Ed Smith, Monterey City Council - KCOY Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo - News

Ed Smith, Monterey City Council

Party/Affiliation: n/a
Current Job: Small Business Owner, teaching organizational leadership/Retired Police Commander

Top 3 Priorities if Elected:

WATER

Working with the Council on a regional solution and being an advocate for the ratepayers to ensure our water is priced fairly and locally governed.

REINVIGORATE MONTEREY BUSINESS 

Emphasis on the downtown and North Fremont and New Monterey areas so that we can stimulate business and create jobs. But, do so while being mindful of our residents' needs and our quality of life

RETURN THE CONFERENCE CENTER TO ITS ORIGINAL PURPOSE: A HIGH PROFILE BUSINESS DESTINATION IN A WORLD CLASS TOWN 

Funding should be on a city-tourism business partnership basis so that we can maximize revenue and benefits from increased tourism and share the costs.

Monterey is currently in a critical transition period, facing leadership changes and high-ticket projects such as the Conference Center renovation and Old-Town revitalization. I'm running because we need effective leadership to ensure our city government is in good financial condition, and we have common-sense approaches about these projects and the community's future. I have both public and private business and leadership experience, and as a lifelong resident, I am uniquely connected to Monterey. Together, we can make Monterey even better. I see long-term water solutions, downtown and neighborhood revitalization, and improvement of essential services at City Hall as key issues. I want to find ways to communicate with our entire community better as we work to set new priorities. I want things to not take so long when our community interacts for things like permitting, repairs and business enterprise. We have to support the expansion of business and projects to create high-paying jobs. Local government must serve and support and not interfere with progress, but I also see the need to preserve our small-town feel. Unprecedented challenges require bold and thoughtful leadership. Finding the right solutions by keeping doors open to new ideas and solutions, while working collaboratively with all people, is important to me. Participating in creating effective Council policies and taking common sense direction to staff for appropriate action is critical. Looking towards quality of life for all residents will always be my first focus.