About
ABOUT ALEX
My father would often remind me about the poster on the wall of his grandfather's shoe repair shop. It said, "I complained that I had no shoes, and then I met a man with no feet." Both of my parents believed that it is essential to be grateful and, at the same time, listen to people who see life from a different perspective. That has been a theme throughout my life.
I was grateful to spend a semester in Ireland during my high school years. After that experience, I enrolled at CSUMB and received a BA in Human Communications. This was followed many
years later with a jurisprudence degree in law. During my life, I have taken courses in San Jose, Costa Rica, Singapore. Merida, Mexico, and Vienna, Austria. My experiences and travels have given me a broad perspective on cultures and government systems in the United States and worldwide. I listened and learned that there are many different ways to contribute to society.
My primary occupation is as a property manager, where I have had the honor of helping individuals find suitable housing. My first experiences were at a housing development owned by a large corporation, and now as an independent businessman. I have learned how to negotiate contracts, deal with the public, and the power of advertising. In addition, I have learned the importance of listening to your employees, involving the public, and developing strategies to make your business profitable. I’m honored that these skills, combined with my law degree, have provided me with valuable insights that inform my decisions.
It was an honor to have worked in Monterey County and Santa Cruz County schools as a substitute teacher and an Independent Studies teacher, where I listened and gained perspectives on the lives of agricultural workers. Plus, I was grateful to have spent 25 years as a soccer referee working with the school districts and youth soccer leagues.
I served on the Neighborhood Improvement Commission for five years before running for City Council. Two seats were open, and since only two people applied, the election was canceled, and I was appointed to the council. I was grateful that I didn’t have to conduct a political campaign. Still, on the other hand, I didn’t have the opportunity to discuss the voters’ needs with them. In the months leading up to my taking the oath of office, I conducted five community meetings in various parts of the city. After listening to the participants, I divided the comments into three areas, which became my goals as a city council member. Below are my accomplishments during my first three years on the council.
The first area I focused on was maintaining community safety, and I prioritized public safety.
Fireworks have been a point of contention for the city. I lobbied and succeeded in getting Measure CC on the ballot to ask the voters about the future of firework sales in our city. Growing cat and dog populations strain our animal control department, so I worked with stakeholders to adopt a city-wide ordinance to require spaying and neutering. Additionally, I requested that the City Council secure funding for a monthly, low-cost SNIP spay and neuter clinic.
The second area was working to complete the
Vision for a Better Seaside.
I advocated for an economic development director and have supported the development of Seagrove, Campus Town, and the Grand Hyatt. Sports are essential to our community, and I helped to create a strong bond between the City of Seaside and the Monterey Bay Football Club. Soccer is important to many youth, and I lobbied Seaside PAL to bring a soccer program to the city. I coached all of the teams. Keeping our city attractive is essential, so I worked with the Neighborhood Improvement Commission and the Parks and Recreation Commission to paint utility boxes throughout the city. In addition to advocating for park funding, I participated in several park clean-ups with the Friends of Seaside Park Association (FOSPA). I successfully advocated for funding for the following parks: Cutino (phase 2), Highland Otis, Sabado, Fernando, Wheeler St tennis courts, Havanna Soliz, and Lincoln-Cunningham Park walkways. My additional duties on the City Council included representing the city by serving on the Governance, Transparency, and Labor Relations Cal Cities Committee.
The third area focused on making city agencies more responsive.
Keeping people informed is extremely important. I published a monthly newsletter to increase communication and engagement among the residents. In my newsletters, I have highlighted outstanding city departments and individuals who have significantly contributed to the city. Timely responses to public requests are essential, so I established the “Respond within 48 hours” policy so no messages get ignored. I have encouraged other council members to do the same. I am grateful to have been allowed to serve the people of Seaside, and I am always available to listen to the public. I would be very thankful for your support as I run for mayor.
