PRO

Bob Hoxsie

It’s easy to write things about people. The difficulty is finding

something good to say. With Huntington Beach Mayor Dave Garofalo, the

trouble is limiting the number of people who say good things.

The Dave Garofalo I know has spent a lifetime giving. While not

blessed with a great personal fortune, Dave’s specialty is donating his

time and his talent. He finds more time for charity work than just about

anyone I know. His talent to make the impossible work is unparalleled.

I thought I kept busy with volunteer work, but the Dave Garofalo I

know sits on at least 12 nonprofit boards. That’s a board meeting 12

nights per month.

When nonprofit presidents call, Dave can’t say no. Helping to raise

money, be in plays, play Santa Claus, build playground equipment, helping

to raise money, raise money, raise money and raise money -- that’s what

drives this guy.

Our mayor helped start two local education foundations, and he’s the

founding president of the regional Cancer Foundation. In fact, he’s

chaired groups for just about every disease you can raise money for. He

was recently selected one of only four outstanding small-businessmen in

California by the Small Business Assn.

If Mayor Dave said he sold his business, he sold his business. If

Mayor Dave said he made $1 on a house he sold to a friend, that’s the

truth.

Dave Garofalo knew the liability of fighting for Wal-Mart because he

understood there are two sides to each story. He knew that his countywide

ballot position on the El Toro Airport was a political firestorm, but he

did what he felt was the right thing. Dave knew that helping to end

lawsuits going nowhere on Bolsa Chica was the right thing to do and, by

helping to sell the wetlands to the state, he helped that happen.

That’s the short version of why we should support our Mayor Dave

Garofalo. The press has tried him by ignoring the facts. The press has

ignored serious allegations of potential impropriety involving other

council members. Why?

Dave Garofalo has disclosed every client he has. Not all council

members have done the same. When you do business with Dave, up until he

sold his business, he would place your name, address, phone number and

oftentimes picture in a newspaper.

That’s more than we can say about some of his colleagues who hide

behind convenient state laws. He makes a living in this community. Isn’t

that what we wanted when we elected a representative of the people,

someone with ties to the community?

Dave Garofalo has been there for the kids, seniors, needy and, above

all, the general public for his entire six years in public office. We’ve

seen him get streets fixed, speeding limits lowered, trees removed and

businesses opened for a lot of regular people.

That’s who Dave Garofalo has been all his life and, if we have

anything to say about it, what we will continue to expect and demand of

Dave the rest of his volunteer political career.

Let’s hope that some of his colleagues will stop giving speeches and

start disclosing what they need to and start helping the rest of us keep

the quality of life we’ve worked hard to earn.

* BOB HOXSIE is a Huntington Beach resident.