LAKE ELSINORE: Flores looking to take next step
Planning Commissioner ready for challenges of City Council
By AARON CLAVERIE - Staff Writer | ∞
Jimmy Flores Editor's note: This is the fourth in a series profiling 11 candidates vying for three seats on the Lake Elsinore City Council in the Nov. 4 election:
LAKE ELSINORE ---- During his time on the Planning Commission, Jimmy Flores said he has worked to protect the rights of property owners and encourage responsible growth.
The restaurant owner said he has helped craft guidelines during discussions of the general plan update that are beneficial to long-term planning. And he said the next logical step in his public service career is securing a seat on the City Council, adding that it is a role for which he has worked hard to prepare.
"I've looked at the economy and there will need to be a cut in spending," Flores said, referencing dire 2009-10 budget predictions that have been offered by some city officials. "It's going to take a lot of work, but it can be done."
Providing an example of his budget plan, Flores said some of the spending that has been targeted to help process new housing developments could be used to support street paving and repairs to the city's infrastructure.
Flores is among 11 candidates competing for three council seats that are up for election in November. The other candidates are Barbara Alongi, 72, a retired veterinary technician; Amy Marie Bhutta, 39, a high school English teacher; Carole Feeney, 47, a community volunteer; Chris Hyland, 79, a former Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District director; 45-year-old incumbent City Councilman Robert Magee; Steven Manos, 32, a real estate broker; Melissa Melendez, 40, owner of a transcription company; 28-year-old Public Safety Advisory Commission Chairman Michael Norkin; 58-year-old Planning Commissioner Michael O'Neal; and Joyce Smith, 61, executive director for a custom home builder.
Flores said he will tackle the important issue of public safety by advocating the creation of a city-based dispatch center.
The dispatchers working at the center could handle lower-priority calls that, right now, are handled by dispatchers in Riverside.
"For people who hear gunshots or residents who had something stolen, it takes a little time before the dispatch goes out," he said.
Flores had to deal with that type of scenario recently when his truck was stolen and it took about an hour and a half for an officer to arrive and take a report.
He said that type of administrative duty could be handled by unarmed officers solely responsible for that kind of work.
Another key issue for Flores is the state of the city's parks.
He'd like to see unarmed park rangers employed by the city that can crack down on illegal activities in the parks, such as drug use. Corona has a similar ranger force, he said.
Also, Flores said he'd like to see the city add restrooms to some of the small pocket parks that are used by residents in a neighborhood. When a family is visiting the park, it's hard for someone to travel five or six blocks back home when a child has to go to the bathroom, he said. That can lead to some uncomfortable moments for both a child and the parents.
If his park ranger plan is supported, he says, they would be charged with keeping the new restrooms safe and secure.
Another issue Flores said he would work on, if elected, is the condition of the city's streets. He said some residents have been waiting for years for their streets to be repaved.
"People have been waiting for 15 years and I don't understand why," he said.
With the downturn in the economy and the corresponding decrease in city spending, it will be tough to find the dollars for a new paving program, but Flores said he believes money for such projects can be found in the budget.
He said money that has been set aside for big-ticket items such as the civic center could be shifted and used for street improvements.
"Before that civic center is built, people need to have their roads improved," he said.
Contact staff writer Aaron Claverie at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2624, or aclaverie@californian.com.
Jimmy Flores
-- Age: 55
-- Occupation: Restaurant owner
-- Civic involvement:Member of the city Planning Commission
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dee wrote on Sep 4, 2008 9:33 PM:I agree, the civic center can wait. The current city hall was just renovated and the shop next door will be a part of city hall. This cost major money. The city is not yet large enough to waste millions on a new city hall. However I do have mixed feelings because if the current building city council meetings are held in is hit by an earthquake it will most likley crush everyone to death. Not a nice thought! Anyway Mr. Flores has my vote he is putting the people first except they might get crushed too! Either way Im voting for Flores he's a good guy.
