As you probably know by now, 608 valid ballots remained last Wednesday and the final count revealed the outcome: a loss for our campaign by a mere 32 votes.

And while defeat is never fun, our campaign did something truly outstanding and I want to make sure that every last supporter recognizes it: we ran a grass-roots campaign on a shoestring budget and came within inches of a well-entrenched incumbent.  In fact, it was the 2nd closest council race in Santa Clarita’s history!

Even more incredible are the challenges we overcame: the incumbents ran as a slate in order to to take advantage of a $45,000 (reported so far) infusion from a Political Action Committee largely funded by the dubious G&L Realty – that’s 150% of G&L’s expenditure on Laurie Ender’s campaign in 2008!  Plus, with 11 candidates running for three seats and one very similar name on the ballot, it is truly remarkable that we came within 32 votes of a win on our first try!  This campaign was an incredible testament to what a few committed people can accomplish!

Make no mistake, we fired a serious shot across the bow of our elected leadership.  Our citizens are beginning to pay attention – our city is ready for representation, not more buildings, parks, and streets named after our council members.

So, let me close out by giving credit where credit is due: THANK YOU! For weeks I’ve received calls from supporters all around (and outside) the city who let me know they were talking to friends, emailing neighbors, “bullet” voting, and writing letters to our newspaper, our Chamber, and even our congressman.  You made all the difference. We may have lost by 32 but the status quo got a loud wake-up call – and next time we’ll outnumber them!

I look forward to staying involved with the issues that affect our homes, our business, our kids, our seniors, and our future.  I hope you will stay in touch with me too (my personal email is included below), as I want to continue to hear your concerns and better understand what matters to you.  When I stop doing that, I’ll quit running – until then, stay tuned for 2012!

To my supportive family, committee members, contributors, volunteers, and voters… From the bottom of my heart, thank you all for a job well done.

David Gauny

davidgauny@ca.rr.com

For the past six years, I have been a passionate leader who has advocated a better strategic plan for growth and a solid plan for business.  I remain very concerned about the increasing threat illegal immigration poses for City and County budgets, including public safety, schools and healthcare.  I was the only candidate who stood with Councilman Bob Kellar when he called for discussion on this important issue when the incumbents tried to silence the debate.  I will continue as his ally in the future.

The incumbents claim that Santa Clarita has a balanced budget but the fact is that the city faces an $800,000 deficit next year, a $20 million lawsuit lost on appeal, and a shrinking budget.  We’ve all had to cut spending at business and at home – we need to do the same at City Hall.  It is time for honesty, not self-congratulating.

I also believe our city has done too little too late in getting assistance to small business.  As a small business owner who personally surveyed over 300 business owners in this campaign, I understand the needs and have a smart plan to keep our business open.  I also want stronger support for our Senior Citizen and civic Arts programs – our city is late in all of these areas.

Finally, I am concerned about Santa Clarita’s political process.  A Political Action Committee called Citizens for Integrity in Government is allowing massive outside financing of incumbent City Council campaigns while deliberately hiding the list of contributors from our voters.  This illegal practice has manipulated our 2006, 2008, and 2010 elections and it must stop.  Read this excellent article to better understand how a few players are keeping fair process and good governance from our citizens.

I want more representation and less spin from our elected leadership.  I have a rational and smart approach to Santa Clarita’s future that will protect investments of both businesses and homeowners.  I am the only candidate endorsed by City Councilman Bob Kellar, the California Republican Assembly, and the Los Angeles Voter Guide.  I am also endorsed by KHTS 1220AM and enjoy bi-partisan support from former SCV Democratic Club President Jonathan Kraut, Planning Commissioner Diane Trautman, senior citizen advocates Dr. Gene Dorio and Diana Sevanian, and many others.

Santa Clarita is at the precipice: well-planned city or the next victim of urban sprawl?  We need fresh ideas and renewed energy from a leadership that is not beholden to outside interests.  Your vote can put People First again in Santa Clarita – Vote DAVID GAUNY on April 13th.

Visit www.ElectDavidGauny.com for more information

• CA ranks #38 out of 50 – Best States for Business Survey (Forbes 2009)
• CA ranks #49 out of 50 – Small Bus & Entrepreneurship Council Survival Index (2009)

California’s terrible economic climate has put Santa Clarita into fierce competition with other states and cities seeking to attract strong companies.  Whether or not you support government stimulus programs, they are here to stay for awhile and our city needs to grab hold of what we can to make sure companies –and jobs– stay here.

