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Get the facts on the California candidates running for election to the City Treasurer — City of Torrance
Find out their top 3 priorities, their experience, and who supports them.
Torrance Municipal Election
Candidates' Forum: Mayor, City Treasurer AND Afterward, a Pros & Cons Presentation of Measure SST
Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Torrance Area
Open to the Public
Toyota Meeting Hall, Torrance Cultural Arts Center
3330 Civic Center Dr.
Torrance California 90503
A native Southern Californian, I have lived in Torrance for 38 years. I raised two sons, who both attended Torrance Public Schools from Kindergarten to graduation from South High. Their participation in programs like AYSO soccer, Little League and School Band made an important difference in their lives, so I am forever grateful for this city and this community.
I love Torrance, it’s such a great place to live. We have vibrant businesses, excellent schools, safe neighborhoods, and friendly people who care about our community. In 1986, I started my own Computer Systems and Networking business here in Torrance, which, after almost 15 years of growth, I sold in 2000, just prior to the so-called ‘dot-com’ crash. Being a business owner and employer has helped me understand the challenges local business owners face every day.
Over the past 23 years, I have devoted myself to volunteer community service in an effort to give something back to this community, which has given so much to me. I want to see our City remain a vibrant place, a place that people want to live, work, and shop.
I was sworn in to the Torrance City Council on August 12, 2014. My community service includes volunteering for the City as a Commissioner on multiple Commissions and I now serve on the boards of the Torrance-South Bay YMCA and the Torrance Salvation Army, where I am also currently the Board Chair.
Prior to becoming a City Councilmember, I served on the Torrance Planning Commission, and previously served 8 years on the Environmental Quality and Energy Conservation Commission, the last 3 years of which I served as Chairperson.
I began volunteering with the Torrance South-Bay YMCA 22 years ago, and now serve on their Board of Managers. For each the last 10 years, I have lead nearly 300 volunteers conducting the annual YMCA community support campaign. During these campaigns, we have helped raise millions of dollars, which stays right here in our community to serve those who otherwise could not afford the valuable programs that the Y offers, such as senior meals and programs, swim lessons, summer camps, and childcare, just to name a few.
As my children attended Torrance schools, I volunteered on the band board, graduation committee, was a regular field trip chaperon and many other volunteer positions.
I also was fortunate enough to have had the time to be the primary caretaker for both of my parents as they each fought, and ultimately lost their battles against cancer. This process probably taught me more than all my years of school and work combined, strengthening my skills including patience, compassion, and dedication.
It's important for people to understand my thinking for why I am running for this position. I describe those reasons in detail below. Thank you for reading!
I care about our City. That’s why I have served the City of Torrance now for over 16 years, initially on several Commissions, and now for almost 8 years on City Council. And I want to continue to serve our City.
In early 2018, our City Manager brought to the attention of Council a significant list of problems happening in the City Treasurer’s office. We as a Council took action to try to protect the City by transferring a significant portion of the Treasurer’s job duties to the Finance Department, and we reduced the wages paid to the City Treasurer by half, commensurate with the reduction in job duties. Had this position been appointed, we would have likely terminated the current Treasurer, but being elected, that option was not available, as only the voters can remove an elected official. I was, and have been, the most outspoken Councilmember about these ongoing issues, and decided to take matters into my own hands and decided, rather than just talk about it, I would solve this problem myself by running to replace the current Treasurer and filed to do so in April of 2021, almost 1 year ago.
Why choose me? Experience, Dependability, Respectability, Integrity.
Experience - My experience comes from 15 years as CEO and Chief Financial Officer of my own, multi-million$ computer business which I grew and successfully sold. Managing the finances of the company as well as the employees, gives me the skills needed to manage the Treasurer’s duties and office. Also, in my 8 years on City Council, I have reviewed, questioned and approved monthly Treasurer investment reports and annual investment policy documents.
Dependability – In almost 8 years on council, I’ve only missed 2 Council meetings. And roughly the same for my 8+ years prior as a commissioner. The only time I’ve resigned from a position was to take a new position.
Respectability - As an elected official who has a demonstrated history of caring for our Community, and repeated confidence of the voters, I’ve proven you can count on me, and I won’t embarrass our City.
Integrity - I have a proven track record as your Councilmember of upholding the highest level of ethics and integrity.
Lastly, people constantly ask me, ‘why run for Treasurer and not for Mayor?’. After the unexpected loss of my oldest son in May 2020, I made the decision that I do want to continue to serve our City, I do want to solve a big ongoing problem in the Treasurer’s office, and yet return some balance to my personal life that being Mayor or even Councilmember would not afford.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me and why I'm running!
A 3 minute video describing why I am running to be the new Torrance City Treasurer and discussion of my qualifications.
SEVEN GOVERNING PRINCIPLES
1. The Free Enterprise System, not Government, is the most productive supplier of human needs. The poor escape poverty by work—not Government spending. Handouts breed dependence.
2. Rewarding the powerful and well connected at the expense of the ordinary or favoring the impoverished or minority over the wealthy or majority is equally wrong.
3. All individuals are entitled to equal rights, justice, opportunity and the fruits of their labor. Legal immigration benefits the Nation.
4. Individual liberty is preserved when constitutional limitations are respected and observed. Individual responsibility nurtures a healthy culture of family, community and work.
