Tim Willert
Councilman Gus Gomez hasn't slowed down in his quest to win
reelection to the City Council.
The former Glendale mayor continues to walk precincts and
telephone constituents, refusing to take his name recognition for
granted.
"I have strong grass-roots support in the community as a whole,"
Gomez said Thursday. "The response continues to be extremely
positive."
Gomez, a deputy attorney general, is running against seven
candidates for two council seats in the April 1 general municipal
election. He said he is primed to continue the work he started four
years ago.
"I want to continue to protect the quality of life for all the
people of Glendale," Gomez said. I want to continue preventing
overdevelopment and providing more public safety."
In the past four years, Gomez has voted to hire a dozen new police
officers and reinstitute the department's gang unit. Pedestrian
safety is among his chief concerns. He has been endorsed by the
Glendale Fire Fighters Assn. and the Glendale Police Officers Assn.
He voted against the proposed Oakmont View V hillside development,
voted for traffic-calming measures in the Rossmoyne and Fern Lane
neighborhoods, and has worked against development that doesn't fit in
with existing neighborhoods.
While Gomez said the existing state budget crisis will have
significant effects on Glendale, he vowed to protect the Fire and
Police departments from possible cuts along with libraries and basic
city services such as street sweeping and trash collection.
"I have certain priorities that are going to be untouched, as far
as I'm concerned," he said. "I do not support higher fees or higher
taxes, and I will not close the gap by means of increasing fees or
taxes," he said.
Gomez and his wife, Glynda, have a 2-year-old daughter, Amanda. He
believes the knowledge and experience that comes from serving on the
council combined, with his ability to juggle a job with family, make
him a well-rounded candidate.
