8/14/2019 Chula Vista Councilmember Steve Castaneda Running for Mayor: Putting Neighborhoods First

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COTACT: Mary Anne Lagda, Board of Directors Communications

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 12, 2010

Chula Vista Councilmember Steve Castaneda Running for Mayor: Putting eighborhoods First

Castaneda Promises to Fight Special Interests Grip of City Hall

Chula VistaAs the 2010 California primary election draws near, a variety of local offices are up for grabs,

ranging from City Attorney to City Councilmember to Mayor. Although, each candidate is a harbinger of theirown message, it appears that there is one notion that transcends political ideology-- the need to change the

culture of City Hall.

Councilmember Steve Castaneda, who announced that he running for Mayor at the Chula Vista Civic

Associations February 11th Board of Directors meeting, declared: Im running because the culture in this cityhas to change from being controlled by special interests that doesnt care about the community to a culture where

neighborhood needs are more important than a new city hallwhen we talk about doing cutting budgets, wedont give city executives raises.

With the exception of a response to why the entire city council, exluding Councilmember John McCann, did notspeak up for reform proposals brought forward by McCann and the Chula Vista Civic Association, Castaneda

did not shy away from offering straight forward responses. We were told in 2006 that all we had to do to fixcity hall was elect a new mayorWe were told that our city government would be more responsive, that we

would have tighter grip on fiscal matters on city and what did we get? We went from a city staffer takingpictures of the mayor at a fundraising party to city staffer making 200, 000 running his own consulting corp outof city hall running city equipment on city time. stated Castaneda.

When engaged further on the need for change by one Chula Vista Civic Association member, Councilmember

Castaneda said: This city needs truth in advertising: Tell us what you are going to do and do it. Dont go doanother thing and lose credibility.

Elaborating further on special interests and restoring credibility, Castaneda recounted for the audience how hepersonally took up a matter where a Chula Vista communitys long-promised park was in threat of not coming

into fruition. I called HOA and said Id like to meet with them. The current mayor goes out and tells them thatthe City Manager says we dont have any money, but I went out and said: You paid for it we owe it to you and

we are going to get it done. And guess what that: park is openSome of the priorities in this city need to bechanged. said Castaneda.

When asked what motivates him, Councilmember Castaneda put it plain and simple: I care about people.

Chula Vista Civic Association, the citys largest city-wide business and community non-profit organization, will convene

again March 18 for its next open Board of Directors meeting. For more information visit:

www.ChulaVistaCivicAssociation.org

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www.ChulaVistaCivicAssociation.org | info@chulavistacivicassociation.org | 396 E St. Chula Vista, CA 91910