LWV LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS

Smart Voter
Orange County, CA November 2, 1999 Election
Council Member; Proposed City of Rancho Santa Margarita

4,578 / 83.6% Yes votes ...... 898 / 16.4% No votes


Candidates (Vote for 5)
Click on a candidate name for more information.

Debra H. Lewis 3,261 votes 13.7%

  • Occupation: Attorney
  • For the past 4 years, I have been a leader in the cityhood movement. I have actively participated with the RSM Cityhood Committee, lending my legal
  • expertise in writing and reviewing legal documents. The first city council will be required to negotiate, read and sign numerous contracts for
  • essential city services within a very short time span. My experience will help get the city off on the right legal foot.
  • I am Vice President of the RSM Civic Council and authored the well received Civic Council Resolution opposing an airport at El Toro. Recently, the
  • Civic Council joined ETRPA and positioned the new city to continue the fight. I have experience running a business, chairing boards of directors and
  • working with county officials on behalf of the community, all of which prepares me to run the new city.
Priorities:
  • Staunch opposition to an airport at MCAS El Toro
  • Increased Public Safety
  • Fiscal Responsibility
Carol A. Gamble 3,071 votes 12.9%
  • Occupation: RSM Business owner of a Consultanting Engineering Firm
  • Vice President, Rancho Santa Margarita Cityhood Committee
  • RSM Save the Park Committee
  • RSM Chamber of Commerce Member
  • South Orange County Chamber of Commerce Member
Priorities:
  • Continue to work aggressively to stop the development of a commercial airport at El Toro
  • Effective Start-up of the New City and the development and Operation of a Regional Inter-Generational Community Center
  • Increase Law Enforcement and Traffic Control
James M. "Jim" Thor 2,799 votes 11.8%
  • Occupation: Business Owner
  • Founder, past President, current Member of RSM Civic Council
  • Currently, Planning Director, Planning Advisory Committee
  • Member Economic Development Committee
  • Current member SMWD Advisory Board
Priorities:
  • To actively oppose the proposed airport at El Toro
  • To create an economically viable city, while increasing public safety
  • To increase local control over land planning issues, including active support for an InterGenerational community center
Gary Thompson 2,729 votes 11.5%
  • Occupation: Submarine Maintenance Manager- Dept of the Navy
  • Secretary- Rancho Santa Margarita Cityhood Committee
  • Member at Large- Rancho Santa Margarita Civic Council
  • Member- RSM Civic Council Planning Advisory Committee
  • Member- Santa Margarita Water District Citizen's Advisory Board
  • Member- RSM Economic Development Committee
  • Former Vice-President, SAMLARC Board of Directors
Priorities:
  • Support establishment and operation of a financially responsible managed city, representing all residents and businesses it serves.
  • Support increased law enforcement, expanding youth activities and educational opportunities, development of the inter-generational community center.
  • Adamantly oppose a commercial airport at El Toro.
Neil C. Blais 2,610 votes 11.0%
  • Occupation: Consulting Engineer specializing in emergency management
  • President, Rancho Santa Margarita Civic Council
  • Treasurer, Rancho Santa Margarita Cityhood Committee
  • Member, National Emergency Management Association
  • Member, International Association of Emergency Managers
  • Member, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute
  • Member, Association of State Floodplain Managers
Priorities:
  • I endorse and support the Cityhood incorporation goals which include increase law enforcement,
  • the development and operation of an intergenerational community center,
  • and the long-term fiscal viability and responsibility of the new city.
Michael F. "Mike" Safranski 2,341 votes 9.8%
  • Occupation: President, Trabuco Canyon Water District (Elected)
  • Facility Manager, Unisys Corporation
  • Vice President, Trabuco Highlands Community Association
  • Member, South Orange County Regional Chambers of Commerce External Affairs Committee
  • Alternate Member, Local Area Formation Commission (LAFCO) Special District Advisory Committee
  • Commissioner, Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) JPA
  • Certified Facility Manager (CFM), International Facility Management Association
Priorities:
  • To listen to the community's residents.
  • To communicate openly and honestly.
  • To focus on the community's best interests.
David J. Raslowsky 1,524 votes 6.4%
  • Occupation: Business Owner
  • 8 year resident of RSM/Trabuco Canyon
  • Founder of successful business that helps companies meet federal and state safety laws
  • Active in RSM youth sports as referee and coach
  • Wife and three children members of San Francisco Solano Church
Priorities:
  • Establish a model city that provides the best city services to residents
  • Develop more open space for our children
  • Attract a quality business base to keep taxes low for residents
T. Shane Conway 1,352 votes 5.7%
  • Occupation: Deputy Marshal
  • B.A. in Administration of Justice, CSU Fullerton
  • Board Member, California State Marshals Association
  • Volunteer, Rancho Santa Margarita Disaster Preparedness Team
  • Over 15 years with Orange County Marshals Dept.
  • Resident of Rancho Santa Margarita for 12 years
Priorities:
  • Maintaining the high-quality of life in Rancho Santa Margarita.
  • Working within the budget without saddling the residents or businesses with more taxes or fees.
  • Keeping our new city as safe as possible from crime and natural hazards.
Susan Koenig 1,231 votes 5.2%
  • Occupation: Code Enforcement Officer
  • Prior - Product Assurance Engineer 16yrs.
  • Multiple Awards - Public Service, City &State Level
  • Prior Re - Developed Orginzation "Neigobors in Action"
  • Community Activist Since 1979
Valer V. "Val" Secarea, Jr. 839 votes 3.5%
  • Occupation: Computer Systems Engineer
  • Nine years on homeowner association boards
  • Five years as president of 2614 home community.
Priorities:
  • Ensure that the conduct of city business is open to its citizens.
  • Work to keep the "promise of RSM" as a community in which we can all live, work and play.
  • Assure that the city of RSM will have the financial strength to pay for municipal services.
Richard B. Oakley 722 votes 3.0%
  • Occupation: Regional Manager
  • "...putting the citizens of RSM first!"
  • A 5 year resident of Rancho Santa Margarita
  • 30 years of business & management experience
  • former USAR artillery & Medical Service Corps officer
  • married, one daughter in college
  • former RSM condominium homeowner, currently RSM single family homeowner
Priorities:
  • Oppose the use of El Toro as any airport
  • Support improving citizen safety through increased police & Emergency Medical Service coverage
  • Support maintaining citizen property values through experienced planning & organization skills
Alex G Bassinne 504 votes 2.1%
  • Occupation: Diversion Counselor
  • BA in Psychology, Cal State Fullerton
  • Certified PC 1000 Counselor
  • Meber American Psychiatric Association
  • Background in Bussiness Administration/management
  • Resident of Rancho since 1994
Priorities:
  • Promoting safety, prosperity and quality of life within the community
  • Emphasis on providing superior public services, creating city beautification projects, and protecting the welfare of the elderly
  • Favors measured growth, but opposes the El ToroAirport
Narges Niedzwiecki 406 votes 1.7%
  • Occupation: Historian/Scholar
Della P. Florence 395 votes 1.7%
  • Occupation: Network System Administrator
  • Trusted in home PC Repair Tech
Priorities:
  • I wish to improve the quality of life for our children.
  • I will work to aquire additional parks and feilds for the children to play in.
  • To address the growing need for emergency services.

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Created: November 18, 1999 14:49
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