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Brad Hawn was elected to the Modesto City Council in 2003. He was appointed Vice Mayor in 2007. He currently serves as Chair of the Finance Committee and Vice Chair of the Safety and Communities Committee, and he serves as a member of LAFCO and StanCOG. Visit Brad Hawn for Mayor here.

StancoInsider: Why are you running for mayor, and why are you the right person for the job? Tell us a little about why you want to run for mayor. Was there a specific moment that inspired you to run, was this something you’ve thought about doing for years?

Brad: I decided to run for mayor because I realized that while times are tough, with the right leadership our city has the chance to make great progress in the coming months and years. I am excited for the opportunity to serve Modesto because I care deeply about this city and I feel that we have a real opportunity to balance our budget, create a more jobs friendly environment and to increase the quality of life for folks from all backgrounds.

I decided I wanted to run when I realized that now is the time to make significant changes to how government does business.  I’m a business guy that works on the premise that you can only spend what you have coming in the door, not what you hope will happen.  Too long government has grown past sustainability.  We need to change that.  Also, we have opportunities to make significant changes by becoming the most business friendly city in California.  My job as Mayor will be to work with business to create jobs, work with schools to help create a educated workforce and city workers to provide excellent service to our citizens

StancoInsider: Do you have a mayoral plan?

Brad: I have drawn up a set of priorities which I feel address the major issues facing the city in the coming years. Situations change so flexibility is key, however there are things we know we must address: budgetary issues, structural deficits, and public safety concerns. My plan for the next four years addresses all of these items.

 

StancoInsider: What is Modesto’s biggest challenge and how can you solve it in the next four years?

 

Brad: Modesto’s greatest challenge, by far, is the out of control costs we face due to public employee pensions. Luckily, the opportunity to renegotiate the city’s contract with its employees is coming in 2013 so this is something that can directly be addressed through reforming the pension system and creating a more sustainable plan for the future.

 

StancoInsider: Which three areas or neighborhoods have the most significant need for new development, infill development or job creation, and how would you focus your efforts to address those needs? Do you believe it is a quality of life problem and an obstacle to the city's future development? If so, what are your plans to rectify these problems?

Brad: The west side and south side are by far the neediest in our city.  I have been working in the Airport Neighborhood to develop a model of changing the way the residents view themselves. Soccer fields built in collaboration with the neighbors, business and volunteers. Creative use of Legion Hall by neighbors providing repair and painting on the building in return for use of the building.  Lighting district in the county area, future sidewalks in the county area built by the neighbors and outside volunteers with business providing the concrete….etc.   We are also working on bringing businesses that serve the needs of the neighborhood. 

If we can create the model in the Airport Neighborhood then it can spread across the south and west sides of our city.

 

The third area is our prime job creating area by Kaiser Hospital.  This is the area that can help us jump start the economy not by building more houses but by creating more business that employ poor citizens.

 

StancoInsider: As a business owner, do you think Modesto has a perception of being business friendly -- and if so, how would you describe a business friendly environment?

Brad: Modesto is fairly business friendly, however, as a business owner myself, along with my wife who owns her own business, I have seen the challenges that still exist. There are plenty of opportunities to separate ourselves from the pack and create a more business friendly environment that will increase job growth and retention to address our out of control unemployment crisis. We are working even now to become the most business friendly city in California.  Government does not create jobs, businesses do, so the city’s job is to make it easier to do business here so they are more profitable and consider expansion creating jobs.