Cudahy City Council

Cudahy population: 22,817

Election: April 14

On the ballot: Five candidates for two at-large seats

INCUMBENTS

Joseph Fregeau

Age: 73

Occupation: Retired firefighter

Remarks: “The most important thing is to keep a balanced budget, which we did this year without considering gambling. We’ll be finishing the General Plan soon, which will make the city of Cudahy a better place to live and, hopefully, we will need no new taxes to help the city survive the recession. We’re contracting with a consultant company to bring new businesses into Cudahy for more sales tax revenue. That’s what we’re surviving on, the sales tax revenue. I’m for low-income housing, but it isn’t done overnight.”

John O. Robertson

Age: 51

Occupation: Business owner, engineer

Remarks: “There’s been a lot of bungling mistakes in the last few years. The city was going bankrupt. We’ve maintained excessive staff salaries when they should have cut back. We used to have a drug and education commission that was beginning to develop programs for youth diversion. The purpose was to find jobs for the kids and get them off the streets. I would rather see the money go to that because drugs are one of the biggest problems we have. We need those programs because people are getting killed now.”

CHALLENGERS

Michael Borrego

Age: 23

Occupation: Los Angeles County Juvenile Hall peace officer

Remarks: “The council members in there now are all talk and no action. All they are doing is increasing taxes but not giving more services. I would reduce taxes and try to create job opportunities for young people. We need to stop the spread of gangs with more youth programs. Another thing I would look into is having our own police department. We currently contract out to the Sheriff’s Department, and we have very little control over them. I would also advocate a Neighborhood Watch program.”

Larry Galvan

Age: 47

Occupation: Youth coordinator for nonprofit organization

Remarks: “My goal would be to repeal the 4% utility users’ tax. We only need 600 signatures on the petition to get it on the ballot. We have taxation without representation. You can’t pass taxes without letting the people know about it. I am not opposed to taxes, but when you pay taxes you need to get something in return. We aren’t getting anything in return. I think we need more effective youth programs because we lack role models.”

David M. Silva

Age: 41

Occupation: Precious-metal plater

Remarks: “The biggest issue we have is the overhaul of the General Plan of the city, which hasn’t been done in 32 years. We’re working with rules and regulations from 30 years ago. They’ve never been updated. Another big issue is the need for more youth programs. I’d like to promote, extend and expand existing youth programs throughout the year and the city. We need to get the kids away from gangs. We have a lack of communication with the (Sheriff’s Department).”