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Nine candidates vie for two Galt council seats
Galt voters will have a crowded field of City Council candidates to select from Nov. 4. Two incumbents, Tim Raboy and Barbara Payne, plus seven challengers will be on the ballot.
This fall's election comes amid a recall effort to oust Galt Mayor Andrew Meredith and Councilman Don Haines.
Neither of those two councilmen are up for re-election. A successful recall, however, would dramatically change the face of the council, as Meredith and Haines, along with Raboy, have fought for slower growth.
Members of Protect Galt's Future, a pro-growth citizens group and political action committee, are leading the recall drive.
PGF had previously endorsed challenger Rodney Stanhope for council, though it now says it will only endorse issues, not specific candidates.
The following is a brief biography of each Galt council hopeful and a portion of their candidate statements:
Fred Goethel
Name: Fred Goethel
Age: 52
Occupation: Insurance consultant
Family: Married, one daughter
Experience:
Kelly Keagy
Name: Kelly Keagy
Age: 45
Occupation: Senior account manager with Building Material Distribution in Galt.
Family: Married with two children
Experience:
Candidate statement: "The city must become more fiscally responsible while working within its budget. We need to develop a business-friendly environment which will strengthen our local economy, create new jobs and increase tax revenue, without raising taxes or fees. We need to use a common sense approach toward growth without jeopardizing our city's charm."
Barbara Payne
Name: Barbara Payne
Age: 66
Occupation: Retired business owner
Family: Married, with two adult daughters and one adult son
Experience:
Candidate statement: "My goal is not to have Galt become another Elk Grove, but to be able to provide for the needs of those who live here, safer neighborhoods, and better city services. As a city council member, I kept the promises I made four years ago. I have worked for the community with vigor and integrity. I worked on the establishment of the STEP program in our Police Dept., Community Character Coalition, REACH grant for youth, and the Code Enforcement Task Force."
Tim Raboy
Name: Tim Raboy
Age: 41
Occupation: Supervising criminal investigator for the California State Board of Equalization.
Family: Married with five sons
Experience:
Candidate statement: "During the last four years, I successfully brought forward the Residential Fire Life Safety ordinance, Galt's Certified Farmers Market, Galt's Winter Bird Festival, Galt's tough graffiti ordinance, and Galt Market improvements. We have stabilized utility rates, eliminated a garbage transfer station in the middle of Galt, assisted Delta College in purchasing property, opened two community parks and supported retail, commercial and hotel development."
George Romano
Name: George Romano
Age: 45
Occupation: HVAC technician
Family: Married with three sons and a daughter.
Experience:
Candidate statement: "I believe that Galt needs to focus on providing long term opportunities to our youth by bringing businesses and programs to town that will generate jobs and activities for them. I also believe that we need to provide for our senior citizens and others who are on fixed incomes by lowering fees for services in order to make life more accessible and affordable."
Richard Salton
Name: Richard Salton
Age: 42
Occupation: Regional coordinator for the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 8 Golden State.
Family: Married with two children.
Experience:
Candidate statement: "As a member of your city council, I intend to focus on protecting our quality of life with smart, responsible growth. I will work to improve our economic base by helping current businesses grow and expand, while also pushing to bring quality new businesses, restaurants and jobs to our city. I also will make it a priority to protect our neighborhoods, schools, and parks with fresh ideas about public safety."
Tom Santillan
Name: Tom Santillan
Age: 49
Occupation: Project engineer in Sacramento for Indoor Environmental Services, which provides heating and cooling system design and construction services.
Family: Married with two children.
Experience:
Candidate statement: "I'm trying to get more retail and commercial business in the city of Galt, which will increase our tax base and, in turn, will bring us more police, fire, parks and recreation and city services. I'd also like to see the wastewater treatment plant (upgrade) finished."
Randy Shelton
Name: Randy Shelton
Age: 60
Occupation: Fire Marshal, Wilton Fire Protection District.
Family: Married, four children.
Experience:
Candidate statement: "Galt needs strong leadership that makes decisions for the people of Galt, not for the wants of a few. Being on city council should not be a "do it my way," it is time to do what is best for the community of Galt, its people, and its future. My family and I have lived in Galt for 18 years and I have seen many changes and with change come decisions that must be made to protect the community in which we live. Growth is often needed for a community to survive; it is needed to enrich and strengthen the community as a whole. What I don't see in Galt is "smart growth." "Smart growth" would provide the citizens of Galt a plan that includes infrastructure, such as the C Street and Twin Cities overpasses, making a decision regarding our wastewater treatment facility, bringing in industrial and commercial enterprises, providing housing for all, and a safe environment to live."
Rodney Stanhope
Name: Rodney Stanhope
Age: 40
Occupation: Business owner
Family: Divorced, two sons and a daughter.
Experience:
Candidate statement: "As a member of the city council, my goal will be to help create a safer community to live, work, shop and enjoy for our families. Making Galt a business-friendly city, with better paying jobs, helping secure more tax revenue dollars while decreasing resident's taxes, will be a priority. We need to protect our way of life as well as prepare for future growth. We can embrace and create balanced growth which would still allow Galt to remain our small community. Galt deserves leaders that truly care about the community by thinking ahead to what is best now and for the future for our children and grandchildren."
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pucha wrote on Oct 15, 2008 3:32 PM:
EJ00114 wrote on Oct 13, 2008 11:22 PM:
Cogito wrote on Oct 13, 2008 7:47 PM:
smokeater8 wrote on Oct 13, 2008 4:43 PM:
weezer wrote on Oct 13, 2008 12:41 PM:
Aspire to become the next Elk Grove?
--Vote for whomever PGF will endorse, candidates who oppose Meredith, Haines, and Raboy.
PGF's engaging in doublespeak. How can you support issues when the election isn't answerable by Yes or No?
Of course it's about personalities and PGF has shown that with the recall effort against incumbents Meredith and Haines. "
weezer wrote on Oct 13, 2008 12:36 PM:
But, I clearly remember the tone of his comment here, I believe addressed to Meredith and was something like, "you're **lucky** you missed me when you knocked on my door." WOW! "
lapdog wrote on Oct 13, 2008 12:20 PM:
weezer wrote on Oct 13, 2008 11:26 AM:
---DOUBLESPEAK.
Did PGF just want to distance themselves from Stanhope? "
Comments on this story are now closed.