Candidate for
Member, City Council; City of Santa Rosa

Hello, I'm Lee Pierce. I appreciate this opportunity to share with you my desire to represent you on The Santa Rosa City Council.

Recently, Santa Rosa Council member, Janet Condron, stated: "No matter where you go in Santa Rosa, people recognize the leadership qualities of Lee Pierce."

As you might imagine, I was humbled by her statement. But, let me tell you something: no matter where you go, in Santa Rosa, you can find people of good will, people who want to help address the problems facing our city and people who want to protect Santa Rosa's quality of life. I'm just one of them and I have the experience, time and energy necessary to be a productive member of the City Council.

No matter where you go in our wonderful city, people place a very high priority on public safety. No matter where you go in Santa Rosa, people are very, very concerned about traffic congestion.

Our number one priority has to become solving the traffic problems on Santa Rosa's streets and roads, followed closely by putting more resources to work to create better after-school opportunities for our children that keep them out of gangs.

For too long, we have looked at alternative transportation systems. We have conducted study after study to find new ways, better ways of transporting people, meanwhile local traffic problems continue to worsen.

The sad truth is that not enough people will ever get out of their cars and use alternative forms of transportation, in the numbers necessary to reduce traffic congestion on our local highways, streets and roads. Until such time as our public officials accept these facts, nothing will be done to properly address these aggravating traffic conditions. We must repair, widen and expand our streets and roads now! If not, we will have gridlock on our local streets and roads far worse than it is today. It is going to take strong leadership to make the tough decisions that will bring traffic relief!

Speaking of making tough decisions, when making decisions about future development, the impact on our local economy AND our quality of life should be considered critical factors. Like you, I believe there needs to be a balance between enhancing a community's economy and protecting the environment.

I support Measure O, on the November ballot, because our city's quality of life is without question tied to our ability to feel and be safe at work, on our streets, in our schools, in our neighborhoods AND in our homes.

Last year, the Fire Department was unable to get to 2,100 emergency calls within the, critical, first 6 minutes because of staff cutbacks and budget shortfalls. That number will surely increase without Measure O funding, which will allocate 40% of all revenues collected to the Fire Department, 40% to the Police Department and 20% toward After-School Programs aimed at gang prevention.

I hope you will agree that our safety and peace of mind is worth the .25 cents of every hundred dollars spent, locally, under Measure O. - AND make no mistake about it, as your elected representative on the City

Council, I will see to it that every penny of Measure O tax revenue gets spent, as specified, on Police, Fire and gang prevention activities.

As I said earlier, no matter where you go in Santa Rosa, you can find people of good will wanting to protect Santa Rosa's quality of life. I'm just one of them. Currently, I serve on the Santa Rosa Planning Commission, Sonoma County Office of Education's Personnel Commission, the Workforce Investment Board of Sonoma County, I have chaired the Sonoma County Private Industry Council, I am a founding member of The North bay Employment Connection, I have a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of San Francisco, AND I have the time, energy and experience necessary to be a productive member of the Santa Rosa City Council.

I ask for your consideration - as one of your 4 choices - for Santa Rosa City Council - on Election Day.