This is an archive of a past election.
See http://www.smartvoter.org/ca/slo/ for current information.
San Luis Obispo County, CA November 5, 2002 Election
Smart Voter

Why I Want to Be Your City Council Representative

By Joe Costello

Candidate for Councilmember; City of Arroyo Grande

This information is provided by the candidate
Why I want your vote.
In my professional career, I started as a patrol officer at the University of San Francisco responding to many incidents and requests for assistance. I found that I enjoyed helping people solve problems and deal with situations. As I progressed from patrol officer, to supervisor and finally Director of the Public Safety Department, I was able to interact with larger groups of people, solving more complex problems, and ultimately crafting policies that helped the whole campus deal with issue of public safety traffic, and emergency services. When I came to Arroyo Grande, and started working for California's Office of Emergency Services, I shifted priorities, and now had the opportunity to assist communities in planning to respond to disasters. I taught others how to save lives in disasters. I especially like working with groups of people helping them to create teams to address these critical issues of life safety, and to prepare to deal with the consequences of disasters, accidents, and terrorist events. I have also managed a department with over 40 employees, administered a complex multi-million dollar budget, and written and implemented policies that have made a positive difference.

I have served on the Arroyo Grande Planning Commission for almost four years, the last two as Chairman. We have tackled many tough issues, including the General Plan update. I have listened to what the public thinks about where the City of Arroyo Grande should be heading. I have applied the general plan and development code judiciously to ensure that the projects before me were consistent with them. In revising the general plan, which is the Constitution by which the city is governed, I have heard what the public had to say and think that I have a good vision of what the citizens want for the city of Arroyo Grande in the 21st Century. My biggest concern is the retention and preservation of our Agricultural Lands. I also want to keep the Village as an important part of the city, and want to ensure wise use of our limited resources. I pledge that I will do everything in my power to preserve our agricultural resources and the right to farm. I will support and help the Village to flourish as the jewel of Arroyo Grande, and I will absolutely evaluate every proposal based on its merits and ability to remain within the resource constraints we face. I will work to develop affordable housing. I will do my best to make Arroyo Grande a better place and uphold the trust you place in me. Please vote for me on Nov. 5.

Candidate Page || Feedback to Candidate || This Contest
November 2002 Home (Ballot Lookup) || About Smart Voter


ca/slo Created from information supplied by the candidate: September 17, 2002 06:01
Smart Voter <http://www.smartvoter.org/>
Copyright © League of Women Voters of California Education Fund.
The League of Women Voters neither supports nor opposes candidates for public office or political parties.