Fullerton is likely to reintroduce a Korean American member to its City Council in November as voters in districts 1, 2 and 4 weigh their options.
Both candidates in northwestern District 1, Andrew Cho and Fred Jung, are of Korean ancestry and would be the first from the city’s large Korean community on the council in decades.
Cho, who has a master’s degree in public health, said he has the legal and public health policy expertise to help Fullerton navigate the dire economic situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
“In the short term, I propose to incentivize various industries, such as auto dealerships and hotels, to locate in Fullerton,” Cho said, adding that the city also should look at attracting data centers and tech companies to boost its tax base.
In the face of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Cho said he would also protect the funding of the city’s police and fire departments, particularly to reduce response times.
Jung, who directs the youth sports nonprofit Junior All American Bears, said Fullerton has to do better at attracting big box retailers and other sales tax powerhouses that are opting to move into neighboring cities instead.
“We have to do a much better job in making sure that we have the necessary businesses for Fullerton residents to enjoy,” he said.
The city also needs more affordable housing, Jung said, but adding new apartment buildings must be done “responsibly” to respect other neighborhood residents. He mentioned the burgeoning mixed-use district around Cal State Fullerton as a successful blend of affordable housing and commercial space.
In the city’s southwest, school board member Aaruni Thakur is challenging Councilman Bruce Whitaker for the District 4 seat.
Thakur said he was disappointed when there was a conservative majority on the council, Whitaker hadn’t lead it to improve the city’s infrastructure or finances.
He added that his own strong relationships would help allocate resources to Fullerton.
Thakur said he supports Measure S, a local sales tax increase voters are also deciding on that says it would help fund street repairs, emergency dispatch centers and services for homeless people.
Whitaker, who was first elected to the council in 2010, billed himself as the the only member of the body who listens to and votes in the interest of his constituents.
“We must invest in our neighborhoods by addressing homelessness, fixing streetlights, increasing police patrols, increasing neighborhood watch participation and welcoming new businesses in to Fullerton,” he said.
To balance the city’s pandemic-addled budget, Whitaker said unfunded pension liabilities must be addressed first, in part by contracting out some services to reduce the city’s payroll.
Four candidates are vying for District 2, in the city’s north: Chuck Sargeant, Nick Dunlap, Dr. Faisal Qazi and Mackenzie Chang. Any one of them would be a new face on the City Council.
Qazi, a neurologist, said he would focus on repairing the city’s deteriorating infrastructure and expedite business permit processing to spur commercial growth, particularly during the post-pandemic recovery.
“I propose increasing mixed-use development where the first floor is retail, otherwise there is insufficient land to adequately build housing and businesses independently,” he said.
Dunlap, senior vice president at real estate investment firm Avanth, said he would shore up the city’s finances by cutting costs and applying for grants and suggested hiring private security to patrol parks and trails to free up police officers for more important calls.
“While some cuts have been made, I believe we need to explore additional opportunities for competitively bidding contracts to help free up resources and personnel to allow city staff to focus on their primary job responsibilities,” Dunlap said.
Sargeant, a former police officer for Santa Ana Unified School District, said he would prioritize police funding and the city’s economic recovery. But he said he opposes Measure S, the proposed sales tax increase.
“In the middle of the COVID-19 crisis, our businesses are hurting,” Sargeant said. “The last thing they need is an increased sales tax which will scare customers away.”
Chang, an asylum officer and teacher, said he saw a lack of choices in candidates for his district who would make balancing the city’s budget a long-term priority, so he decided to run himself.
“I am for public safety, but we laid off over 150 employees of the city, while the police got another raise,” he said, adding that the city’s financial mismanagement has become even more protracted due to the pandemic.
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