City Guide

L.A. Times Archives

Sept. 24, 1994 12 AM PT

FOUNTAIN VALLEY

Mayor: John Collins

Age: 50

Occupation: Business broker

First elected: November, 1990

Term expires: November, 1994

Key issues: Collins said his priority is to provide for the safety and welfare of residents and he wants to continue to provide quality services while minimizing fees and costs to residents. He also wants to ensure public safety and fiscal responsibility, which he says serves as the philosophical umbrella in which all decisions are made.

Councilman: Guy Carrozzo

Age: 62

Occupation: Retired school principal

First elected: November, 1990

Term expires: November, 1994

Key issues: Carrozzo says he wants to continue his diligence as a crime fighter. He also would like to see the city update its master plan, the central planning document that guides city growth. He wants the general plan to maintain the integrity of the community. Another priority is to develop more housing for the city’s growing senior population. He also wants to upgrade the city’s older buildings and homes to keep them from deteriorating.

Councilwoman: Laurann Cook

Age: 45

Occupation: Full-time council member; former public relations executive; community volunteer

First elected: November, 1986

Term expires: November, 1994

Key issues: Cook wants to reduce the crime rate. She thinks Fountain Valley’s viability is tied to attracting new tax-generating businesses to the city. She also wants to make sure the city government is accessible to the city’s residents. Cook said it’s important to maintain the lowest possible tax rate while providing quality services to residents.

Councilman: George B. Scott

Age: 61

Occupation: Insurance business owner

First elected: September, 1969

Term expires: November, 1996

Key issues: Scott said he wants to continue to have a City Council that works as a team to improve the community and the quality of life for residents. Scott also wants to attract more businesses to the city to generate the needed sales-taxes to pay and keep the current level of public services. At the same time, he wants the city to maintain a “hometown” atmosphere to be responsive to residents’ needs.

Councilman: James D. Petrikin

Age: 54

Occupation: Chiropractor

First elected: November, 1988

Term expires: November, 1996

Key issues: Petrikin said he wants to reduce crime and concentrate city resources on youth problems to prevent gangs from forming in the city and to prevent youth violence. In addition, he said city government must always be fiscally responsible while at the same time offering residents the highest level of services possible without increasing taxes. Petrikin said he wants residents to serve on different city committees and to work with community groups and organizations to make the city a better place to live. He said maintaining a balanced city budget is essential.

Other Key Officials

City manager: Ray Kromer

Age: 41

Length in office: Three years

City attorney: Alan R. Burns

Age: 45

Length in office: 12 years

Police chief: Elvin Miali

Age: 48

Length in office: 7 1/2 years

Fire chief: Bernard F. Heimos

Age: 46