LAKE ELSINORE: Candidate wants to restore trust
Steven Manos contends residents are hungry for honest and open government
By AARON CLAVERIE - Staff Writer | ∞
Steven Manos (Photo by Steve Thornton - Staff Photographer) Editor's Note: This is the seventh in a series profiling 11 candidates vying for three seats on the Lake Elsinore City Council in the Nov. 4 election.
LAKE ELSINORE ---- Steven Manos wants to promote an honest and open government, a government that speaks directly to and engages the residents of this city.
The 32-year-old City Council candidate, a real estate executive who is a product of Lake Elsinore schools, said he seized on this campaign platform during his conversations with voters.
"It's the same common thread with all these people I talk to. These people have lost faith in our city government," he said. "People think there is a 'For Sale' sign on City Hall. They want someone who will fight for their interests, not outside interests. I plan on delivering that promise to the people in a big way."
To re-engage the electorate, including the people who have purposely decided to ignore the machinations of City Hall and the City Council, Manos said he would make some of the city's closed door meetings open to the public.
"I think there needs to be a little bit more disclosure, a lot of those (council votes) are decided before the meeting even starts," he said.
When people are informed and engaged, they will take more of an active role in the city, he said.
The other candidates competing for the three council seats that are up for election Nov. 4 are Barbara Alongi, 72, a retired veterinary technician; Amy Marie Bhutta, a 39-year-old high school English teacher; Carole Feeney, 47, a community volunteer; 55-year-old Planning Commissioner Jimmy Flores; Chris Hyland, 79, a former Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District director; 45-year-old incumbent City Councilman Robert Magee; 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.
Talking about his plans for a more responsive government, Manos said he'd like to create neighborhood advisory councils that would feature groups of people making recommendations to the City Council.
In some cities that have started up neighborhood councils, the groups have devolved from good ideas into platforms for people with axes to grind and in some cases the councils have exacerbated racial divisions in a neighborhood.
Manos said he is familiar with the problems that come along with the councils, but he said they can be avoided if the City Council takes an active role in fostering leaders and guiding the direction of the councils.
Another one of Manos' primary campaign issues is economic development, specifically, using a seat on the City Council to help attract new, upscale entertainment venues for the city.
"There's no true night life, no fine dining. There are very few locations to go dancing," he said.
Referencing the recent fight concerning a nightclub inside the Trevi Entertainment Center, Manos said the city needs to do a better job of communicating with the city's small business owners.
Expanding on his economic development plan, Manos said the council needs to focus on boosting the city's health care businesses.
"It makes no sense why residents have to leave the city to get a blood test or X-rays," he said.
Manos said the council can help direct development of health care offices by setting aside commercial land for that purpose as other cities have. He said the benefit would be twofold as those offices, besides making health care more available for the city's residents, would provide good quality sustainable jobs.
Contact staff writer Aaron Claverie at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2624, or aclaverie@californian.com.
Steven Manos
-- Age: 32
-- Occupation: Real estate executive and broker
-- Civic involvement: Inland Valley Association of Realtors member
-- Web sites: www.stevemanos.com, www.electstevemanos.com, www.myspace.com/manos1
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need change wrote on Sep 8, 2008 6:38 PM:Steven: Your on the right path.
Its time the old people from the past let the city blossum, and let the
people be more involved on business licenses, building etc
Ok wrote on Sep 8, 2008 7:20 PM:Obama also thinks, it is time for a change. We'll see!!
Aaron wrote on Sep 8, 2008 7:47 PM:please post my comment-I named it-LOL-Come on
BoutTime wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:19 PM:Finally a person who is interested in representing our families not 'outside special interest.' Open Government worked in San Diego, and it helped to expose a corrupt City Hall. The recent stories about how Bob Magee, Thomas Buckley, and Daryl Hickman are trading campaign dollars for votes should be a clear sign that City Hall needs a refreshing start. Thanks Steve Manos!
Great Platform wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:33 PM:Nice Steve- I like your platform. Go dancing and then go get your blood work done. You topped Jimmy with rangers and bathrooms. That is exactly what our city needs. I'm voting for hyland and Richard Knapp for waterboard.
Nicole wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:39 PM:Steve thank you for coming to our home. We have never had a politician actually visit us and talk with us. We support your kind of leadership. My husband and I are behind you. Keep fighting for us!
Amazing wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:01 PM:Finally a candidate that gets it all right. Got my vote.
To Steve wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:17 PM:Pay no attention to certain ... candidates like oneal who have nothing better to do than attack the competition with these negative comments. stick to your views and that's the best you can do.
Nicole wrote on Sep 8, 2008 11:28 PM:Steve thank you for coming to our home. We have never had a politician actually visit us and talk with us. We support your kind of leadership. My husband and I are behind you. Keep fighting for us!
