By John Earl
OC Voice Editor
The following city council election guide is based on information taken from a variety of sources, including the H.B. City Council Candidates Forum held on Sept. 18, as well as from Voice news stories, interviews and from campaign literature provided by the candidates.
The guide is divided into two parts. The first part provides some general background information about each candidate. The second part provides their detailed stands on two main issues. Contact information for each candidate is provided so you can ask them any follow up questions you like.
You can vote for up to three candidates to fill three openings. The top three vote getters win. Register to vote by Oct. 20. Vote Nov. 4.
R. ALLEN BAYLIS
Age: 53
H.B. Residency: 40 years.
R. Allen Baylis
Occupation: Retired commercial aircraft technician and inspector. Currently attorney specializing in nudity laws.
Community activism: Regularly spoke out against a city anti-nudity ordinance and a proposed “mandatory” spay and neuter ordinance at city council meetings. President of the Friends of San Onofre, a group dedicated to maintaining the clothing optional status currently in jeopardy at San Onofre State Beach. Opposed hanging the “In God We Trust” motto in city council chambers.
Political philosophy: “Free market” and civil libertarian bent. “I will not support laws or approve projects that do not have the broad support of the public.”
People who might vote for him: Civil libertarians, open space preservationists and those in favor of fewer laws and a weaker police state. Small business owners in favor of “less red tape.” Pet owners opposed to birth control or microchips for their pets. Opponents of the Poseidon desalination plant proposed for S.E Huntington Beach and placing a $22 million senior center in Central Park. People who seek a fresh approach to local government.
People who might not vote for him: Strong opponents of legalized public nudity, legalized medical marijuana, developers, advocates of more laws and greater police control. Proponents of the Poseidon desalination plant proposed for S.E Huntington Beach and placing a $22 million senior center in Central Park. People who want a city councilmember with a firmer grasp on a broader range of issues.
Why he wants the job: Says that the city council is making laws and approving projects that the citizens are opposed to. “It’s time for a change. It’s time for the city to pay attention to our residents and the business community. We need to repair our crumbling infrastructure and repair our streets. We need to eliminate needless red tape.”
Contact: www.baylis4hbcouncil.com; rab@baylislaw.com; (714) 962-0915
KEITH BOHR
Age: 47
H.B. Residency: 22 years
Keith Bohr
Occupation: Former city planner turned real estate developer specializing in mixed-use projects. Current member of the city council running for his second term.
Community activism: Active member of PALS, which supports the Orangewood Children’s Home. Volunteer for Council on Aging.
Political Philosophy: Moderate on social issues with a “free market” approach toward development. Generally pro-development but supports green building standards, both incentive based and possibly legislated. Previously he has been strongly backed by campaign contributions from developers, including Poseidon Inc., but opposed raising campaign contribution limits over $300 per contributor.
People who might vote for him: Developers, businesses owners, advocates of green building standards-both incentive and legislation based. Social issues moderates, animal (pet) control advocates. Voters interested in campaign financing reform that favors lower limits on contributions by individuals. Residents who favor privatization of ocean and drinking water by multi-national corporations; e.g., supporters of the Poseidon desalination plant in S.E Huntington Beach (Bohr voted for it and strongly supports it), supporters of building of a $22 million senior center in Central park (Bohr voted for it and strongly supports it).
People who might not vote for him: Residents opposed to the Poseidon desalination plant and in favor of maintaining public ownership of water instead of its privatization by multi-national corporations, people opposed the senior center in Central Park. Opponents of the Parkside home development on the upper Bolsa Chica Mesa wetlands and people more skeptical about development in general.
People who definitely won’t vote for him: Pet owners who view any attempt to legislate animal control as an attack on their property rights. Bohr proposed a mandatory spay, neuter and microchip ordinance last April with an eye towards curbing the cost of animal control services, which was $433,000 for fiscal year 2006; the proposal was withdrawn, but has earned him the wrath of pet owners ever since.
Why he wants the job: To continue the progress of the last 4 years by finishing the Strand (downtown H.B. hotel and retail development on PCH), finish Bella Terra (redevelopthe old Montgomery Ward and Levitzsites on Edinger), clean up the ASCON waste dump in southeast H.B., and build a new skateboard park.
Contact: (714) 315 2143; keithbohr@aol.com
BRUCE J. BRANDT
Age: 61
H.B. Residency: 37 years.