I am a strong supporter of the Santa Clarita Economic Development Corporation (SCVEDC) and believe it to be the key to attracting strong anchor companies to our valley.  In fact, we’re about five years late in starting it which makes success in the endeavor much more difficult.  With an anemic .90:1 jobs/housing ratio, the incumbent council leadership has failed to promote a strategic plan and vision for our city and now we’re scrambling.

A chief concern to me is that small business –literally 70% of our local economy– has been all but forgotten, even after three years of a down economy.  A few companies and big box stores are benefitting from economic development efforts but we have not seen the urgency needed from this council to help our Chamber drive key programs to this critical segment.

Here are a few examples:

• 21-Point Economic Development Plan touts $5 million impact for our economy – where is the plan for small business?
• The plan was created without a survey to understand small business need – how?
• We have no method of communicating or “tying in” small business to key incentive programs or many available public services.  Public programs must go beyond Chamber and if done right, can increase visibility and relevance of Chamber to more businesses.
• Enterprise Zone – 99% of our businesses qualify, yet only 2% are using it – after three years!  Communication to small business and lobbying our state to relax EZ qualification standards is the key – has any incumbents stepped forward for either?
• $100K Community Development Block Grant to Newhall business provided a false economy – this is not a plan to sustain businesses here or anywhere else.

The Chamber’s reasoning for endorsing the incumbents is that they support programs when asked.  But voting YES is following, not leading. The council quibbled over $200K seed money to fund the SCVEDC with little understanding that the city’s failed leadership is the primary reason why we don’t have more anchor companies here already.

Where are the incumbents after 3 years of a tough economy?  We are the 4^th largest city in Los Angeles County and it is time we get a real dialog and a real plan for our business community – not just big business, ALL business. We need more than three votes – we need leadership!

Can Anything Really Be Done?

I received more than 320 responses to a survey my campaign conducted to better understand our local business climate.  I have since created the following Top 10 List that includes just a few ideas that our city could implement at little cost to do something to keep small business working.  I want leadership that drives solutions – #1 priority should be “conduct a survey.”

1. Revamp ThinkSCV. City has invested lots of money in banners and related advertising but failed to involve small business or communicate its value and benefit.  Electronic campaign has also been poorly executed.  Fix the problem and maximize the investment.
2. Review City’s Requirement to “Buy Local” – 84% of survey respondents state that the city is failing in its efforts to “Buy Local”– purchasing programs should be reviewed and expanded to better support local opportunities.
3. City-sponsored expo that puts local manufacturers and distributors together with local purchasing agents.
4. More Outsourcing. City Hall is holding on to services that should be bid out locally!
5. Nonprofit/Civic events – Create/expand communication network with vendors and restaurants interested in participating in major events around our city – push this beyond Chamber and use the opportunity to increase Chambers exposure to more business.
6. Assist in sourcing Enterprise Zone-qualified employees. WorkSource and COC can identify EZ-qualified employees offering a win-win for both employers and employees.
7. Central Park and similar events – 1,000s of people attend and vendors of all kinds should be involved in the opportunity.  We have virtually none.
8. American Recovery & Reinvestment Act. Grant application should involve public to determine priorities.  This eliminates perceived favoritism in certain areas or projects.  Also, grant monies must go to business –not government– jobs.
9. Business registration. Our city or the SCVEDC needs to begin a simple registry to identify business type, employee count, SIC, etc. with an assurance that there will be no new local taxes to join.  Without this, we have no trend analysis and no communication.
10. Commercial Real Estate – As the SCVEDC begins its push to attract outside companies, local commercial RE   brokers and managers should be networked in.

Great people are involved in our SCVEDC and Chamber programs but success will not be had on the backs of volunteers.  The city also has an obligation to the 85-90% of businesses that aren’t Chamber members – with good leadership in both City and Chamber offices, let’s use this opportunity to increase Chamber’s relevance to our small business community.

Now is the time to get the conversation going.  Let’s stop pretending that everything’s fine and we’re all doing a great job.  Rhetoric won’t fix it – business needs help now.

I am very passionate about driving business in our city and the valley too. It is time to end our war with the county and unite on a real 20 year plan for growth. Representation and good process at City Hall are needed now to ensure our success.

Please contact me anytime at david@ElectDavidGauny.com – I am eager to hear your thoughts and concerns about this or any other issue.

