San Clemente Times
Candidates for City Council submitted short bios to the San Clemente Times this week, introducing themselves to the community. The order in which the bios appear is the order in which they will be placed on the 2016 general election ballot. This marks the beginning of 10 weeks of election coverage in the SC Times.
City Council Candidates
Steve Swartz
I am a Vietnam Era Air Force veteran with 45 years of experience in the financial/banking industry. I have owned a business in San Clemente since 1989 and a home in Forster Ranch since 1993. I live there with my wife, 19-year-old son, who we adopted as very special when he was 18 months, and our two dogs, Shadow and Sunny.
After the service I entered banking. I progressed to bank manager, then went into equipment leasing/finance, starting my own firm in the mid-1970s. I entered the surety field in the ’80s and started South Coast Surety here in San Clemente in 1995.
For more than 25 years, I have been deeply involved in many facets of San Clemente. I have raised my family here, and I served as president for our Homeowners Association. I have served San Clemente as chairman of the Beaches, Parks and Recreation Commission, as a member of the Coastal Advisory Committee, and as president of San Clemente Sunrise Rotary. As a Rotarian I have helped raised thousands of dollars for local charities.
I am seeking a seat on the City Council because I want:
- Safer Neighborhoods: Stop the proliferation of sober living facilities that bring crime, drugs and unwanted nuisances, which are jeopardizing our quality of life.
- Greater Fiscal Responsibility: Use my 45 years of experience in banking and finance to prevent wasteful city spending and protect taxpayers from excessive employee pension debt.
- Better Planning: Preserve San Clemente’s unique heritage. Improve our city’s business climate. Revitalize the El Camino Real corridor and the North Beach area.
Quality of life should not be an afterthought.
Chris Hamm
Serving the people of San Clemente over the past four years has been one of the greatest honors of my life. Having been born and raised in this great town, I’m dedicated to preserving our “Spanish Village by the Sea” feel, our world-class beaches and our enviable open space.
As a local firefighter, I spend one third of my life at the fire station in Talega. So I know firsthand the importance of public safety for our community. In fact, in the four years I’ve been on Council, I have made public safety my number one priority. I have and will continue to fight to maintain and increase police services. With my vote, we doubled ambulance services—without increasing costs. San Clemente needs a hospital and emergency room. I fought locally and in Sacramento to keep our hospital open and will continue to fight until hospital and emergency room services are returned.
When the people of San Clemente demanded we take action against businesses changing the character of neighborhoods and increasing crime, I voted to pass a temporary moratorium and ultimately passed an ordinance regulating sober living homes and vacation rentals in residential areas. I’ve fought to protect the rights of residents and approved hiring two additional code enforcement officers—the result is the shutting down of more than 30 of these businesses, with more to come.
San Clemente is and will continue to be a unique coastal city with small-town charm. As your Council member, I will continue to fight for what is best for residents, not big business and definitely not developers set on making us the next Huntington Beach.
Help me preserve the San Clemente we know and love for future generations. Vote Chris Hamm for City Council in November.
Bob Baker
First off, thank you for the honor of serving the residents of this great city.
San Clemente is wonderful and one of the safest places to live in California (ranked No. 88 nationwide).
We have world-class beaches, small-town village charm and great, preserved open space.
The Vista Hermosa Sports Park and Aquatic Center are stunning and a great addition to our community. This year, as Mayor, I helped celebrate the opening of three new parks and revitalization of two others.
I have spent a large portion of my life in the service of others. In 1970, I graduated from the United States Naval Academy and had the distinct honor of serving in the U.S. Navy as a Naval Aviator. I flew the F-4 Phantom on board the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. Following my military service, I flew as a commercial pilot for American Airlines until my retirement (30 years later) in 2008.
My wife, Pam, and I have called San Clemente home for almost three decades and are very proud of this beautiful town.
