Chino City Council District 3

I believe this should be mandatory, it is imperative that we protect our elections by ensuring those voting have the right to do so.

I support requiring government-issued photo identification for in-person voting. Just as I believe local government should operate with accountability, transparency, and public trust, I believe our election system should maintain strong safeguards that give citizens confidence in the process. At the same time, every eligible citizen should have a fair opportunity to vote. Any voter ID requirement should therefore include reasonable access to identification, including an accessible option for eligible voters who do not already have qualifying ID. Election integrity and voter access should work together so every eligible voter can participate and every lawful vote is properly counted.

I support the Second Amendment and a law abiding person's right to keep and bear arms for self defense and protection. I also support responsible background checks for firearm purchases to help prevent firearms from falling into the hands of people who are legally prohibited from possessing them, including convicted felons and individuals with a documented history of domestic violence or qualifying restraining orders. I believe we can protect the constitutional rights of law abiding citizens while taking reasonable steps to promote public safety.

I support the Second Amendment and the constitutional right of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms for lawful purposes, including self-defense. I also believe this right can coexist with reasonable public-safety regulations. I support background checks, restrictions on firearm possession by individuals legally prohibited from possessing firearms, safe-storage requirements, appropriate waiting periods and age requirements, and firearm safety and training requirements. I also support reasonable regulations concerning particular firearms, magazine capacity, and where firearms may be carried, consistent with constitutional protections. My approach is to respect constitutional rights while promoting responsible firearm ownership and protecting public safety.

I am against any recreational marijuana dispensaries operating in our city.

I support maintaining the City of Chino’s current prohibition on recreational marijuana dispensaries. While recreational marijuana is legal under California law, cities have important responsibilities regarding land use, public safety, and neighborhood quality of life. I believe Chino should continue its current approach. As a City Council member, my priorities would include protecting safe neighborhoods, supporting families and youth, maintaining community character, and making responsible land-use decisions. Economic development is important, but I believe it should be pursued in ways that are consistent with Chino’s long-term quality-of-life goals.

I would prioritize reducing and controlling spending before considering any increase in taxes. While on the City Council, I supported the one cent sales tax because voters approved it to help maintain essential city services. I believe that decision should be respected and the revenues should be used responsibly and efficiently. However, a budget deficit should not automatically become an excuse to raise taxes. Government should first identify waste, improve efficiency, prioritize essential services, and reduce or defer lower priority spending. I would look for every responsible spending reduction before asking taxpayers for additional taxes. My preference is to live within our means and protect taxpayers while maintaining the essential services our community depends on.

I would first address a budget deficit through responsible spending decisions, greater efficiency, prioritization of essential services, and careful long-term financial planning rather than placing an additional burden on residents. I would aggressively explore all appropriate funding opportunities, including federal, state, regional, and other grant programs, particularly for eligible infrastructure and public-safety investments. If those measures were insufficient and the City faced a severe fiscal emergency that threatened essential services or financial stability, I would support extensive public discussion, including town halls and meaningful resident input, before considering additional taxes. Fiscal responsibility means exploring every reasonable alternative first.

I believe we should foster a culture in California that recognizes the value and dignity of every child while also recognizing that abortion is a deeply personal and difficult decision for a woman and her family. I do not believe abortion should be used as a form of birth control, and I believe we should do more to make it possible for women facing an unexpected pregnancy to choose life. At the same time, I support allowing a mother to make the decision to have an abortion in cases involving rape, molestation, or incest. As a council member, I would support policies and community organizations that provide mothers with practical alternatives and meaningful support, particularly women who may feel they have no choice but to terminate a pregnancy because they lack financial, emotional, or family support. For example, I support organizations such as Mary's Manger, sponsored by Saint Paul the Apostle Catholic Church.

I support a woman’s right to make reproductive healthcare decisions in consultation with qualified healthcare professionals. I do not believe a City Council member should substitute his judgment for medical professionals in determining when a pregnancy or procedure creates a serious risk to a mother’s life or health. At the local level, my focus would be on fostering a community that values and supports mothers, babies, and children. Young mothers and families can face significant emotional, financial, and social challenges. As a Council member, I would focus on safe neighborhoods, family and youth programs, parks, community services, housing opportunities, and connections to available resources that help families and children build healthy and stable lives.

I respect the outcome of the voters' decision on Proposition 3 and recognize that same-sex couples have the legal right to marry in California. I also believe that marriage, as a matter of faith and personal conviction, is fundamentally a union between a man and a woman. At the same time, I believe government should respect the rights and dignity of all Californians, including those with whom I may disagree on matters of faith or personal belief. I have a gay stepdaughter who is married, and I love and respect her as a member of my family. My personal beliefs about the definition of marriage do not change my commitment to treating her, her spouse, and every other Californian with fairness, dignity, and respect. As a public official, I would uphold the law and the constitutional rights of Californians while continuing to hold and live by my own beliefs. I believe we can disagree on deeply held issues without treating one another with hostility or disrespect.

I consider marriage to be a personal matter. People should be free to make decisions about their personal relationships consistent with the law, without discrimination by local government. As a City Council member, my responsibility would be to serve all Chino residents fairly and equally, regardless of their personal background or whom they choose to marry. I would respect California law and the constitutional rights of every resident. My focus as a Council member would be on the responsibilities entrusted to local government, including public safety, infrastructure, responsible growth, fiscal responsibility, and maintaining a high quality of life for everyone in our community.

I support continuing the tradition of allowing an invocation or prayer at the beginning of City Council meetings. I believe it provides an opportunity to recognize that our community and those who serve it are part of something larger than government itself, and to ask for wisdom, guidance, and discernment as we make decisions that affect our residents. I support continuing this longstanding tradition in our City Council meetings.

I support the tradition of an invocation or prayer at the beginning of City Council meetings, provided participation is voluntary and the practice is inclusive, respectful, and consistent with constitutional protections. Chino is a diverse community, and people of different faiths, as well as those who do not practice a religion, should be treated with equal respect. An invocation can provide a moment for reflection and remind public officials of the responsibility and humility that come with public service. It should never be used to exclude anyone or suggest that residents must hold a particular religious belief to participate fully in their local government.