Q & A

Ron Bates, Los Alamitos councilman

Ron Bates, 50, is president-elect of the statewide League of California Cities. A Los Alamitos City Council member since 1988 and reelected this week to a third term, Bates served as president of the League of California Cities Orange County division in 1991. He holds a doctorate in public administration from USC and worked as city manager of Buena Park, assistant city manager of Anaheim and budget director for Orange County before starting his own financial and management consulting firm in 1988. He spoke with Times correspondent Lori Haycox about his new statewide position.

Q: What does the League of California Cities do?

A: The league is an organization of locally elected mayors and council members that advocates city issues and local control. Our basic responsibility is to work primarily with state government but also federal government to approve policies or legislation that helps citizens function effectively in their community.

Q: What are the major problems that cities face?

A: Every time the state has a problem, it comes looking to cities and counties to take their money to balance the state budget. It’s not fair, but the state does it. All of us are worried that we will have to cut back on police services, recreation services for the kids and that ultimately the quality of life in our cities will be affected. I think the state should look to reduce programs at the state level first. The things residents value most are at the city level. Police, fire, recreation, public works, local roads and streets--those are the highest priorities.

Q: How would you restructure government?

A: We’ve got a horse-and-buggy financial structure in California. We need to have tax structures and incentives that reflect our public policy. For example, when a person goes out and buys a new car, we tax them more for the new car than the old car. But its the new car that is helping to clean up our air. Does that make sense? Also, we are putting the burden of our 8% sales tax on manufacturers. We need to lower tax rates and spread them out. We should have taxes on our dry-cleaning bills and other service bills.

Q: What are your duties as president-elect?

A: My job is to listen to the mayors and council members throughout the state and try to develop the best consensus we can for all cities. I, along with the other officers, act as advocates on behalf of cities to try to influence legislation that affects cities. I will attend quarterly board of directors meetings held at various locations throughout the state. At those meetings, we take positions on state and federal legislation that affects cities and also work on developing policies that citizens want.