We became a city for “Self Determination”. That means we didn’t want Colton, County or “Outsiders” making laws or deciding what was “best” for “We the People”. But over time the growing oppressive bureaucracy at city hall (mostly non residents) have slowly fallen out of touch. Code Enforcement ticketed me for growing a “garden” on my land. That’s when I said ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
Overhauling City Hall includes the way the city does business, treats its citizens and businesses, breaking the bureaucratic mold and start problem solving by thinking out of the box. I have also been speaking out that this city is not business friendly and it is driving away businesses new, potential and existing. Wilden Pump our largest employer is thinking about moving out!
Most of you know me as Old McConnell’s Farm that guy giving away free food grown here in GT. For 40 years I been building as a General Contractor and buying and fixing distressed properties, 40 years as a licensed real estate and now a broker. For 17+ years I have attended nearly all of the Council meetings, nearly all of the Planning Commission meetings, I have been an active out spoken advocate for Grand Terrace, watched administrations and city employees come and go, served on the Board of the Chamber of Commerce, 6 years as editor of the Blue Mountain Outlook, 14 years in the Lions Club, Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Committee, Currently a Planning Commissioner, Vice Chair of the ad hoc Budget Advisory Committee, organized petitions, multiple council workshops and committees.
IN 2013 I formed a PAC (political action committee). I raised money, printed signs and fliers. I named my campaign “No on Measure C. The city voted to use your tax money to print fancy glossy flyers loaded with scare tactics. Do you remember them? Parks will close! Pot holes will not get fixed! Senior Center will close down! The city will dis-incorporate! We will once again become South Colton!
I repeatedly called him out on there lies. We were attacked by the code enforcement stealing our signs if they were too close to the street. It got really heated and out of hand on 92313 Facebook page. Sign wars broke out. After Election Day when all the dust had settled We the People agreed with me and told the city almost 2 to 1, NO! to your utility tax, NO! to your fear tactics. And then about a week after the election it came out that the city manager was hiding hundreds of thousands of dollars from everybody to make it look like the city was less well-off then we actually were. All of those fear tactics and lies being fed to us with our tax dollars never came true. A small core group of people said “Yes you CAN fight City Hall and WIN!” And I learned that yes, I CAN make a difference in Grand Terrace!
Mr. Ken Henderson, my opponent, was APPOINTED last year by the council 4-1 NOT elected by “We the People”! Here in GT he pushed for a 6% Utility tax (Measure C), he stated he wanted to enhance the Tax base of GT and if you go to www.SaveGT.org you can watch the videos of him making motions for (3) different new taxes and asking for even MORE Code Enforcement.
Are you tired of more taxes, more citations and more fees? It’s time for real change and new leadership! I will push for a coalition to create a smaller less oppressive bureaucracy at city hall. No more Gestapo like tactics from code enforcement, A “Green Agriculture Zone” for our own locally grown healthy fruits and vegetables on the last large open area of GT like the good old days were. We have too many vacant lots. It’s time to give power back to we the people by having a “Think Tank” of what WE want GT to be with input from everyone so that WE can determine our own future, exercise our freedom, our liberty and our desire to pursue happiness on our terms NOT by an overpriced, oppressive bureaucracy that doesn’t even live in Grand Terrace.