Finances Concern City Office Seekers

The city’s overall financial health, its ability to pay for police services and the possible privatizing of its Fire Department and water operation are the major issues among the four mayoral candidates and eight City Council hopefuls in Garden Grove.

Each of the candidates promotes attracting new business to the city as a way of stemming the budget crisis and solving the city’s public safety needs. The council has yet to approve this year’s $44-million budget, which includes $6 million in spending cuts.

In response to its financial woes, city officials are considering leaving vacant 22 police officers positions and an assortment of jobs in City Hall.

Council members hope attracting businesses to Garden Grove through aggressive redevelopment activities, as well as the privatizing of services, will help the city balance its budget.

Council candidate Lee Catherine Butterfield said sales tax revenue brought into the city with new businesses will help restore the 22 officer positions cut from the depleted Police Department. The city’s Redevelopment Agency just entered into an agreement with Home Depot for an outlet to be built on Garden Grove Boulevard near Costco.

“I hear the residents saying they’re worried about police and that gangs are increasing,” Butterfield said. “Businesses like Home Depot will add to the tax base and allow greater funding for the Police Department.”

The most commonly circulated idea among the candidates is relaxing fees and regulations on existing businesses. A business license tax reduction of 15% is on the November ballot and candidates hope these reductions will stimulate new business and increase sales tax revenue.

Many candidates support attempts by the council to bring much needed revenue into the city through leasing out the water operation or contracting with the Orange County Fire Authority to provide these services. While talks with the fire authority have been put on hold, estimates indicated that as much as $1 million could be saved through a contract agreement. Lease of the water operation could bring in millions in revenue.

Kenneth W. Maddox, a council candidate and Tustin Police Department officer, said leasing out the city’s Water Department would immediately bring millions of dollars into the city and help restore police positions lost under the current financial crisis.

“If we can lease out the Water Department, it will directly put money in the pockets of the people in this city,” he said.

Incumbent candidate Tony Ingegneri also points to Garden Grove’s redevelopment efforts as a way to add to the city coffers. Not only has the agency helped clean up some of the city’s deteriorating areas, but has made Garden Grove more attractive to businesses.

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Garden Grove City Council

Four candidates are seeking to become mayor of Garden Grove. And two incumbent councilmen have been joined by six additional candidates vying for two available Council seats. A third seat could become available should Councilman Mark Leyes successfully win the 1st District’s Board of Supervisors seat. That potentially vacant position will be appointed by the newly elected Council members. Here is a look at all the candidates:

FOR MAYOR

Bruce A. Broadwater

Age: 58

Occupation: Consumer investigator for the State Department of Insurance

Background: Incumbent mayor and former councilman; past president of Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce; has owned local insurance agency for 20 years; has Garden Grove Police Officers Assn. endorsement

Major issue: Stabilization of financial condition of Garden Grove through expansion of community’s financial and commercial base

Wayne Edward Sherwood

Age: 43

Occupation: Actor/writer

Background: Garden Grove resident for more than 30 years; first election, but he has been politically active in state and local issues for many years

Major issue: Need to improve city’s economy by luring more business by reducing fees and other costs

Mike Silva

Age: 34

Occupation: Chief operating officer for CR&R; Inc., a recycling and refuse company in Stanton

Background: Family business in Garden Grove

Major issue: Too much undeveloped land purchased by redevelopment agency over the years and never developed; wants to work more aggressively with property owners and developers to get this space occupied, bringing in jobs, property tax and sales tax revenue

Al Snook

Age: 61

Occupation: Insurance broker and travel agent

Background: Former vice president of Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce; member of Elks Lodge, Garden Grove Rotary Club and Garden Grove Moose Lodge

Major issues: City’s investigation into privatization indicates city is for sale; he fears privatizing fire, police and water department will hand control of city services to county; advocates building bingo hall with either public or private funds to increase sales tax income

FOR CITY COUNCIL

Don Arnston

Age: 62

Occupation: Unemployed electronic engineer with emphasis on quality assurance and test engineering

Background: Anti-tax advocate

Major issue: Would like to reduce what he considers hidden taxes, like water in-lieu fee

Lee Catherine Butterfield

Age: 60

Occupation: Former Garden Grove business owner

Background: Garden Grove planning commissioner for eight years, two as chairman; former volunteer at Orangewood Children’s Home

Major issue: Continuing city’s economic momentum with new development projects; adding to city’s tax base is crucial to add police and address gang activity

Ho Chung

Age: 62

Occupation: State Farm Insurance agency owner

Background: Four-year incumbent; vice president of Coastline Community College Foundation; board member of National Conference, Orange County chapter

Major issue: Keeping criminals off the street and strengthening public safety by involving community in crime prevention; advocates reinforcing community policing with more volunteers

Tony Ingegneri

Age: 38

Occupation: Advertising executive

Background: Incumbent councilman; served four years on Garden Grove Planning Commission; also served on Orange County Transit Authority Citizens Advisory Committee and Orange County Symphony Board of Directors; endorsed by Garden Grove Police Officers Assn.

Major issue: Public safety and city’s redevelopment of vacant and underutilized properties; believes redeveloping properties helps generate sales tax revenues, increasing money to fight crime, gang and drug problems

Kenneth W. Maddox

Age: 32

Occupation: Tustin Police officer assigned to DARE

Background: Endorsed by Garden Grove Police Officers Assn; second attempt to win Council seat

Major issue: Reduction of Police Department by 22 positions; approves restaffing positions through money brought into city by lease of water department

Bob Main

Age: 71

Occupation: Semi-retired business consultant

Background: Member of Garden Grove Sanitary District for 28 years and past president; member of city Board of Appeals

Major issues: Concerned about bringing in and retaining new business; would work to be more business friendly by allowing merchants more freedoms in advertising and promotions; would relax city codes and code enforcement for businesses; and a national campaign to bring business to Garden Grove with redevelopment funds

Wayne E. Pedersen

Age: 33

Occupation: Regional Manager for RPT PRN, a medical services company

Background: Lifetime city resident; Airman 1st Class in Air Force; volunteer with Garden Grove Boys and Girls Club; endorsed by Councilman Bob Dinsen

Major issue: City’s economy and police officer reductions; advocates rebuilding business in Garden Grove by decreasing business taxes; would work to repeal all taxes levied against business owners, which he says have increased by 184% in five years; revenue would be directed back to Police Department

Robert J. Wilson II

Age: 42

Occupation: Owns local general contracting business

Background: Company voted Small Business of the Year in 1996; former member of Garden Grove Planning Commission; founder of citizens group COPER

Major issue: Public safety, including cleaning up city streets and moving adult businesses off Garden Grove Boulevard; supports redevelopment as partnership between residents and businesses and government; especially interested in revitalizing west side with new business

Source: Individual candidates