Ahead of the November general election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.
MORE: Read all the candidate responses in our Voter Guide
Name: Erlan Gonzalez
Current job title: Principal development specialist at Riverside County
Incumbent: No
Other political positions held: Chair of the Moreno Valley Planning Commission
City where you reside: Moreno Valley
Campaign website or social media: gonzalezformorenovalley.com, instagram.com/erlangonzalez4.mvd3
How can the city best meet the demand and mandates for more housing, including at lower prices, while also preserving the quality of life for existing neighborhoods and residents?
As a Planning Commissioner and with years of experience working with the county of Riverside, I understand the challenges that exist when building and developing projects. I am committed to addressing these barriers to facilitate both residential (single-family and multi-family) and commercial development. By ensuring that development is balanced and sustainable, I aim to support the growth of our beautiful city and region.
As chair of the Planning Commission, I’ve seen how the definition of affordable housing can be used to paper over the struggles of working families. I want to take my experience as a development specialist with the county and a member of the Planning Commission and use that experience to increase affordable housing stock in our region. That involves creating a city housing plan and local housing rules that will allow us to grow housing without having a negative impact on our city.
My experience and goals put me in a unique position to accomplish these goals and help our city grow in a way that gives working families the opportunity to build a better future in Moreno Valley.
How should the city balance paying off debts, such as pension liabilities, and building reserves all while meeting residents’ needs? Should a solution involve finding new revenue, trimming the budget, or something else entirely?
Moreno Valley has consistently been able to maintain a balanced budget each year, and recently we have been able to secure budget surpluses that go toward an emergency fund. I believe we can continue this fiscal responsibility by growing our economy, attracting more investment from quality businesses, and maintaining our quality of life while growing.
By increasing our revenue through growth and responsible development, we can develop a robust economy that will help us take Moreno Valley into a prosperous future. If we can accomplish that, I believe we can maintain our strong financial position and maintain a health reserve fund until such time as we need it.
In your opinion, what is the biggest need your city faces, and how would you address it?
I’m running to advocate for accessible housing, good-paying jobs, community safety, and addressing homelessness in our neighborhoods. Those are the biggest issues facing our city and our region and I will bring my experience in housing and economic development to the city of Moreno Valley.
I plan on concentrating on ensuring that Moreno Valley’s future “downtown” not only meets but exceeds community expectations by offering business opportunities, cultural experiences, and evening entertainment our residents desire and deserve.
In regard to public safety, it would be my mission on the council to make sure that public safety departments are fully funded and have the tools they need to help protect our residents.
My vision for District 3 is a community where growth and development are balanced with environmental sustainability and driven by the voices of its residents. My experience in development and housing will be valuable in tackling both our affordable housing crisis as well as addressing the needs of our homeless population.
I believe that doing all this will ensure a prosperous, thriving, and sustainable future for all Moreno Valley District 3 families.
Why would you make a good leader, and how would you represent the diverse communities of your city?
Every day my goal will be to uplift the voices of residents in our district so that your point of view will always be heard in City Hall. As a union member, county employee, and husband and father, I know the concerns our working families face here in our beloved city.
My wife and I raise our two sons right here in Moreno Valley’s District 3. I have been here for many years, and my wife’s family has called this city home since the late ’60s. Moreno Valley has been very generous to me. It is the community where I have established roots and built my family, and it holds a special place in my heart. I am running for City Council in District 3 because I want others to have the same opportunities to thrive in this wonderful city.
Our campaign is centered on the belief that Moreno Valley is a place “Where Families Thrive.” I hope that I can earn the support of the community that has done so much for me and allow me to serve and give back to our city.
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