Chamber of Commerce Candidate Questionnaire:  David Gauny

The following questions were recently distributed to each of the 2010 City Council candidates by the SCV Chamber of Commerce.  They cover a wide range of issues that may be of interest to both home and business owners in Santa Clarita and are provided here for those who are interested.

The only modifications to my original answers are expanded explanations of areas that may not be common knowledge to the general public.

1. Have you ever owned a business? If yes, what type of business and were/are you located in the City of Santa Clarita?

I am managing broker and principal (along with my wife) of Smart Money Broker, Inc, a residential mortgage broker.  We downsized when credit tightened and currently operate from our home.  I also joined a commercial insurance brokerage in Encino and have 100% ownership of my book of business.  I expect to open an office in Santa Clarita this year.

2.  What is your experience in preparing budgets; what size of budgets? How have you dealt with reduced income? Be specific.

I served as a VP of Sales and Marketing with a $1 million annual budget. We always grew but streamlining efforts included moving production overseas and shifting to a largely virtualized sales force.  I joined the Valencia Summit HOA board in 2007 (budget $1MM) just after discovery that the HOA had an overdrawn operating account and a reserve account funded at an anemic 17%.  We renegotiated every contract over two years and while we did raise dues, prior boards had not done so for 7 years, resulting in major operating shortfalls.  I ended my tenure in 2009 as board President with both accounts fully-funded and all major facility projects either completed or underway.  Dues were reduced to 2006 levels in October 2009 prior to my departure.

3. What are 3 key issues in SCV that you will deal with during your four year term? Provide detailed response on at least one issue.

Support for business, protection of planning, and better strategic vision for our city.  Small business has been underserved and I want renewed effort from Chamber and the City on this – I look forward to Shaffery!  I understand the need for growth and One Valley, One Vision (OVOV) but we need more critical review than we are currently receiving from the incumbents.  Staff is responsible for dollars, not vision.  We need stronger council members if we are to grow our city into the employer and tourism destination it has the chance to be right now.  I strongly support incentive and lobbying programs to attract large business but our council needs vision and critical thinking.

4. How do you balance your decision making process between the various City constituencies?

As I mentioned above, I believe balance occurs through active dialog with residents and business owners.  Homeowners don’t want growth while land owners want max dollar.  Similarly, nobody wants density but we all want the public services that density helps to fund.  The answer is in the middle and I would like process at City Hall to be more inclusive of those affected prior to hearings.  Arbitrary decisions are a bad precedent and leave constituents on all sides unhappy.

5. What was your philosophical thinking and personal feelings (not the public issues) which made you decide to run?

Our city is a jewel and OVOV is the precipice for how we will grow in the next 20 years.  My wife Tracy and I plan to retire in our home and it is terrible to see reckless planning approvals with so little effort or vision for attracting anchor companies and better local jobs.  Large employers want a culture and Arts center and our demographic supports this too.  It hurts to see a smarter approach to growth be sold out to a quicker, easier way.  Short-term gain, long-term loss.

6. What is your opinion on “One Valley One Vision”?

I understand the state is requiring cities to produce a certain percentage of high-density housing and localized job growth.  I support OVOV but there are aspects of the proposal that require serious questioning – the incumbents have not demonstrated success at this in several recent projects.  I also do not feel the city provided good process for review. Informational workshops last year provided no information on critical issues and specifics are hard to come by.  It may quiet complaints in the short-term but the result will be serious pushback at the 11^th hour which is a waste of everyone’s time.  Our businesses and homeowners deserved more info; better process makes a better plan.

7. What, specifically, would you do to support economic development?  What is your opinion on the role of the Santa Clarita Economic Development Corporation (SCVEDC)?

I served on the bylaws subcommittee prior to the SCVEDC’s incorporation.  I also formed and co-chair the small business subcommittee.  I approached our council last year to request the needed $200K seed money, and I believe strongly that this is the only direction for attracting the type of business and high-paying jobs we desperately need in our valley.

8. What is your vision for the Whitaker-Bermite site?

We keep saying we’re a small town and it’s nice to feel this way – but we are the 4^th largest city in L.A. County with 177,000 residents.  As our real town center with rail access, WB’s location provides an incredible opportunity to create well-planned commercial and corporate center and maybe even the home of our city’s cultural center (convention, arts, sports, etc.).  There is cleanup work to be done and I would consider a public-private effort to get it going – the return to our city would be huge.

