Pasadena City Council District H Candidate:

 

Being a native Pasadenan, I am proud to call this city my home. Raising my family and running a business here have made me even more committed to our community. My long-term goal is to be Mayor, and my role as District H Council Member is the start of my political career.
Pasadena is thriving, and I want to ensure that the progress continues into future generations. I am dedicated to being a voice for my neighbors and building opportunities that are beneficial to all residents. I am running because I wish to give back and help shape Pasadena's future.
To have been able to observe my dad serving Pasadena for 41 years as Assistant Chief of Police drove me to replicate his actions in my own way. His sense of public service and dedication embedded the importance of leadership, working, and dedication toward the well-being of everyone in me. My goal is to ignite the same passion within the City Council so that we may ensure that Pasadena remains a vibrant, dynamic city for centuries ahead.

 

Having nearly 20 years of experience in owning a small business, I have the decision-making, leadership, and financial abilities necessary to serve the people of District H. My Bachelor's in Business Management gave me the foundation in understanding fiscal responsibility and organizational leadership. At the age of 21, I was the financial administrator for a local church with a $1.5 million budget. Now, I oversee operations and lead a team of more than 80 agents, fostering efficiency and productivity. As a Captain with a major airline, I have been charged with the responsibility of the lives of thousands of passengers, having to make instant decisions under stressful circumstances. Prior to that, I conducted multiple life-saving organ transplant flights and transported seriously ill children, again honing my ability to remain calm and determined in crisis situations. These experiences have honed my leadership and crisis management skills, which are valuable in addressing the needs of our people. My business life has also equipped me with first-hand skills in public communication, budgeting, and financial literacy. I believe that open leadership and community engagement are vital in building trust and cooperation between residents and local authorities.

 

My highest priorities for the first 100 days are to further technology in the water billing division so that citizens can view their water bills on the internet, making it more convenient and transparent for our citizens. Updating this system will make it more efficient and customer-friendly. I will also target the Permit and Planning Department to make changes that will make the process more streamlined and enhance policies for new development. With these adjustments, we can attract more businesses to Pasadena, boost economic development, and create more jobs for our citizens.

 

My personal belief is that the way to embracing the city of Pasadena is creating a culture of cooperation, openness, and transparency. As a business owner and a leader, I have always been an open book with integrity and inclusiveness, listening to and respecting the ideas and opinions of others. I plan to bring that same mindset to City Council by working cooperatively with other council members in an effort to find common ground and make decisions that will best serve our citizens.
Transparency shall be a pillar of my leadership. I shall advocate for easier access to city information and open lines of communication between city officials and constituents. I am available seven days a week at my business and available to serve our citizens with the same passion and availability through email, phone, or text.
Building relationships with our residents, businesses, and community organizations will be important in uniting as one city. By working together with all our stakeholders, we can create a more inclusive and progressive Pasadena that reflects the aspirations and needs of all who call it home.

 

Small and local businesses are the economy of Pasadena, and I commit to their support. I would recommend the establishment of a rubric commonly employed in the review of city contracts to include extra points for local and small businesses in bids. This would make the playing field more even, and our community-based businesses would stand the best chance of competing on city projects. Additionally, I would recommend that we put in a goal where a certain percentage of all city contracts go to small businesses, with another stipulation giving priority to local businesses. This project will not only develop our local economy but will also make our community more invested and generate more jobs.

 

I also prioritize strategic development of city-owned properties to attract businesses that serve community needs. By partnering with business owners and developers, we can create jobs and revitalize underutilized areas.

Infrastructure upgrades are essential for business investment. Improving roads, drainage, and public utilities will support future development. I will work to fund and execute these projects efficiently and transparently, driving Pasadena’s long-term economic growth.

One of my greatest priorities for improving the city is that we must ensure that Pasadena has the best planning policies to support small businesses. Some of our current planning requirements have pushed businesses elsewhere in other cities, and this needs to shift. I believe we need to have a practical zoning and permitting policy that ensures growth while sustaining the character of our city. By making these changes, Pasadena can be a more business-friendly city, welcoming new businesses and growing our local economy. I will advocate for an effective process with online accessibility, electronic submissions, and real-time tracking capability to maximize efficiency and transparency.

 

I will continue to improve roads and ensure that we have a plan to prioritize repairs for the worst-shaped roads. When these roads are replaced, I will work to ensure that we have improved drainage systems that make roads, not homes and businesses, shoulder excess water when it rains heavily. I also support initiatives to expand high-speed internet access using Starlink and work with providers to make the city's power grid more reliable to prevent outages and for future growth.

 

I would like to bring the water billing system into the 21st century so that residents may easily view and pay their water bills online. I will also enhance the planning and permitting system so that all aspects are viewable, submittable, and trackable online, making the process more efficient and easy to use for businesses and developers.

 

My dad retired from the Pasadena Police Department as Assistant Chief after 41 years of service, giving me first-hand experience in law enforcement and public safety. I would like to continue growing our police department, hiring more officers, adopting drone technology, deploying license plate cameras, and exploring the feasibility of re-establishing a helicopter division to enhance public safety and aerial support for police officers.

 

Further, as Pasadena expands, we need to prioritize the development of infrastructure in areas that would be best suited for medical facilities so that they are endowed with the utilities, roads, and ancillary services that they require. I also stand for more accountability in healthcare services, like transparency in operations and funding, so that residents can be confident of quality care. Collaboration with medical professionals, city planners, and business community leaders will be essential in developing a master plan to expand and improve Pasadena's healthcare facilities

The city should strongly partner with local school districts and community colleges to create part-time and internship programs for students in technical and trade fields. Learning through doing as students, they will be better prepared to enter the workforce as graduates, filling critical gaps in skilled labor. Additionally, Pasadena needs to invest in job training programs that are coordinated with local business demand so that our citizens have the skills needed to thrive in the economy today. Developing these partnerships will not only make our workforce more efficient, but it will also encourage businesses to locate and expand in our city