Crystal wrote on Sep 4, 2008 10:18 PM:Clear message-NOT, dream extreme Jimmy. Your platform is as good as Mr.
O'Neal's, wait we haven't seen his. I am going to give you a pity vote because you ran every election year and lost. You are going to win this time no.7. Bathrooms, and Rangers...great platform.
Singer wrote on Sep 4, 2008 11:24 PM:Jimmy can you hear me? I am going to tell...be nice to other candidates. Promise me, no more negative comments!!!!
J Davis wrote on Sep 5, 2008 6:21 AM:I have known Mr. Flores for many years. He posses every quality this city needs...honesty, integrity, morality, compassion, intelligence and work ethic. I have never come across another resident or employee of this city who truly loves Lake Elsinore more than he does. He has my vote. If the residents of Lake Elsinore want a council member who will work for them he will have their vote too!
Editors wrote on Sep 5, 2008 6:55 AM:Please let all the comments go through. It's only fair that this candidate gets the same free speech critiques as the other candidates. Be fair please!
To Crystal wrote on Sep 5, 2008 6:59 AM:LMAO- hilarious- Out of three critical issues two of them are bathrooms and Rangers-HaHa-I can see why this candidate loses every time.
Yesterday wrote on Sep 5, 2008 7:19 AM:Someone made a comment that all the negative comments were being made because the first three candidate profiles were all women. They wouldn't do that to guy candidates. That person was right! Makes you go Hmmm. I guess it is easier to write about other people than to read your own comments-Yes Jimmy????
vic wrote on Sep 5, 2008 8:49 AM:Mr. Flores talks about the budget, a dispatch center improving parks, probably the older ones which have been negleted. Why is everyone so rude like children with no manners. The canidate that organizes a debate is the canidate that means business. The canidates that dont show up will say it all without words. Lake Elsinore needs business that will bring higher paying jobs and yes a community college or dream extreme a satellite university.
to vic wrote on Sep 5, 2008 9:13 AM:you wrote.."why is everyone so rude like children with no manners? Please ask Mr. Flores! Mr. Flores owns a very successful restaurant. In the past he owned some other businesses too. I'm voting for him as I did before in the past when he lost all previous elections! Good luck to you my friend!!!!!
Marty wrote on Sep 5, 2008 10:58 AM:So far Jimmy is the best out of the four people interviewed so far. Jimmy is someone who has been around the city for a long time and has a good feel for the issues of our city. He is down to earth and won't waste money on projects that will be a complete failure such as a performaning arts center Ms. Bhutta proposes. Projects such as hers will never be successful in Lake Elsinore, then again she is going to be President one day according to her high school chums, our very own Ms. Pallin, but Ms. Pallin is a fiscal conservative, Ms. Bhutta is not. Jimmy is a fiscal conservative.
blocker wrote on Sep 5, 2008 11:17 AM:Are you going to block all comments with hispanic names? Good job you guys!!In my book we call this discrimination.
duh wrote on Sep 5, 2008 11:32 AM:last time i checked, a report of hearing gunshots wasn;t a low priority.
jimmys fan wrote on Sep 5, 2008 11:40 AM:I'm sorry Jimmy all other candidates are way ahead of you. Go ahead and keep writing about yourself. Talk to the hand. I'm still going to vote for you, we all know that you are not going to win. Good luck to you anyway cause you need it.
its amazing wrote on Sep 5, 2008 11:42 AM:that over the last four days, there have been a lot of mean spirited trash talking comments, and now, when jimmy flores is up here, the comments are being censored... Way to go NCT!! Is jimmy your boy?