Over the years, we have been honored to serve a variety of local organizations including: The Exchange Club, Family Assistance Ministries, Indian Guides, the Boys and Girls Club and our kids’ athletic teams—both San Clemente High School graduates.
In 2008, I made a promise to put residents first. Eight years later, I am proud to say I have kept that promise.
- Expanded our recycled water capacity.
- Built Sports Park, Aquatic Center and Courtney’s Sand Castle
- Completed the La Pata extension and are improving a stretch of I-5 running through town.
- Opened Cotton’s Point Senior Housing and workforce housing on Avenida Serra.
- Refurbished and revitalized the Ole Hanson Beach Club.
- Fought for and passed an ordinance restricting sober living homes and vacation rentals in residential zones.
Thanks for your trust, I am looking forward to your vote again in November.
Pamela Joy Glass
San Clemente Times was unable to reach the candidate, who provided no public contact information.
Dan Bane
Over the years, my wife, Sheyanne, and I have tied the well-being of our family to the well-being of our community. I am committed to the long-term prosperity of San Clemente and will make conscientious decisions not just for today, but with an eye toward future generations of our residents.
During my time on San Clemente’s Planning Commission and General Plan Advisory Committee, I worked tirelessly to preserve and support projects that foster revitalization and stability while effectively managing growth that enhances the village character that sets San Clemente apart. It is vital to encourage smart growth and adaptive reuse of historical resources, while maintaining the small-town charm that makes us all proud to call San Clemente home. I believe my background as a land use and environmental attorney makes me uniquely qualified to handle the complex zoning and planning challenges facing our town.
As your City Council member, I will provide a fresh perspective on longstanding issues while providing common sense solutions that deliver safe neighborhoods for families to grow, vibrant commercial districts for businesses to flourish and accessible, first-class beaches and trails for all residents to enjoy. Moreover, I will work with our Council to cut wasteful spending and deliver a fiscally responsible city budget that addresses the needs of our community. Moving forward, it is imperative that we alleviate traffic, create better parking solutions and ensure the efficient delivery of essential services.
I will be an approachable and attentive steward of our collective vision for the future and will work to ensure that your voice is heard. It is time for consensus building and solution-based governance.
I respectfully ask for your trust, support and vote.
City Clerk Candidate
Joanne Baade
It has been my privilege to serve as your City Clerk for the past nine years and as San Clemente’s Deputy City Clerk for 21 years. During my tenure with the city, I have performed my duties with integrity, competence and fairness to all. I take my duties seriously and never forget that I am accountable to you—the citizens of San Clemente.
I am a Certified Municipal Clerk and member of the Master Municipal Clerk Academy. I am active in professional City Clerk organizations and remain current on state laws affecting City Clerk responsibilities. My areas of expertise include the Brown Act, Public Records Act and Fair Political Practices Commission regulations.
An integral part of a City Clerk’s duties is to conduct municipal elections in a manner that is impartial and in conformity with the California Elections Code. My expertise in elections was recognized in 2011 when I received the Award of Distinction from the City Clerks Association of California for outstanding performance in election services.
I believe that my education, experience, moral compass and dedication to public service have served the people of San Clemente well.
I respectfully request your support for my re-election on Nov. 8. Thank you.
City Treasurer Candidate
Mark A. Taylor
Between serving on the City’s Investment Advisory Committee for over 10 years and now as City Treasurer since being appointed in March 2013, I am very experienced and qualified for this position. In addition to this direct experience, I have worked in the financial services industry since 1981, as a wealth manager and Certified Financial Planner.
My wife Nancy and I moved to San Clemente with our two sons in 1994 and have been actively involved in our community. I have enjoyed volunteering by serving on a number of non-profit boards, volunteering at our church, and I’m active in Rotary International, which donates substantial resources to the charities and youth of San Clemente.
I count it a privilege to give back to our wonderful community by serving as City Treasurer, and would love to continue doing so with your support.
Thank you!
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