Bruce J. Brandt
Occupation: Licensed professional engineer. Currently Director of Space Programs at MDA Federal Inc. Formerly at Boeing for 35 years. Owns an H.B. based real estate company.
Community activism: Involved with VIP sports for special needs children.
Political Philosophy: Promises a “methodical, logical, engineering approach” to governing and opposes “big government and nanny laws.”
People who might vote for him: Opponents of the Poseidon desalination plant and of building a new senior center in Central Park. Voters looking for a candidate with years of executive business experience at a major corporation that can be applied to running the city.
People who might not vote for him: Proponents of the Poseidon desalination plant and the senior center in Central Park. Voters looking for a candidate with more political or government experience.
Why he wants the job: His love for the city and our ocean and to “ensure good governing principles for our city.” Wants to give extra attention to S.E. Huntington Beach, clean up the ASCON toxic waste site, stop the Poseidon desalination plant and save school open space.
Contact: (714) 313-0922; Brandtzanadu1@socal.rr.com
DEVIN DWYER
Age: 45
H.B. Residency: 45 years.
Devin Dwyer
Occupation: Owns a construction company. Serves on the city planning commission.
Community activism: Orange County Republican Central Committee. Yes on Measure E (overwhelmingly defeated ballot measure that would have required election of city councilmembers by district).
Political philosophy: Promises to “apply the same common sense principles of business to the city council position.”
People who might vote for him: Developers, businesses owners, advocates of green building standards that are voluntary and incentive based only. Proponents of privatization of ocean and drinking water by multinational corporations; e.g., supporters of the Poseidon desalination plant proposed for S.E Huntington Beach (Dwyer strongly supports it). Supporters of building a $22 million senior center in Central park (Dwyer voted for it and strongly supports it). Residents interested in making city infrastructure repairs a greater budget priority, improving ocean water quality and beach cleanliness.
People who might not vote for him: Opponents of privatization of ocean and drinking water for the mass public; e.g., opponents of the Poseidon desalination plant slated for S.E. Huntington Beach. Opponents of building a senior center in Central Park.
Why he wants the job: “We haven’t done enough with infrastructure. I kid around, but it’s the reality, you know when you are leaving Huntington Beach because all of the sudden the roads get smooth.” Wants to reform redevelopment policies “to keep small business in town” and remove Porta-Potties from the beach.
Contact: j.devindwyer@verizon.net; (714) 536-2440
DON HANSEN
Age: 36
H.B. Residency: 14 years
Don Hansen
Occupation: Vice President of the Commercial Finance Division of Balboa Capital Corporation a company that provides equipment financing to businesses. Currently member of the city council running for his second term.
Community activism: Campaigned for a successful city charter amendment banning rent control in the city. Active parishioner at St. Simon and Jude Church where he serves as a Lector. Volunteer work for Huntington Beach Community Clinic Duck-a-Thon and other community based groups.
Political philosophy: Favors “free market” principles including privatization of ocean water. Claims to be fiscally conservative. Initiated community forums on safety and other important issues. Supports unlimited campaign contributions for local candidates, but succeeded only in
convincing the city council majority to increase the limit from $300 to $500 per person. Hansen has been strongly backed by campaign contributions from developers, including Poseidon Inc. Opposes the city’s required policy of paying prevailing wages to street sweepers and maintenance workers.
People who might vote for him: Developers, businesses owners, “free market” water privatization entrepreneurs and advocates of green building standards that are voluntary and incentive based only. Residents who favor privatization of ocean and drinking water by multi-national corporations, including the Poseidon desalination plant in S.E Huntington Beach (Hansen voted for it and strongly supports it). Supporters of building a $22 million senior center in Central park (Hansen voted for it and strongly supports it). Residents pleased by his “no” vote on various mandatory and incentive based animal control ordinances. Residents who believe that he has been responsive to community issues and needs.
People who might not vote for him: Opponents of the Poseidon desalination plant and the privatization of publicly owned water by multi-national corporations. Opponents of the senior center in Central Park. Opponents of the Parkside home development on the upper Bolsa Chica Mesa wetlands. Southeast residents who say that he has not been responsive enough to community needs and that he represents corporate interests-like Poseidon-first.
