Council Candidates Outline Their Hopes

The five candidates for San Fernando City Council share a common vision: They want an economically strong community anchored by a quaint, upscale retail center, more single-family homes and less crime.

Despite some big-city problems such as gangs and graffiti, the candidates describe San Fernando as a middle-class enclave among the grittier neighborhoods of the northeast San Fernando Valley. They hope to use that image to lure new businesses, generating new jobs and merchant profits.

On Tuesday, voters will elect three candidates to the five-member council.

Political newcomer Steve Veres, a teacher and UCLA doctoral candidate, said his experience on the city’s historical commission and as head of Friends of the San Fernando Library has prepared him for a council seat. He said he plans to work to improve neighborhood cleanliness and safety, increase senior housing and attract new stores and restaurants to the city.

San Fernando Transportation and Safety Commissioner Marie Cano, a legal services advocate, said she will work to ensure that the city gets adequate state and federal funds to improve its infrastructure. She also pledged to work to increase business opportunities and develop senior housing.

Incumbent Beverly Di Tomaso, a businesswoman, said her voting record reflects her appreciation for quality-of-life issues: routine water testing for chromium 6 contamination, improved resident notification of proposed developments, new youth job-search training programs, and the elimination of parking districts that required residents to buy permits to park in front of their homes.

Legislative district director Nury Martinez wants to build community health clinics, improve parks and enforce living-wage and rent-control laws. She said she also would work to improve HIV-AIDS testing, counseling and educational outreach to local schools.

Julie Ruelas, a Mission College instructor, said she wants to foster collaboration between government agencies and private institutions to improve delivery of public services to residents. She said she plans to promote programs for youth and small business development.

San Fernando City Council members are elected at large to four-year terms. The city’s Web site -- www.ci.san-fernando.ca.us -- has more information on the election.