Candidates reach out to voters despite no forum

Seven candidates running for two seats in the Calexico city council are reaching out to voters despite no public forum. Some say it’s a critical time for the city.

Candidate Javier Moreno, former police officer, said, “Downtown is vacant buildings. We have businesses leaving. We need more revenues.”

Candidate Joong Kim, businessman, said, “The government failing to serve the community. And the government supposedly there to serve the community, not for themselves.”

The candidates are concerned about key issues affecting the community.

Candidate Morris Reisin, businessman, said, “We need more security here. We need more police force. We need a lot of help here. We need to find funds to fund the safety of this town.”

Candidate Camilo Garcia, workforce development professional, said, “We have to get our finances under control. Then we have to make sure that our local economy gets going again.”

Candidate David Romero, businessman, said, “The big issue we’re having with the utility rates and how they want to raise up the water prices and the trash prices and the sewer prices. Yet, we really haven’t seen anything being done to our water plants.”

Candidate Rosie Fernandez, registered nurse, said, “We need to find ways to bring economic and also businesses growth. That’s something that has declined in the past years.”

Some of them said enough is enough when it comes to what they see as abuses by past and current city councils.

“They are big scam on water scam. I might have to consider it a criminal case,” Kim said.

“I’ve listened to and hear people expressing their concerns with public safety here, and there are concerns that we don’t have enough police officers,” Moreno said.

And with elections coming up in just a few weeks, they’re busy reaching out to voters.

“I’m trying to do the best I can to spread out at least my platform and my intentions, whether it be social media,” Romero said.

Calexico Economic Commissioner Ben Horton said he’s not surprised at the lack of a candidate’s forum. He said it could be because people already know who they’re going to vote for and nothing’s going to influence them otherwise.

“The community should know the issues – they should know the issues and how the candidates express their understanding of the issues. If you don’t have either, you don’t have the issues to be presented to the public and the candidates can’t give their opinions,” Horton said.

These are the candidates for Calexico City Council 2018:

David Romero

Morris Reisin

Rosie Fernandez

Joong Kim

Javier Moreno

Camilo Garcia

Carlos “Jesse” Contreras

Please watch our newscast for more information.