Candidates Focus on Taxes, Police, Image

Financial issues, redevelopment and restoring police officer positions are major issues for two mayoral candidates and six City Council hopefuls running for two seats Nov. 3.

Each candidate promotes attracting more businesses into the downtown as a way to generate funds and cut crime.

Two City Council candidates said they will work to restore 22 police officer positions the city lost during a financial crunch two years ago.

“I want to bring [the police] back through federal grants and try to look at the overall budget to see if there is any waste,” said S. “Tom” Oh.

Garden Grove Police Lt. William J. Dalton, a 24-year veteran, is making his first run at city politics. He likened the loss of officers to a broken car: “If you have an eight-cylinder car, but it only runs on four cylinders, it might still get you there, but it may not be efficient.”

Bradley P. Knypstra supports neighborhood improvements. “I want to improve the image of Garden Grove,” he said. “The city seems to be going down the industrial road instead of a place for families. I will focus on redeveloping residential areas.”

The city has ambitious plans to improve its image. Among the plans are Riverwalk, which would include amusement-type attractions, a family entertainment center and a 500-room hotel. City officials celebrated the start of construction this week for an education center at Garden Grove Boulevard and Euclid Street that will house technical schools, and classes for University of LaVerne and Concorde College.

Councilman Bob Dinsen, with 18 years’ experience in city politics, has opposed ambitious plans--including the Riverwalk and education center projects--saying they put undue burdens on taxpayers.

If reelected, he will vote against new taxes.

“I want to reduce the huge city taxes on Garden Grove’s water system,” he said in a statement.

Councilman Mark Leyes, in his eighth year on the City Council, said he will work to protect neighborhoods and schools.

“We need to make sure core services like public safety are taken care of,” he said.

Barbara Beatty believes communication among students, parents, the school district and the City Council, will “open the doors to effective management.”

“It’s important that the City Council keeps in touch with the growth of new students coming into our schools,” she said. “We want to be able to work together.”

In the mayoral campaign, insurance salesman Al Snook is challenging incumbent mayor and state Deputy Labor Commissioner Bruce A. Broadwater.

With about $5,000 in campaign contributions and 40 die-hard volunteers, Snook says he is ready to unseat Broadwater on election day.

If elected, he said, he is “calling an independent, outside auditor to go through the books to know exactly what we got. That’s the only way we can straighten the city out.”

Broadwater said: “I would like to find a revenue stream that would allow us to have a higher ratio of police officers per our population, which stands at 1:1,000. Bed and sales tax revenues are what we’re going after. We hope to increase our revenue to make our community financially healthy.”

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Garden Grove Candidates

Two people are vying to become mayor of Garden Grove in the Nov. 3 election. There are six people seeking two seats on the City Council.

MAYORAL

Bruce Broadwater

Age: 59

Occupation: Deputy labor commissioner

Background: Incumbent, elected November 1994

Issues: Wants city to work within its budget; more community policing; more programs for youth and seniors

Al Snook

Age: 65

Occupation: Teacher/insurance salesman

Background: U.S. Air Force; former vice president, Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce; director, Republican National Hispanic Assembly Speakers Bureau; teaches community college insurance classes

Issues: Expanding minority business; work to balance budget; supports making capital improvements and maintenance

CITY COUNCIL

Barbara Beatty

Age: 54

Occupation: Real estate saleswoman

Background: Assistant vice president for Wells Fargo; business consultant; author, “How to Start Your Own Business”; hosted Orange County radio show, “Business Success”; member, Acacia Adult Day Services Building Committee and Chamber of Commerce

Issues: Create positive educational environment; promote opportunities for homeowners and business developers and education; advocate of senior programs

Bill Dalton

Age: 55

Occupation: Garden Grove police lieutenant for 26 years

Background: Elks Lodge member; former Rotary Club member; former treasurer, St. Columban Church in Garden Grove; coached Little League and soccer; helped implement community policing program

Issues: Opposes police/fire service cuts and personnel reductions; supports gang and drug abuse awareness programs; opposes new taxes

Bob Dinsen

Age: 82

Occupation: Retired building contractor

Background: Incumbent, since April 1980

Issues: Considers himself a conservative who supports less government; wants to keep city

service fees and taxes as low as possible; supports community policing

Bradley P. Knypstra

Age: 31

Occupation: Accountant/business attorney

Background: Member, Chamber of Commerce, Orange County Bar Association, California State Bar

Issues: Opposes new taxes; supports economic development; supports community-based policing

Mark Leyes

Age: 40

Occupation: Intergovernmental relations specialist, Orange County Water District

Background: Incumbent, since November 1990

Issues: Wants to develop and expand local tax base; supports redevelopment effort for downtown; wants to expand programs for youth and seniors

S. “Tom” Oh

Age: 38

Occupation: Computer business owner

Background: Graduate of U.S. Naval Academy; former naval science instructor at Naval Academy; lieutenant commander, naval reservist

Issues: Rehire 22 police officers who were laid off in 1996 due to cutbacks; improve financial support for teachers; spur economic growth and redevelopment

Source: Individual candidates