THE RACE FOR HUNTINGTON BEACH CITY COUNCIL

Tariq Malik

Gil Coerper, a 40-year resident, has served for the last 36 years with

the Huntington Beach Police Department.

He said public safety, as well as infrastructure and wetland

protection, is the most important issue facing the city today.

“Maintaining our quality of life depends on safe streets in our

neighborhoods,” Coerper said, adding that he’s dedicated his life to

fighting crime in the city. “Doing the job right requires a strong and

positive presence, as well as a community-oriented focus.”

The city must focus on housing and planning single-family homes along

transportation corridors that don’t impede traffic, he said.

Public safety and relationships with schools to develop open space and

parks for children, he added, are also important.

BIO

GIL COERPER

* Age: 66

* Family: Wife Louann, and sons Scott and Michael

* Community Activism: West Point Military Academy Admissions Officer,

Area D; Boy Scouts of America Advisor; and Military Logistics Officer for

California Peace Officers Memorial Foundation

* Contact: (714) 841-3009

GIL COERPER ON:

* REDEVELOPMENT

“City officials have dodged the issue for too long,” he said.

Eminent domain, he added, should not be used with project’s such as

the Huntington Center.

“Proper compromise would benefit both the owners of the center and

community,” he said.

The city should also begin planning and building in the Downtown area,

with the hotel and convention center serving as a tourism draw to

Huntington Beach, he said.

* THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FACING THE CITY

There are two main challenges the city must face in the next few

years, Coerper said.

First, the city must work at restoring the confidence of residents in

their City Council, and the second is the infrastructure, he said..

“City Hall must raise the standards in the city that will be to the

standards of all the citizens.”