9. What is your opinion on the City’s Newhall Redevelopment plan?

The city needs to commit –really commit– to this plan if we are to attract the type of business and shopping climate we seek in this area.  We need upscale apartment and townhome development that’s local to the area in order attract younger corporate-types (Disney?) who seek the hip and artsy feel that we are trying to accomplish here.  To date, execution of the plan has been scattered and really hurt those businesses – we need to stay focused and do the job right.  I am glad the streetscape is not being postponed.  Lastly, the $100,000 Community Development Block Grant money that was given to 20 businesses was a waste.  This cash giveaway of $5K each does nothing to help the ongoing health of those businesses.  It’s a Band-aid, not a plan.

10. What are the most significant transportation issues and opportunities facing the City and the Santa Clarita Valley? As a member of the Santa Clarita City Council how would you address these issues or seize these opportunities?

Without question, the biggest problem our valley faces is access to the L.A. basin.  I’d like to see rail service expanded to SFV and at some point we need honest discussion on creation of a new North/Southbound corridor.  We are currently planning based on the I-5 freeway being 16 lanes across!  We need to get real but this issue is way too big for the few lines I have here!

11. What have been your 3 biggest accomplishments in helping the citizens of Santa Clarita?

I have been a tireless advocate for better planning, spending years to understand planning laws and consider ways to better protect various communities.  I’ve worked on the SCVEDC to survey small business to ensure incentive programs and stimulus programs are targeted and communicated.  Lastly, I am deeply committed to our senior center – my wife has been a Meals on Wheels driver for years and I want more commitment to their facilities and services.  I care deeply about the future of our city and I have tried to apply myself to the areas I can best affect.

If you have other questions you’d like to ask me, please let me know via email at david@electdavidgauny.com.

Thank you for your interest and I hope to have your support on April 13^th!

Committee to Elect David Gauny 2010 (ID# 1322616)

The 2010 City Council will begin review of One Valley, One Vision (OVOV), a proposal that will forever redraw zoning and planning guidelines in virtually every part of our city.

It is not an exaggeration to say that Santa Clarita is at the precipice of becoming either a well-planned city with premium venues or the next city to be overrun with L.A.’s urban sprawl.  Execution of One Valley, One Vision will determine our fate.

Here are a few examples of the potential damage we will incur without alert leadership:

• Tripling (or more) of site densities in multiple areas.  This means that if you have 100K sqft of retail down the street from your home, the landowner could raze it and build 300K sqft or more – very possibly without public hearing.
• Reduction of traffic standards. The plan calls for lowering the pass/fail threshold for traffic flow by one full grade.  This further reduces obligations of developers to mitigate their projects.
• No Peak-Hour traffic analysis. Instead of viewing peak commute times to measure traffic flow, traffic counts would be averaged over 24-hour period.  This profoundly blurs the facts about actual traffic problems.

This is not as simple as saying we don’t want growth.  There are two California bills (AB32 and SB375) that require our city to, among other things, increase density, provide more affordable housing, and reduce emissions by providing more local jobs.  The fact is we must begin to meet these mandates and accommodate growth in order to qualify for transportation and other state funds we need to maintain our infrastructure.  I do not agree that this plan can simply be thrown out.

That said, process up to this point has been disastrous.  At community workshops that were supposed to invite public input, staff produced only blank pages on every key zoning question I asked.  How does the public weigh in without information?  Such process is the reason why our city continues to suffer 11^th hour pushback from citizens.  Wasted time, money, and lawsuits are the result.  Good process makes a better plan and our refusal to embrace this concept is costing our taxpayers dearly.

And this strikes at the heart of the heart of why I’m running for council.  Whether it’s lack of interest or conflict of interest, our incumbent leadership has a dismal record of understanding complex proposals.  It is telling that OVOV was deliberately delayed until after the election, as this method of avoiding meaningful debate and exposure of intentions has been employed by this group more than once.  Outside money increasingly funds incumbent campaigns and without new leadership we will suffer the inevitable effects.

What I support. As a businessman, I understand that growth is both necessary and beneficial to the health of our city.  But to avoid L.A.’s density nightmare, we need better checks and balances from our City Council and a real plan to keep public safety and services funded.

My goal is to bring representation and a plan that better protects our community moving forward:

• Tough questions and better process to eliminate “fuzzy math” analysis of proposed zoning and traffic modeling.  I will also apply this approach to projects and demand that builders engage local residents to minimize the concerns of affected homeowners and their investments.  No more backroom deals cut at the expense of our citizens.
• I will reject revisions that attempt to restrict public voice on major projects.  If we remove the accountability of our elected officials, city staff will be delivering approvals regardless of who is elected to council.  City Council must remain accountable to its constituents if we are to protect our planning future.
• I am committed to the programs we need to attract large anchor businesses to our community and I am already supporting and working with our Economic Development Corporation to accomplish this.  Local high-paying jobs bring well-planned corporate centers and raise tax revenues without strip mall-style density.
• A plan for a true cultural Arts and Convention Center.  Our demographic supports this and it is fundamental to making our city an attractive destination for employers and future tourism dollars.  Premium venues and entertainment bring tax dollars without density and forever protect the value of our homes and our businesses.

Think, SCV. On that last bullet point, the Highway 126 corridor will build out in the next 20 years with tens of thousands of homes.  Santa Clarita can become an entertainment hub, where people come to see symphony, concerts, and theatre productions with premium restaurants to boot.  Now is the time plan for and protect this jewel and not one incumbent has demonstrated the strategic vision for getting there.

Our city council has not demonstrated vision that includes high-paying jobs in our valley.  With a dismal .90:1 jobs/housing ratio, even low-wage jobs are lacking.  Roads are clogged with people leaving our valley for work and people outside our valley coming here to work.  They then take their check and spend it elsewhere.  This is not a plan for growth and the incumbents have been asleep at the switch.

OVOV is only a bad thing if we fail to bring the high-paying jobs our citizens need to live and work locally.  The incumbents have already demonstrated their vision and political will here.  We need critical thought and thorough review of the proposal to protect our home values and our quality of life.  I am committed to the ideas and energy that will get us there.

Please contact me anytime at david@ElectDavidGauny.com – I am eager to hear your thoughts and concerns about this or any other issue.

“In my view this not about racism. It’s not about politics on the left, or the right, and it’s not about hate.”

Our City Council showed its true colors and left fellow City Councilman Bob Kellar to twist in the wind for his remarks at an anti-illegal immigration rally.  In addition to the planning and campaign election laws that were flagrantly violated in the past few years, do you want these people representing you?  Very powerful video and well worth the 8 minutes.

Note: Neither David Gauny nor his campaign committee were involved in the creation or posting of this video.

The unfortunate “Proud Racist” headline immediately went national, launching Kellar into the spotlight, Meg Whitman’s campaign for Governor on the defensive, and Congressman McKeon to ask for an apology.  But while these press-driven sideshows make headlines, the real issue should not be missed: illegal immigration is illegal and it needs to be addressed.  Kellar’s speech was rooted in genuine concern for our safety, our economy, and our people.  Personally, I respect him for having the guts to address the issue out loud.

Not so impressive were Kellar’s fellow council members who immediately distanced themselves from his remarks; not one of them stood for his character or the position of his speech.  Frank Ferry actually accused Kellar of attacking the “poor and disenfranchised” due to economic turmoil!  Wow!  But their real shame came at the end of Tuesday’s hearing when they flatly refused to put the matter on a future agenda, rejecting pleas from several people who shared heartbreaking stories resulting from failed enforcement. Why?

Watch these hearing excerpts to see what happened

This “hide the football” approach to avoiding issues affects our citizens beyond this issue.  It is a chronic problem that I’ve repeatedly cited in my agenda for our businesses and homeowners:

• Small business. Despite accounting for 70% of our local economy, small business has been largely ignored.  Big-box stores and companies remain the primary beneficiaries of important stimulus programs.  Years into this down economy, what incumbent has done anything to correct this?

• Planning. Reactive planning approvals are increasingly ignoring planning law and hurting our neighborhoods, costing our taxpayers millions of dollars in lawsuits.  Where is the process and critical review needed to avoid this?
• Process. Public outcry on these issues is being squashed.  Why are we replacing public hearing and good process with self-congratulating and “we know better?”

Regardless of your views on illegal immigration, City Council members pledge to uphold our laws when they take office.  Where are they on the issues that matter most to our taxpayers right now?  Self-preservation has replaced selfless commitment to our citizens – this is precisely why I am running.

Our public must not reelect council members who make convenient, expeditious, or personally beneficial decisions without regard for the laws they pledged to protect or the damage that results.  Such self-interest is killing representation of our people at every level of government – VOTE TO CHANGE IT!

I am grateful to be the only candidate to receive Bob Kellar’s endorsement in this election. I have a strong agenda for both business and homeowners and I will stand firm on every issue no matter how contentious.  Our taxpaying citizens must come first and I am committed to new discussion and new ideas to better serve our interests.

Please PASS THE WORD, REGISTER TO VOTE, or CONTRIBUTE and let’s put our People First again on April 13th!

Thank you,

David Gauny

P.S.  To see Kellar’s remarks in context, watch the first few minutes of the rally video.  It’s clear that his concerns have nothing to do with racism.

* Disclaimer: Neither I nor my campaign had any involvement in the production or posting of any of these YouTube videos.

Authorized and paid for by the Committee to Elect David Gauny to City Council 2010 (ID #1322616)

With 30-50% declines in home values in just a few short years, even the most conservative homeowners are feeling the sting.  And as consumers tighten their belts, the resulting shrinkage in manufacturing and retail sales is leading to mass lay-offs and closing businesses nationwide.  Now, many people who “did everything right” are facing the real threat of losing both their home and their job.

There will be some pain (and government tinkering) but the housing mess will eventually heal.  Locally, however, the City needs to do something to keep things from getting worse.  We need to get honest about the growing competition we face in keeping and attracting jobs in our city.

As the economy has weakened, other cities and states are also feeling the pain of closing businesses and lost revenues and they have become much more savvy in luring new business away from us.  A good example is the recent migration of Los Angeles’ famed film industry.  The taxes collected when local film crews were hired, equipment was rented, land was leased and movies were filmed, are now being collected by Canada – and more recently, Michigan.

The double-whammy is that the dollars earned by these film crews, actors and caterers are now being spent elsewhere.  As a result, local coffee shops, restaurants, hardware stores, offices, and other retail spaces are taking huge hits.

Now, think about other business.  Princess Cruise Lines, for instance, has roughly 2,000 employees in Santa Clarita.  But how long will they continue here when California’s corporate income tax rate is the highest in the western U.S. and #9 nationally?  Add to this that our state has the highest sales tax in the country and California’s worker’s comp rates skyrocketed 24% this year alone!  What’s attractive about staying here?

A good start was the Enterprise Zone (EZ) designation our city received from the state in 2007.  More than 97% of Santa Clarita businesses are eligible to receive substantial direct tax credits for payroll and capital expenditures, provided they hire qualified local employees and place their equipment into use within our city’s EZ.

Such programs have been fundamental to the upscale redevelopment seen in Pasadena, which is also the nearest EZ to our city.  We don’t have to emulate Pasadena but these programs give our city the leverage needed to attract the businesses our citizens want here.

Looking ahead to the future of our city, I envision a true live-work city with well-planned corporate centers, high paying jobs, and premium venues at a local, upscale arts and convention center.  But without competitive incentive programs, it will be virtually impossible for Santa Clarita to attract the companies we need to make this happen.

There is a plan. Early in 2009, a few local business leaders formed an Economic Development Committee within the Chamber of Commerce for the purpose of identifying and helping to implement similar programs.  After nearly a year of incredible volunteer effort, the committee received its nonprofit corporation status and through private donations and local tax dollars, it will be our city’s official Economic Development Corporation (SCVEDC) in 2010.

I joined the SCVEDC in the spring and now serve as co-chair of the group’s Small Business Subcommittee.  While many SCVEDC programs are targeted toward attracting new business, I am committed to giving local small business a larger voice in its offerings.  Good process dictates that we achieve certain benchmarks and these should include active communications with local business and broader small business participation in its incentive programs.

To start, we need a comprehensive database of city businesses.  The city doesn’t have one, so it is very limited in its ability to analyze business trends, survey needs, or communicate programs.  When you consider that 60%-70% of our local economy is made up of small business, we are potentially missing two-thirds of our target!  We can do better.

With programs that are beneficial to our entire community, the SCVEDC is an absolute must for a city of our size and I am very pleased that the city approved its initial funding last night.  My hope is that private donors and the county will now step up to convert this small investment into huge rewards for our city.

We must remain competitive with other cities and protect business –and jobs– in Santa Clarita.  This is essential to a vibrant and healthy economic future for our city and our families depend on it.

Please support the SCVEDC.  Also, please vote for me for the Santa Clarita City Council to secure the future of Santa Clarita business.

Thank you,

David Gauny