Stephen "Steve" Sammarco, Candidate for Redondo Beach District 4

Steve Sammarco, an 8-year resident of Redondo Beach, is running against two other candidates to represent Redondo Beach City Council District 4. He has not held public office.

Below are Sammarco's responses to a questionnaire compiled by Patch editors with suggestions from readers.

Redondo Beach Patch: Why are you running to represent Redondo Beach's District 4?

Sammarco: I’m running so that we may better protect the families of Redondo Beach. Public safety is not the only issue, it’s the biggest issue. We have to work at it, together.

• Wife, Ofelia – two children attend Redondo Beach Schools
• Master’s Degree Public Administration focus: Public Finance  
• Undergraduate degree, Seton Hall University
• 15 Years professional experience Governmental Affairs
• Small Business Owner / Homeowner (both District 4)
• PTA Member, Madison School
• Birney School Beautification Week, Organizer, Volunteer
•  Awarded, Rotary Program of Year “Yellow Bikes of Hermosa”
• Endorsed by Redondo Beach Police Association
• Endorsed by Redondo Beach Fire Fighters Association
• Endorsed by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi

Patch: In your opinion, what is the No. 1 issue facing District 4?

Sammarco: Public Safety No. 1 Priority

Redondo Beach Police Department has lost close to 16 police officers in the last five years. In those same five years we’ve had murder, armed bank robbery and two stabbings all in District 4—unacceptable!

How do you pay for additional public safety services?

Professionally, what I do is to help cities increase revenues without raising taxes. One way, we could do this is to have the “Redondo Beach Police Department Dispatch” disband and have RBPD join the South Bay Regional Public Communications Authority (RCC) located in Hawthorne (members include: Manhattan Beach, Hawthorne, Gardena, El Segundo and Hermosa). We could save the RBPD hundreds of thousands of dollars by regionalizing dispatch services.

Patch: What is your position on AES' plans to repower its power plant on Harbor Drive?

Sammarco: I think the days of power plants in Oceanside bedroom communities are over. In the past, these power plants were ocean cooled, today that is not the case. I fully support the public having input in this process but as far as this initiative goes, I have reservations about some of the details in Measure A. I’d be happy to work with AES on behalf of the Redondo Beach residents to help relocate the power plant.

Patch: What is your position on Measure A, the ballot initiative that would rezone the Harbor Drive property in hopes of preventing the construction of a new power plant?

Sammarco: No on A. I fully support the public having input in this process but as far as this initiative goes, I have reservations about some of the details in Measure A. Im for getting rid of the Power Plant, just not this way.

Furthermore, in a letter dated Sept. 5 to our Councilman Steve Diels, 33rd Congressional District Representative Henry Waxman was quoted as saying Measure A ”is unwise and will lead to a great deal of litigation."

Patch: If elected, what are your top three priorities?

Sammarco: With a struggling economy we need leaders with the experience to make the right decision and the confidence to stand by them.

1. I will work to improve city services,
2. Ensure appropriate police (starting with the South Bay Galleria) and fire staffing/coverages
3. Enhance our city-school relationships through open dialogue and engaging the community.

Patch: Share one specific example of demonstrating your leadership and execution skills.

Sammarco: Considering the time and the place, I would suspect unfunded pensions and rising healthcare costs a major issue in most cities in California.

As your City Council representative, I would:

1. Support a changing the retirement formulas in order to make them less costly to the City. The City employee would have to work more years and get less of a return.
2. Have City Employees pay their “employee share” and city will pay “employer share.”
3. Consider floating a Pension Obligation Bond (POB), to refinance and reduce the (Side fund) the Cities interest rate paid to PERS (can be as high as 9 percent).

Patch: Why should people vote for you?

Sammarco: My wife and I chose to buy a home in Redondo Beach primarily because of the schools (both children attend Redondo Beach schools) and the public safety services.

I have an undergraduate degree from Seton Hall University (1991) and a graduate degree in Public Administration with a concentration in public finance from the California State University, Long Beach (2007).

During the day, I run a small business having mostly to do with public/governmental affairs. I typically work with a variety clients on a array of policy issues involving public safety, development, and the environment just to name a few.

In my spare time, I enjoy volunteering at our kid’s schools, coaching AYSO Soccer and Redondo Beach Little League. In 1997, I received Rotary District 5280 Community Program of the Year Award, “Yellow Bikes of Hermosa Beach. I was hooked on public service ever since.

I do believe with realignment and a softening economy crime will only get worse in our City. Currently, the Redondo Beach Police Department has lost approximately 16 officers due to budget cuts—unacceptable!

As your council representative, I will work to make our families safety a top priority every day.

Patch: Is there anything else you'd like to say?

Sammarco: Endorsed by Redondo Beach Police Association
Endorsed by Redondo Beach Fire Fighters Association
Endorsed by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi

Challenging times call us all to public service. Please feel free to call me with any questions or issues that face our great city. You can reach me at 310-292-1882 or visit my website at www.SteveforCityCouncil.com.

Related:

• Steve Sammarco for Redondo Beach City Council
• Steve Sammarco [Patch]
• Redondo council District 4 candidates answer questions from The Beach Reporter [Beach Reporter]

Want more Redondo Beach news? Sign up for our daily newsletter, LIKE us on Facebook or follow @RedondoBchPatch on Twitter.