Too_Easy wrote on Sep 9, 2008 4:50 AM:I like the entertaiment part, I'm not sure why he was asked to comment on a fight at Trevi. The Council is already accessible and open,The people already have access, look at the General Plan that is being developed, there was alot of input, why it is taking over two years to complete is another story, same with the city web site, 8 months overdue. Maybe he should state he wants the city staff to meet higher expectations than in the past. This candidate speaks in general terms, not too effective in my book. How about an overall evaluation of city employee job descriptions, maybe then he can save us some money, oh that's right Mr. Manos didn't mention anything about the budget, maybe he feels a big bear hug for everyone who visits City Hall will fix everything
Election_Talk wrote on Sep 9, 2008 6:40 AM:This Council is pretty open and accessible to the public, especially Hickman. I mean the only thing you can do is pry the people from their homes to get them to come to a meeting. Simply saying you'll make meetings more accessible won't get people involved, Steve how will you get people involved, how will you perk their interest and get them off their couches and into a meeting. This is just election talk, how about lowering my taxes.
Tony wrote on Sep 9, 2008 6:57 AM:Soprano just called, he wanted his suit back. Dancing, Clubing, and night- entertainment. I love this guy. Why didn't I think of that!!
Why wrote on Sep 9, 2008 7:38 AM:Stop making comments if you have nothing better to say. I'm going to stop cause I have nothing positive to say about this candidate.
Johny On The Spot wrote on Sep 9, 2008 7:45 AM:"This is the seventh in a series profiling 11 candidates vying for three seats on the Lake Elsinore City Council in the Nov. 4 election."
This is the "North County Times... right?
Why are you spending so much time on Lake Elsinore politics when we have BIG issues going on in our own San Diego County.
How about Oceanside or Escondido politics? They are in the middle of huge change and have many big issues that affect your readers.
How about any of the other dozen San Diego cities and their elections?
I cannot for the life of me figure out why the NC Time chose to highlight the Lake Elsinore election when they are not even really local to our North County readers.
I personally think that your idea was a good one, but simply done for the wrong area. Why not a city relevant to San Diego County?
Where have you been wrote on Sep 9, 2008 7:50 AM:Steve - where have you been? How long have you lived in this city? Yet, I have not seen you volunteer for anything. Get involved - show you have studied the issues.
To Where have you been wrote on Sep 9, 2008 8:35 AM:I suppose you know all the names of all the volunteers in this city right? give me a break, you don't know what this guy has done in his city, and are you electing a "community organizer" or someone to help run the city? Go back to watching Regis, stop clogging up this site with your petty nonsense.
Right direction wrote on Sep 9, 2008 8:36 AM:So far this is the best article I've read about a candidate. His goals are lofty but I think they'd keep us in the right direction. So far we've heard more police, a civic center, animal shelters, vote for me again, and now someone who wants to bring trust back to city hall. This is just on a different level than the other candidate's messages.
To Where have you been wrote on Sep 9, 2008 10:21 AM:Don't try to confuse the issues. This campaigns about new ideas, and honesty, not protecting your corrupt pals at City Hall. Anyone who supports the current circus at City Hall support corrupt 'public officals' who are trading money for votes. Read the Press Enterprise story. You can't hide from the truth. Lake Elisnore City Counil members trade votes for money, enough said! Corrupt, Dishonest, Dump them now.
New Blood wrote on Sep 9, 2008 10:25 AM:Steve will make a great addition to the city council, just wait for the candidate's forum and you will see what he stands for. His are ideas that all of lake Elsinore can benefit from
Hmmm... wrote on Sep 9, 2008 12:46 PM:someone who is honest, and seems to really care about doing the right thing, how about that? What a nice change, he's got my vote.
I like him wrote on Sep 9, 2008 1:49 PM:Except for the fact he has no clue!
When he says "Manos said he would make some of the city's closed door meetings open to the public."
The law is very specific about what can be handled in the public forum and what can't! Although I like where he is coming from, he needs to be educated! If you are going to step up and play with the big boys, learn the rules!
to right direction wrote on Sep 9, 2008 4:05 PM:you forgot to mention bathrooms and rangers jimmy/manos. To be honest no one knows this guy and no one cares. How many comments did you two make about each other?
Elsinore wrote on Sep 9, 2008 4:56 PM:We have our own elsinore Soprano. It may be the beginning of new drama in our town, blood work, dancing, fights, and more entertainment facilities. Reality show in the making. Badda bing badda bang!!!!!
former teacher wrote on Sep 9, 2008 6:43 PM:STEVE?! I can't believe you're 32 now! Oh my goodness. I remember you and your campainging days at TCHS!!
Best of Luck to you!!
Smart guy wrote on Sep 10, 2008 11:42 PM:I'm friends with one of Steve's brothers. For those of you who don't know him, he is the smartest guy I've ever met. He'd be perfect for city council. Good luck Steve!
Smart who wrote on Sep 11, 2008 10:47 PM:If this guy is the smartest guy you have ever met, that doesn't say too much about you does it? Plus he is scary looking. Yikes!! Why was he protesting at city hall? I heard you all looked pretty funny holding those signs.
To Smart Who wrote on Sep 12, 2008 9:16 PM:I am no genius, but I know enough to know that a guy who gets into UCLA on scholarship is pretty smart. I don't know about a protest but believe me, you have nothing to fear from Steve unless you're a crooked politician. Him and his family are pretty well respected here in Elsinore. He's a good man. Good luck bro!
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