Viewpoint: Vaus is best choice for Poway City Council

(Editor’s note: In late June, regular opinion page columnist Dick Lyles wrote a piece endorsing Jeff Mangum for City Council. Similar space has been offered to the other candidates.)

By Merrilee Boyack

As I approach the end of my service as a Poway City Council member, I want to take this opportunity to do two things.

First, I would like to say thank you. I want to thank each and every one of you in our community who stepped up, got involved, asked questions, and took part in this wonderful process we call government by the people. You are what makes Poway great.

Second, I would like to give my most enthusiastic endorsement to Steve Vaus for City Council. I believe that he will be a tremendous councilman and asset to our fine city.

I first met Steve during the recall of Betty Rexford from council. I wanted to meet the man who had the backbone and skills to step up and lead that recall effort. Many people were unhappy with the situation but one man stood up and actually did something. He took a ton of flack for doing so but in the end, 80 percent of Poway agreed. That is strong community leadership.

I’ve watched Vaus carefully and this is what I see. When Chelsea King went missing, he showed up to help. When his kids’ elementary school needed a choir, he stepped up to lead it. (It’s not every day you get a Grammy-award-winning recording artist as a volunteer choir director in an elementary school!) When the Poway Community Leadership Institute needed a director, Steve was there to make it happen with his decades of business experience. Poway Spirit Day came, and he was there. Poway Neighborhood Emergency Corps began and he was there again.

The list is long. But most recently, when teen drug use in Poway became alarming and claimed the life of another young man, Vaus had had enough. Even though all of us said it wouldn’t work, he organized a Town Hall meeting that was jammed with concerned parents and community leaders. He has led the community task force on this ever since.

When I look at our City Council, I am looking for someone to replace me. We need someone with heart, passion for the people, community leadership and the willingness to step up. Steve Vaus is that in spades. We don’t need another clone councilmember. Vaus is the people’s candidate.

Given the recent events with the school bond issue, I believe that it is critical to elect new, strong leaders who will ask the tough questions and protect the people. Vaus has proven that he will do that.

So many people have asked me why I’m not running again. I promised in the beginning that I would serve two terms — eight years is plenty. I do not believe in elected officials serving for decades. We all benefit from fresh, new ideas and passionate leadership. Steve Vaus offers that fresh, new perspective. I urge you to vote for him.

And personally, I will continue my commitment to the community. I love this city and I love the people who live here and that will never stop.

Related posts:

1. Vaus first to file for Poway City Council
2. Vaus leads Poway City Council candidates in raising cash, spending
3. Four are early entrants to Poway City Council election
4. City Council forum works around no-bond ruling

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Posted by Staff on Oct 11 2012. Filed under Columnists. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry