Karmel Roe Enters 2013 Mayoral Race

Karmel Roe, a self-described “leader of multiple hats”-is running for San Bernardino City Mayor this November, and she’s calling for reform. Roe, a 37-year-old business owner and real estate and mortgage broker who holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing, business and public relations, and public administration, said she is looking for charter reform; she holds that council members should be elected at large, while still serving in their respective wards. “Currently, council members are elected by a handful of people from their ward, yet they make the decisions that affect the entire community,” Roe said. “I would like the mayor, who currently has no vote on the council, to be the chief policy maker by having two votes.” Other changes she seeks to implement include open council meetings, allowing the public to speak at the start of each meeting for two minutes each, and setting up a community-interactive website. She’s said her largest goals for the city include pension reform, foreclosure reform, revenue generation and safe streets. Roe seeks to examine past and current retirement contracts and “make tough, new choices.” She said she wants to review all current city positions, salaries and pensions. Roe holds that foreclosure reform will stop the city’s foreclosures. Roe has also set her eye on business: “I will rebuild our city’s image, which will rebuild commerce,” Roe said. She plans to do this by hiring liaisons to bring in new businesses and work to mitigate start-up costs, and has said she will help give new businesses an online presence. She also looks to open City Hall for student internships, and will propose the world’s largest indoor skate–bike park and mall at the Carousel Mall. Roe has also set her focus on public safety, which means “creating a stronger, bolder, authoritative presence of our police on the streets, especially in the toughest neighborhoods,” with an emphasis also on clean and safe parks. Roe said she will also look at outsourcing various departments and will “have audits on all city departments and finances.” [END] 337 WORDS CITY NEWS 1. Karmel Roe (951) 205-8616 2. 37 3. Business owner, Real Estate and Mortgage Broker 4. Position: Mayor 5. Why do you feel you are qualified? I am qualified for the position of mayor because I am a leader of multiple hats; I work miracles--I can get a paycheck where others see no paycheck! 6. What types of changes would you like to implement? I would like to have charter form. To best serve the community at large, the council members need to be elected at large, while still living in their respective wards. Currently, council members are elected by a handful of people from their ward, yet they make the decisions that affect the entire community. I would like the mayor, who currently has no vote on the council, to be the chief policy maker by having two votes. I will open up council meetings—no more behind closed doors meeting. The people will speak first for two minutes each. I will set up a community interactive website. 8. What is your number one goal? Pension reform, foreclosure reform, revenue generation, and safe streets. 9. How do you plan to reach these goals? Pension Reform: Examine past and current retirement contracts and make tough, new choices. Review all current city positions, salaries, and pensions. Foreclosure Reform: I will initiate foreclosure reform to stop foreclosures in our city. Revenue Generation: I will rebuild our city’s image, which will rebuild commerce. I will hire a liaison to bring in new businesses and work with them to mitigate costly start up cost. I will review and reform Norton Airport project. I will give business an online presence to help them market themselves; and offer long-term, low-interest loans to do major up grades to older commercial buildings. I would setup internships throughout city hall and our businesses for our students. I would propose opening the largest indoor skate-bike park and mall in the world at the Carousel Mall. Safe Streets: Maximize police force appearance and efficiency by creating a stronger, bolder, authoritative presence of our police on the streets, especially in the toughest neighborhoods. I will spend money intended for public safety on public safety. I will spend the money that HUD gives San Bernardino yearly for homeless and homeownership as intended and not place it in the general fund to pay for services that we never see. I will clean up our parks and have security patrols. 10. What is your plan regarding the economic state of the city? I will look at out sourcing various departments. I will have audits on all city departments and finances; especially the Redevelopment Agency’s questionable transfers made after Governor Brown closed it down. Over $500 million in assets were transferred with over $400 million unaccounted for according to the State Controller.