What is the biggest issue facing the...

What is the biggest issue facing the city?

The biggest issue facing the city is the finding a solution to our

shrinking revenue base. Without top-line growth, our city must

further cut city services to unacceptable levels.

Considering such issues as the sports complex lawsuit and

improperly converted condominiums, do you agree with criticism that

the city has been mismanaged? How would you run the city better?

I agree that serious mistakes have been made, and we absolutely

need to hold people accountable for their actions. We need to learn

from our mistakes and make sure the policies and procedures we have

in place protect us from similar issues in the future.

I hope to bring a more open and collaborative tone to city

government. I believe the more people that work together instead of

against each other, the more our city will benefit.

Given that the future of the Bolsa Chica still is unclear, what is

your position on development on the upper portion of the mesa and

other environmental issues facing the city?

I believe Huntington Beach scored a tremendous victory when the

Bolsa Chica wetlands were preserved via the statewide ballot

initiative in 2002. I believe that developing the small portion of

the upper mesa is reasonable and not environmentally threatening to

the area.

What direction do you think development -- such as the Strand,

Pacific City, Bella Terra and a third hotel proposed between the

Hilton Waterfront and Hyatt -- should be headed in the city?

All new development should have an emphasis on quality. We have a

unique opportunity to create something special with these projects

and we should ensure that they are of the highest caliber.