5. A Nation is defined by its borders. Defending them is the first obligation of Government.
6. Every dollar Government spends is taken from a hardworking taxpayer. Business taxes are passed on to consumers as higher prices.
7. Our Nation’s moral character depends on faith in, and freedom to serve, our Creator, Almighty God.
I am running for City Treasurer to restore the cash management duties of the office of City Treasurer. Aside from returning the office to normalcy after four years of turmoil, it is the focus of my campaign.
I currently serve as Chief Financial Officer of California Taxpayers Action Network. We are a grassroots organization that exposes waste, fraud and abuse in government spending. We save your hard-earned tax dollars and make sure they are used for their intended purpose. I am running to return the office of City Treasurer to normalcy after four years of turmoil.
City Treasurer duties are specified in the City Charter, Section 603. I’ll mention only the most important duty of the treasurer as I see it: “It shall be the duty of the City Treasurer to receive and safely keep all moneys which shall come into his hands as City Treasurer.… He shall pay out moneys …” That requires cash management functions in the office of City Treasurer.
I single out the cash management duty because on June 26, 2018 the City Council modified the duties of the City Treasurer and aligned the “remaining City Treasurer’s functions … in accordance with the City Charter”. The item went on to reference the 300-page investigational report into the current City Treasurer that supported the City Manager’s action.
What did the re-alignment do? The most important thing it did was take away the cash management function from the City Treasurer. And that violated in my view, the City Charter. Taking back the charter duties of City Treasurer starts the day I am elected.
Let me promise you. I will vigorously defend the prerogatives of the City Treasurer. I will reclaim the cash management duties taken in violation of the City Charter. The public office of City Treasurer will be restored to the place of prominence it had before June, 2018.
The office of City Treasurer is a temporary grant of trust, not an obligation owed to the winner. It is a platform to serve, not a tool to acquire pension, health or retirement benefits. Taking a paycheck but not working is just plain wrong.
I respectfully ask for your vote.
Voters have a right to know where a candidate stands on important issues in our City. As your candidate for City Treasurer, I oppose Measure SST, the half-cent sales tax increase on the June ballot
The California Auditor Dashboard of High Risk Financially Distressed Cities rates Torrance #4 out of 423 California cities. Torrance is #1 in future pension costs. Current pension payments are 15% of Torrance’s $322 million revenue stream. They’re expected to rise to 22% by fiscal year 2028. Pension costs will drive Torrance’s deficit for another decade. Excessive pensions are bankrupting Torrance.
For the past seven years the City Council foolishly drained City reserves rather than cut spending. They used our street easements as collateral. They borrowed money to fund current operating expenses. Unwilling to cut spending, they handed you the bill.
The City of Torrance is broke. We’re headed for insolvency and takeover by the State of California. Measure SST only postpones the reckoning.
INSUFFICENT REVENUE.
For the five years preceding the “pandemic”, revenues grew 2.6% while expenditures grew 3.8%. During the pandemic, revenues declined but expenditures continue to grow. Only temporary federal bailouts keep the City solvent.
Measure SST is projected to bring in $18 million yearly. However, every year Torrance must spend $10 million for public safety to avoid police layoffs; $3 million for a 2% annual employee pay increase; another $5 million to replenish reserves; and $1 million for cyber security to stop ransomware attacks. Do the math. That is more than $18 million.
Measure SST is not enough. There’s no money for promised community improvements!
DEPLETED RESERVES
The City of Torrance has $8 million—about 10 days of operating expenses—in reserves. The recommended minimum is $40 million or two months of operating expenses. To remain solvent, 247 jobs have been left unfilled, including 60 police and 8 firefighter jobs, deferring $26 million.
Salaries take up 80% of the budget with police and fire salaries the largest share at 62%. 56% of employees make over $100,000. 92% make more than Los Angeles County’s 2020 median income of $68,272.
60 police officers are being paid but not working. Fifteen are on furlough. The rest are working off sick leave, vacation and comp time before retiring.
SHIFT SPENDING.
Measure SST takes another $500 a year from families, hitting the poor hardest. Rather, close one of the two fire stations less than a mile apart on Hawthorne. Close five branch libraries—not the main library—which average 18 visitors a week. Sell the land and replenish reserves. Use retiring police salaries for new hires when available. Require every new hire have a 401K—not a defined benefit—pension. Downsize. Eliminate most open positions.
Most importantly, Vote NO on Measure SST. It's time to cut spending.
I am opposed to making the City Treasurer (and the City Clerk) appointed positions by the City Manager, in effect making them subordinates. Transparent and responsible government depends on our public servants being responsible to the voters. Removing the ability of voters to decide who should be responsible for such important functions in our City limits their ability to effect the administration of our business. Such power should not rest in the hands of a single person without electoral responsibility.
I am opposed to making the City Treasurer (and the City Clerk) appointed positions. I believe that if the pandemic has taught us anything, it is that rule by experts takes away our freedoms. We need people with common sense in public office to make the right decisions for the citizenry. I opposed the City Council plan to make the City Treasurer an appointed position by the City Manager rather than elected by the voters. That is why I authored the argument against Measure J in 2020. Voters agreed with me and Measure J was defeated. Thankfully, we still have an elected City Treasurer and an elected City Clerk.
You can depend on me to continue to guard the perrogatives of the elected City Treasurer and be transparent with and responsive to the voters when I am elected.
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