OC Register/Tribune Questionnaire

By Angela Chen Lindstrom

Responses to OC Register/Tribune Questionnaire that will appear in future edition of the paper.

1. Why do you believe you are the best candidate for City Council?

Fullerton faces many challenges that can be met and overcome by involved citizens who, like me, are willing to take action. As a UCLA engineering graduate and a software project manager handling multi-million dollar budgets, leading large teams of professionals, I have the sound planning, management, and problem-solving skills to meet these challenges. I am not beholden to any special interest group, and can therefore represent the community fairly and objectively. Being a champion for all the citizens of Fullerton is my number one priority. Our city's changing face demands fresh ideas and a more diverse council.

2. What are your concerns about open space in Fullerton?

Open space is a precious resource for the community and region at large. It is an important quality of life amenity for residents. The pace of housing development in Fullerton in the last few years has resulted in the diminishment of open space to a level that is uncharacteristic of a city that prides itself on history and heritage. Housing development in general also places a heavy burden on the city's infrastructure, schools, and public services. Unless balanced by equal or better growth in the local business base, this poses a serious threat to the city's fiscal stability.

The West Coyote Hills housing development proposal is a cogent argument for open space for all of these reasons. This 510-acre site is the last major natural open space in this vicinity of North Orange County, and is important for its natural habitat and recreational use. The Fullerton City Council should be taking a leadership role to work with the community, landowner, county and state to preserve it for use as a public nature park. It is the environmentally and fiscally responsible thing to do. The preservation of West Coyote Hills can be their most important legacy to the future of Fullerton.

3. How do you plan to vote on the city clerk, appointed vs. elected issue?

The City Clerk is responsible for keeping accurate records of Council meetings and ordinances, serving as the cityˇ¦s election official, and other duties as defined in the state Government and Elections code. The position is clerical, and has no voting authority over city policies. State law allows for this position to be either elected or appointed. Fullerton is in the minority of Orange County cities in having an elected City Clerk; twenty five City Clerks are appointed, and eight are elected in this region.

The upcoming city ballot issue to appoint the City Clerk was prompted by the cityˇ¦s difficulty in finding a qualified individual for the vacated position. An appointed City Clerk allows the city to recruit candidates based on professional qualifications, regardless of city residency or voter registration status. An elected City Clerk has no requirement regarding education or professional qualifications, only city residency and a registered voter status.

I support an appointed City Clerk because the position is clerical, and candidate selection can be based on stringent educational and professional qualifications using a competitive recruitment process. Appointment, rather than election, seems the more pragmatic and meritorious approach to filling the clerical, non-political position of City Clerk.

4. What are the 3 most important issues facing Fullerton residents this election year?

• Open Space

We need to preserve our most precious natural heritage, West Coyote Hills. Developing this land with more housing will destroy a valuable natural habitat, add more traffic, and burden our deteriorating infrastructure, schools, public services, and water resources. I am the only candidate actively working to preserve West Coyote Hills as public access natural open space for all North County residents to enjoy.

• Economic Development

Redevelopment area projects and business incentive programs are key to attracting and retaining businesses, as are attentiveness and responsiveness to Fullerton's business community. Downtown Fullerton is a successful example of this approach. It has enjoyed a continued and visibly successful revitalization in the last several years due to public and private investment. Businesses and patrons are increasingly attracted to do business, shop and dine there.

Redevelopment efforts should continue the revitalization of Downtown Fullerton. The city should cooperate with businesses and community organizations in planning improvements, and resolving issues to promote growth in Downtown Fullerton. Improving public facilities should be a priority. Parking problems resulting from increased business activity and the Transportation Center need to be actively addressed by the city so growth is not stymied. Alleyways, streets and sidewalks that abut restaurants and shops should be improved so as to be appealing to businesses and patrons alike. Restoring the Fox Theater with private and public (Redevelopment funds) investment into a commercially viable concept will not only add to the cultural significance of Downtown Fullerton, but also stimulate further business growth.

• Infrastructure

The Infrastructure Advisory Committee proposed a number of recommendations to fund these deficiencies: lobbying federal and state officials for funding, pursuing regional, state, and federal grants, leveraging Redevelopment Project Areas and Community Development Block Grant Area funding.

Having good roads and public facilities are important to attracting and retaining businesses and residents. The City Council should work aggressively to allocate funding to infrastructure improvement either by reducing spending in other areas, and/or securing additional funds from state and federal agencies so that this deficiency is addressed as a top priority.