Amys Fan wrote on Sep 5, 2008 11:50 AM:Smart, educated, positive attitude, hardworker,beautiful, ...this list goes on and on. That is one of the reasons people like Flores has no chance. I am voting for Magee and Amy.
four seats wrote on Sep 5, 2008 12:22 PM:I wish there were four seats. I'm voting for beautiful Ms. Hyland, beautiful Ms. Amy, and beautiful Ms. Alongi.
but wrote on Sep 5, 2008 12:56 PM:there are three seats so it is going to be hyland, bhutta and smith
disagree wrote on Sep 5, 2008 1:08 PM:my vote goes to bhutta, magee and norkin
Mike wrote on Sep 5, 2008 1:12 PM:voting for jimmy, o'neal and feeney
people people wrote on Sep 5, 2008 1:54 PM:When are you going to learn? One of my daughters was in Amy Bhutta's class in 2001. My girls love her to death. This woman is very well liked by her colleagues, students and other community members. So stop talking nonsense about her and move on with your lives. Let the good citizens of this community decide. This article is about Mr. Flores so let it be. This newspaper is doing a great job educating us all so support this writer. I would like to say Good Job.
My wrote on Sep 5, 2008 2:06 PM:choice---- Amy, Magee and Magee
Im voting wrote on Sep 5, 2008 2:18 PM:for Flores, Magee and Melendez. New blood and some experience
Its wrote on Sep 5, 2008 3:32 PM:Amy and Magee-two most educated and smart candidates.love you both
Bob wrote on Sep 6, 2008 2:22 PM:Planning commission, other elected experience should be the requisite...Magee, Hyland, O'Neal, Flores should be the most qualified but the newcomers with school agendas, real estate agenda etc. will win if not an incumbent
need change wrote on Sep 8, 2008 6:48 PM:Jimmy: If your elected. Please fire all
or most of the planning dept and one in Code enforcement.
The city Makes the business owners and future business owners feel like DIRT
thank you for trying to help the ones the city has closed, extoreted money and so on
roadrunner wrote on Sep 11, 2008 10:06 AM:A dispatch center here in the city will be a waste of time and will not make a response time quicker. Also the city police has a non-sworn officer to respond to take low priority calls for service. Rangers for the parks are a good idea, bathrooms might be a waste of money due and might cause more issues for police with graffiti. Just a thought. Focus on the main issues. Get businesses in the area, stop wasting money where it won't get recouped.
GUH wrote on Sep 16, 2008 8:04 PM:FLORES, SPEND SOME MONEY AND UPDATE YOUR PICTURE TO REFLECT THE NEW CITY LOGO. GO MAGEE, NORKIN AND BHUTTA. BTW, WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO GET THE MONEY TO PAVE ALL THE STREETS? HOW DO YOU PROPOSE WE OBTAIN THE CAPITOL TO FUND THE POSITION TO CLEAN THE BATHROOMS DAILY? DID YOU CONSIDER THE DAILY GRAFFITI, DRINKING AND OTHER ILLICIT PROBLEMS YOUR FANTASTIC BATHROOMS ARE GOING TO BRING? THIS IS NOT ORANGE COUNTY THIS IS A SMALL SANDY SHORELINE ON LAKESHORE DRIVE DEAL WITH IT. FOR SOMEONE WITH TIES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT YOUR ARGUMENT TO BRING A DISPATCH CENTER HERE DOES NOT SEEM WELL THOUGHT OUT. OUR COMMUNITY IS NOT BEING BILLED FOR THE LENGTH OF PHONE LINE. IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE WHERE THE CALL IS SENT. HAVING YOUR TRUCK STOLEN IS NOT A HIGH PRIORITY. YOU SAID IT YOURSELF, A LESSER QUALIFIED PERSON CAN STILL COME TAKE THE REPORT. HELL LETS SAVE US A FEW MORE DOLLARS. MAYBE YOU CAN JUST FILE YOUR REPORT OVER THE PHONE. SEE THERE YOU GO JIMBO, SAVE US ALL SOME CASH. PHONE THE REPORT IN THERE WILL BE NO NEED TO FORK OUT MORE TAX DOLLARS TO FILL THE POLICE CAR WITH GAS JUST SO YOU CAN SEE A FACE AND SAY “MY TRUCK WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND IT WAS STOLEN”. THE SAME GOES FOR THE PARK RANGER. WHERE IS THIS SURPLUS OF CASH COMING FROM? ENOUGH SAID
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