Virtual Town Hall Questions for Dave Roberts

Dave Roberts is a candidate for San Diego County Supervisor District 3. Here he fields questions from imaginary voters asking about real-life issues.

Patch: I’m 52 and own a greeting card shop, and this economy is still killing me. Why should I vote for you?

Dave Roberts: As someone who has also been a small business owner for almost two decades and will be turning 52 years old in December, I can certainly relate to your concerns and the dramatic effect the economy has had on our local businesses and, by extension, on our personal finances. My number one priority as Supervisor will be to create a more business friendly environment in San Diego County. We need to support existing local business owners and recruit new businesses and corporate headquarters to help boost the San Diego region's economy and create new jobs. If elected, I have a plan to do just that.

Patch: I’m 25 and graduated college 14 months ago, but I still can’t find work. Why should I vote for you?

Roberts: As the father of five adopted young children ages 3 to 16 years old, I worry every day about their future and the ability of all young people to find gainful employment. My oldest son is now a junior at Torrey Pines High School and starting to plan for college. My plan to incentivize new businesses to locate in San Diego and to recruit corporate headquarters to relocate to our community will expand the local job market for recent graduates such as you. I recently earned the endorsement of the U.S. Green Chamber of Commerce which facilitates and supports sustainable business practices that spur innovation, energy efficiency, job creation and an overall brighter economic future. County government needs to do all it can to keep taxes low, reduce unnecessary red tape and regulations and foster a more positive business climate.

Patch: I’m a 37-year-old public school teacher, and every year I fear losing my job. Why should I vote for you?

Roberts: Over 32 years ago, I began my professional career as a public school teacher of 7th grade students teaching English. I believe our public school system is the backbone of our communities and responsible for the development of tomorrow's leaders. When I was elected to the Solana Beach City Council, I helped establish a School Relations Committee to provide direct dialogue between the public and private schools in our community with our local government. I would like to see more dialogue between our county government and diverse school systems. Our state's fiscal woes have unfortunately made the yearly budget cycle a source of great stress for our public school teachers. I can assure you that my commitment to public education is second to none. I believe that cuts to the educational budget should stay as far away from the classroom and the learning environment of our children as possible. I credit my education for giving me the tools and ability, along with hard work to succeed in my business endeavors. I will always be a voice for doing everything we can to promote education and keeping costs as low as possible.

Patch: I’m 52 and my commute to work is close to an hour. So these gas prices really pinch. Why should I vote for you?

Roberts: Building sustainable communities, including improvements to our regional transportation challenges, is a cornerstone of my plan as Supervisor. I believe we need to focus at a regional level on reducing our dependence on foreign oil and look towards innovative alternatives including improved public transportation options. In addition to improving commute times and quality of life for our residents, my plan will also result in a healthier less polluted community. With over 300 sunny days each year we must do everything we can to make San Diego the alternative energy capital, reducing our carbon footprint and thus reducing energy costs across the board. As a six-year member of the North County Transit District Board of Directors, I have worked to reduce fares up to 25 percent and expand service on nights and weekends.  As the Chair of San Diego County’s Consolidated Transportation Services Agency, I am working on initiatives to expand transit options for seniors, disabled and those on fixed incomes in Escondido, Rancho Bernardo and throughout San Diego County.

Patch: I’m 90 and can’t leave my house, because I hear police sirens all the time and my neighbors had their car broken into. Why should I vote for you?

Roberts: As a local elected council member for eight years, my concern for the safety and security of my constituents is first and foremost in my mind.  My Mom and Dad are in their 80s and share your concerns frequently with me. I believe that we need to have an ongoing dialogue with local law enforcement officials and expand our neighborhood watch groups to ensure the security of our residents, particularly our seniors. I will work with the County Sheriff’s department and other local law enforcement agencies to make certain we have more cops on the street and patrol cars on our highways and in our neighborhoods. I have served on San Diego County Association of Governments Public Safety Committee and helped institute a number of efforts include gang prevention, graffiti tracker and abatement, and combating Internet Crimes Against Children.  I already work closely with Sheriff Bill Gore, District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and Captain Sherri Sarro and I will ensure that we do everything possible to keep our neighborhoods safe.

Patch: I’m a 48-year-old member of a local taxpayers association. I’ve lost faith in a government that overspends our tax dollars and thinks six-figure pensions are OK. Why should I vote for you?

Roberts: I feel the same way you do and I am proud to have already done something about it to demonstrate that I don’t just talk about solutions, I solve problems. As the Deputy Mayor of Solana Beach, we have worked to bring our unsustainable pensions under control. The San Diego County Taxpayers Association recently recognized Solana Beach as the Number One city in San Diego County in the last twelve months to reign in pension costs. The average county pension is $34,000 and I want to ensure that any reforms don’t affect our workforce unfairly. But, San Diego County can do better when it comes to pension reform and with my business background I will come to the job of Supervisor with a strong sense of fiscal management and responsibility. Specifically, I will work to cap six figure pensions and stop the practice of spiking pensions. I believe there are many ways we can improve efficiencies within county government and reduce wasteful spending. I am prepared to do a full review of every county department including staffing and benefits in order to streamline and improve efficiency at the county offices to refocus our priorities on core services such as public safety, health and human services, veterans assistance, libraries, parks and environmental sustainability in order to protect our quality of life.  

For more information about Dave Roberts, you can visit his campaign website.

So how did Dave Roberts do? What did you like or dislike about his answers? Tell us in the comments.

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