire and other essential city services.
