In my continuing series on South County candidates who sought the endorsement of the OCGOP, we reach our northernmost city, Lake Forest, which Mayor Pro Tem Scott Voigts likes to call the “Gateway to South County.”  The two candidates are Dwight Robinson and Adam Nick.

Dwight Robinson

Dwight is running for city council for the residents’ children and businesses, and to make sure that Lake Forest continues to be a great city to live, work, and raise a family.

Dwight believes that traffic congestion is an important issue facing the city.  Dwight plans to work closely with OCTA to make sure the city is getting its fair share of Measure M funds and is using those funds for light synchronization and future road construction projects, including the completion of Portola Parkway.

Dwight also feels that the city’s regulatory environment is too burdensome for businesses.  He plans to hit the ground running and review some of the city’s ordinances (first and foremost the sign ordinance) to make sure the city is not impeding businesses from promoting themselves.  Dwight says that, in the midst of an economic slump, the city needs to be working with businesses, asking them how the city can partner with them as they create jobs and serve the community.  Dwight believes the city needs to start acting like it is pro-business and stop paying lip-service to it.  Dwight adheres to the old mantra that actions speak louder than words.

Dwight said that employee compensation of some of the city’s employees is too high (especially the council members).  Dwight will start with proposing that the city eliminates council pay and benefits.  He believes that by starting with holding themselves accountable, the council will then have some moral authority to start discussing some of the other employee pay, perks, and benefits that need to be retooled or removed.

Dwight noted that the property rights of existing residents need to be balanced with the rights of property owners of undeveloped land or lands that needs redevelopment.  He said that the rights of one should be balanced with the rights of another…one should not outweigh the other.  A few thousand new homes will be built in Lake Forest in the coming years and Dwight knows that more development will bring more people.  Dwight wants to make sure that infrastructure is provided to ensure Lake Forest remains a good place to live.  He said that infrastructure improvements are in the best interest of the developers who are trying to build and sell homes and in the interest of existing residents who want to maintain their current quality of life.  Roads and traffic flow are the most important infrastructure issues that Dwight feels need to be planned for.  He said he will establish a Traffic Commission, similar to Irvine’s and Mission Viejo’s, so residents can bring forth traffic and transportation issues and staff can be made aware of the problems and held accountable for developing solutions to this issues.  Dwight also will make sure Lake Forest has the resources to address things such as light synchronization and road improvements.  Impact to local schools and other public services will also need to be address and Dwight said he will make sure that the city does not neglect the community’s infrastructure needs.  Dwight highlighted his experience as a business owner who needs to always be forecasting, projecting, and planning for the future, and he believes his private sector business experience gives him the unique skill set to help Lake Forest be great again.

Dwight is endorsed by, among others, Lake Forest Mayor Pro Tem Scott Voigts, Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas, the Orange County Register, the Orange County Republican Party, and the Orange County Taxpayers Association.

You can find out more about Dwight at www.robinsonforcitycouncil.com.

Adam Nick

Adam believes that, in a democracy, nothing is more important for keeping a government in check than a well-informed electorate.  He says that what largely sets us apart from most of the rest of the world is our Constitution.  One major fact in our Constitution is that the government derives its power from the people; not the other way around.  Accordingly, Adam feels that elected officials work for residents.  If they do a good job, we can re-elect them.  If they do not do a good job, we can elect someone else who will.  Adam is running because he believes he can do a better job for Lake Forest residents as their council member.

Adam wants to improve the city’s infrastructure, protect and improve its quality of life, uphold American principles and values, and plan for even a more prosperous future.  He said he will achieve this by stopping wasteful spending, reforming city management’s excessive compensation, eliminating self-serving agendas, ending cronyism, and eliminating the influences of special interests.

Adam noted that, though Lake Forest has been a city for over twenty years, on the current council’s watch, the city does not have a Senior Center, Youth Center, its own Community Hospital, or even a dog park.  Adam also said that the city has rented the building that houses City Hall and probably has paid more in rent in the last two decades than it would have taken to buy its own building for City Hall.

Adam also said that the current council failed to challenge the expansion and reclassification of the Musick Jail to house a more dangerous class of felons, despite the fact that many city residents live within walking distance of the jail.  He contrasted that with the Irvine City Council which initiated a legal action to stop the expansion/reclassification.

Adam also noted that the current City Manager’s compensation is $300,000.00+.  He also criticized the council members spending thousands of dollars per year in personal expense reimbursements for things such as taxi rides.

Adam believes that the city must operate in a manner similar to a profit-oriented business, with the utmost efficiency and with an appreciation that resources are scarce, meaning the optimal value for each dollar must be achieved.

Adam feels that his 30 years of Lake Forest residency, his experience as a local business owner, and his 21-year professional experience as an accountant and auditor collectively qualify and enable him to be the city’s best representative and advocate on the City Council.

You can find out more about Adam at http://nickforcouncil2012.com/.