Dr. Andy Gerken: Where I Stand

So far, this campaign for city council has been an exercise in diverting your attention away from city issues and focusing you on matters that do not relate to protecting our quality of life, maintaining fiscal stability or protecting our neighborhoods.

The special interests supporting my opponent have attacked me using decades old Yelp reviews, old political donations, misrepresentations of my position on rent control and references to my late mother.

I want you to hear directly from me where I stand on issues that are important to you.

I oppose putting the police station/jail in Civic Center Park because that site will likely cost $200 million. That’s estimated to be $50 million more than other available sites. I oppose spending upwards of $30 million on an OCTA bus station that is not the responsibility of the city. I oppose the plan to move Fire Station Number 3 from its current site on Santa Barbara St. because it will increase response times to Balboa Island, Eastbluff and Harbor Cove.

I support the findings our 2022 professional consultant study that recommended a new fire station on Old Ford Rd. to better serve the Port Streets, Bonita Canyon, and the Newport Hills communities. The study also recommended a new station in Newport Coast/Crystal Cove. My opponent and the current council majority have ignored those recommendations.

I support prioritizing the Balboa Island Seawall Project and needed enhancements on the Peninsula to protect against a reoccurrence of the floods earlier this month. My opponent supporting leapfrogging the police station ahead of the seawalls project and the excess cost of the police station and the bus station put the seawalls enhancement in jeopardy.

I support your right to vote on qualified citizen initiatives and the General Plan, elimination of secret “Ad Hoc committees” that work without public comment or minutes, and moving the council meetings to the evenings when the public can actually attend and find parking.

I oppose high-rise, high-density development, rent control, new taxes, and excess spending. My opponent has increased the city budget by 36% or $139 million since taking office. I am the fiscal conservative in this race.

I believe we should make smart investments in technology and personnel to have the best public safety. We can do this if we do not overspend on buildings requiring tens of millions in environmental mitigation or bus stations that are not part of the city’s function.

We should pay our police and fire fighters competitive compensation and I can negotiate these agreements without being compromised by nearly $200,000 in political contributions. We should do an independent evaluation of the fiasco on the Fourth of July. My opponent opposed an independent review committee.

I have a ten-point Contract with the Residents. You can read my commitment to you at www.gerkenfornewport.com

Nine former mayors have said: “Our city is on the wrong track, The council majority has significantly abandoned the shared values that have guided Newport Beach. It’s time for a change. We enthusiastically endorse Dr. Andy Gerken.”

If these are the issues important to you. I would be honored to have your vote.

Dr. Andy Gerken
Candidate Newport Beach City Council District 6