Why he wants the job: To keep the local economy strong and create a stronger city budget. Wants to continue from where he left off with his previous claimed accomplishments. At the Sept. 18 candidates’ forum, Hansen said “I am happy to report to you tonight that our general fund revenues have grown 23 percent since I joined the council… I successfully implemented a plan to accelerate the conversion of our run down retail centers and we saved youth sports and Wardlow and Land fields which preserved valuable open space for our families. But I’m not done yet and there’s plenty left for us to do.”
Fact appraisal: Hansen probably gives too much credit to himself for dealing with retail centers and increasing city revenue. In fact, all city council actions take at least 4 votes to pass, so councilmembers must work together and city staff also play a major role, not to mention public input. As for city revenue increases, Hansen says he set a policy to dedicate money to the convention business bureau to help attract tourists to the city, but the major tourist draws to the city, the existing downtown hotels(Hyatt and Hilton) and Bella Terra (Edinger and Beach) were approved before he was elected to city council. Also, a major source of revenue increase for the city came from increased property values, which he certainly can’t take credit for, just as he can’t be blamed for their subsequent nose dive. On the other hand, Hansen is certainly one of the most involved and astute members of the city council, whether you agree with him or not. His most effective leadership has probably been behind the scenes in contract negotiations with city employees.
Contact: www.donhansen4hb.com; don@donhansen4hb.com; (714) 585-1550
DAN KALMICK
Age: 26
Residency: 4 years. Grew up in Seal Beach
Dan Kalmick
Occupation: Small business owner who consults with manufacturers, doctors, non-profits and other service-based small businesses.
Community activism: Volunteer firefighter in Seal Beach and Orange County Fire Authority. Ran for congress in the Democratic primary, losing to Debbie Cook.
Political philosophy: Greater efficiency through better technology. Opposes privatization of public ocean and drinking water.
People who might vote for him: Younger voters who are inspired by one of their own. Others who want to see a younger voice on the city council. Opponents of the Poseidon desalination plant. Advocates of maintaining public ownership of water. Opponents of the senior center in Central Park. Proponents of better use of technology in local government.
People who might not vote for him: Voters looking for a candidate with more experience. Proponents of the privatization of publicly owned ocean and drinking water; e.g., supporters of the Poseidon desalination plant. Proponents of building of a $22 million senior center in Central park.
Why he wants the job: The city should have a younger and different voice in government. “For too long we’ve had the same voice, friends of people running. We need an open mind, a scientific mind and someone that sees that we need some changes that need to be brought to the community, “Kalmick says, but he also wants to carry on the “steady hand and rationalthought that Mayor Debbie Cook brought to the council for eight years.” Wants to improve the city’s transportation infrastructure and bring high tech jobs to the city. Responsible development is a “huge issue.”
Contact: www.kalmick2008.com, dan@kalmick2008.com; (562) 397-3635
You can lead a horse to water, but can you make a horse drink.
The world’s freshwater resources are not sufficient to keep up with demand.
As the world population grows and water tables decline, a solution has been developed. That solution is desalination and Water Desalination International, Inc.’s Passarell V.E.S. will unveil a desalination process that will lead to solve that problem. The V.E.S process, Vapor, Element, Separator, separates potable water from the elements in seawater, using the gravitational influence in a vapor field. The extraction of drinking water leaves a wet crystallized salt eliminating waste brine from being returned to the sea and thus preserving the environment. Crucial environmental enforcement is necessary to preserve the environment. There are Extra benefits obtained from the crystallized salt through the sale to commercial markets, lowering the cost of drinking water. To preserve the environment WDI has developed a multiple pod system a technique of subsurface ( below the seafloor) seawater retrieval. For this environmental practice and the reduction in costs, the Passarell V.E.S. seawater desalination process will reduce the cost of drinking water. WDI will break the high price of drinking water from the sea, and lowered the cost of desalination by two third the costs of conventional process such as Reverse Osmosis. Soon-to-be operating in Saudi Arabia.
[...] For Dan’s (and the other candidates’) positions on other contentious local issues—i.e., Poseidon De-sal, Senior Center in the Park—consult these helpful, thorough articles from the Orange Coast Voice: http://ocvoice.wordpress.com/2008/10/10/huntington-beach-city-council-election-issue-water-privatization-and-the-poseidon-desalination-plant/ http://ocvoice.wordpress.com/2008/10/10/huntington-beach-city-council-election-issue-senior-center/ and http://ocvoice.wordpress.com/2008/10/10/huntington-beach-city-council-election-guide-08-part-1/ [...]