Candidate Forum, June 2008

There will be a Candidate Forum on Wednesday, June 4 at 6:30pm at the Palace Theatre (630 S. Broadway). This will be your chance to ask candidates what they plan to do, if elected.

I am not sure if I will have time to get all the candidate statements on this site before the election on Thursday, June 12 because of my own commitments.

All of the candidate statements are on the City Clerk’s website.

Candidate 2008: Sylvia Delgado

Sylvia Delgado is a candidate for the Workforce Director, Public Sector seat.

My name is Sylvia Delgado and I was born and raised in Los Angeles. I currently work in Downtown LA, for the Department of Transportation, and spend most of my time in the Downtown area. I have a B.S. Degree in Public Policy and Management (Public Administration) from USC. I have a strong desire to make positive changes in our neighborhood and I know I have what it takes to be a leader. I will not make any promises, but I will try my hardest to do the best job possible in bringing our community together and improving the quality of life for Residents and Businesses owners in Downtown LA.

Candidate 2008: Delaphine Carlisle

Delaphine Carlisle is a candidate for Historic Downtown Business Director.

I respectfully request consideration as a Business Director for the Historic Downtown area.

I am excited to be a part of the positive changes taking place in Downtown and I feel that I can contribute to this positive growth.

Thanks you for your consideration.

Candidate 2008: David Hurtado

David Hurtado is running for the City West Business director seat.

Central City West along with downtown Los Angeles in general is growing at a rapid pace. I wanted to take part in this current redevelopment which is why I moved my office to downtown from the San Gabriel Valley in January of 2007. I am currently involved with DLANC as an alternate Business Director board member for Central City West and I am also apart of the Economic Development Committee. I feel that by taking part in the growth of our city and stimulating socially responsible businesses to spring up we can cultivate our community to have more of the things that both residences and stakeholders in general care about. It’s more about making this community a place where we all want to work and live and as a board member I will make sure that the decisions we make and ideas we come up with will support making Downtown LA/Central City West a great place to live, work and play.

Brief Bio

Education: California Polytechnic University, Pomona – 2004
Major – Business Management, Entrepreneurship
Major – Computer Information Systems, Internet Programming and Security

Profession: Real Estate Sales Associate

Candidate 2008: Brandon Martin

Brandon Martin is running for the Civic Center Resident seat.

I relocated to Los Angeles to be a part of Downtown’s renaissance both as a land use attorney and a resident. I believe in the potential of both the growing number of people who have moved to live and work in Downtown and the unique culture we are creating together. Both before the election and after the election, I hope each of you will feel free to e-mail me with any questions, concerns, or thoughts about how we can make DLANC, the neighborhood council system, or l and use in Downtown Los Angeles work better.

My email address is: brandonmartin.dlanc@gmail.com

I’ve represented a diverse cross-section of clients on matters of concern to growing communities during my years as a practicing land use attorney. I’ve also served as a volunteer and board member for organizations benefiting charitable, educational, and public benefits ranging from children’s mental health to collegiate athletics and many of these areas are impacted directly or indirectly by land use and planning concerns that come before DLANC. I strongly believe I am qualified and ready to serve, but I also want to emphasize that I am qualified and ready to listen.

My initial policy goals include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Collaborate with developers, City of Los Angeles staff, and residential stakeholders to reduce noise impacts throughout non-industrial areas.
• Enforce City of Los Angeles laws to make DLANC more open, transparent, and accountable to stakeholders.
• Encourage and recruit new opportunities for the continued growth and prosperity of Downtown including revitalization of the historic Broadway District between 3rd and 9th streets.

I respectfully ask for your vote, and I look forward to working with you to grow this listed (and this community) together!

Candidate 2008: Michael Pfeiffer

Michael Pfeiffer is running for the South Park Business Director position.

I have been actively involved in the formation, growth and leadership of the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council since the drafting of the original bylaws. I served as chair of the first DLANC election committee, and have been an alternate to South Park Business Directors, including the current South Park Business Director. I am a past member of the Economic Development Committee and currently serve on the Planning and Land Use Committee.

Representing the South Park Business Community, I strongly support DLANC’s Mission:

To unite the diverse communities of Downtown Los Angeles and to provide an innovative forum for all community stakeholders to contribute to a healthy, vibrant, and inclusive Downtown.

…and will work with my fellow Board members and other DLANC stakeholders toward achieving this mission.

Candidate 2008: Elizabeth (Betsy) Kelly

Betsy Kelly is running for a Social Service Provider Director seat.

For the past six years I have been working with the social service providers in the Downtown Los Angeles area. Throughout this time I have become educated on our homeless population in regards to the depths of illness that keeps people on the street. I have had my share of judgements regarding this population, but once I started working with our guests on “skid row” I realized that everyone has a story, that these stereotypes that have been placed upon people were not always fair or correct. This past year I planned and oversaw our Project Homeless Connect Day (the largest in the Nation), and I heard so many stories from some of our local neighbors who participated on the day. These stories were of our homeless that wanted to read, to talk, wanting to experience a different life, what life they had lost and where they wished they could be. This is why I believe that educating our neighbors on this terrible disease of homelessness if the first step to being able to work together in aiding and assisting those in need of healing. The Downtown Neighborhood Council has many faucets and having me on the council to represent the social service providers is a beginning to bridging the gap between “skid row” and the rest of downtown Los Angeles. I know that if we work together, neighbors and social service providers, we can build a better future; we can come together as a community.

Candidate 2008: Akiliah Manuel Mills

Akiliah Manual Mills is running for the Area-wide Homeless Resident position.

I am running for Director at-large because I have a vested interest in the people of downtown. I have helped to plant a new church downtown geared towards the influx of young professionals, currently assistant pastor of a new church plant on Skid Row, served as a Deputy Sheriff for four years and work downtown. I am the executive assistant of Men’s Ministries at the Union Rescue Mission. Downtown is comprised of people, artists, business professionals, homeless and more. I am as diverse and eclectic as downtown itself. If appointed At-large director I will advocate for all. Residences, Commerce, education and the Arts make up downtown. One cannot survive without the other. I will humbly serve as advocate, sounding board and liason.

Thank you.

Candidate 2008: Victor Moller

Victor Moller is a candidate for a Social Service Provider seat.

I have enjoyed being on the Planning and Land Use Committee for the past three years. As the community representative for our company (1010 Development Corp), it would be a pleasure to continue in a greater capacity.

Candidate 2008: Jerry Blackwell

Jerry Blackwell is running for the Area-wide Resident Director position.

Bio-Info

Retired Optician

Licensed Fashion Eyewear consultant
Contact Lens Fitter
Life Insurance Agent

Activist:
Social Change
Enforcement of the laws of the United States
Well being of our citizens

Community Actions:
Member of The Board of Directors for an organization known as The Banking Institute (dedicated to training inner-city youth in the banking industry)

Opened,owned and or managed “Fine Jewelry” stores in New York, New Jersey and California (Slavicks and J. Blackwells Fine Jewelry)

Retail Sales, Marketing Specialist for marketing, representing “The Xerox Company” in a tri-state area California, Nevada and Oregan

Military:
Five (5) years in the U.S. Air Force as a Histopathology technician

Currently a Minister and a Chaplain in The Universal Life Church since April 1968