Do you have to be crazy to run for elected office in Morro Bay? No, but it helps!
Almost daily someone will ask me, "Why on earth would you want to run for City Council in Morro Bay?"
That's a fair question and here's my answer: I am running for City Council not because I am angry with any one person or about any one thing in particular. I am not a one-issue candidate. I don't believe that only I have all the answers to our challenges.
I am running for City Council because I am passionate about Morro Bay as a truly one-of-a-kind place to live, work, and visit. There are many blessings to be found in Morro Bay---our bay and ocean, our residents and visitors, our lifestyle. I've lived and worked in eight cities and five countries since 1991. There are few places on Earth that can compare to our gorgeous natural environment. When you add in the generous spirit of the people who live and own businesses here, Morro Bay stands out as a treasure along the Central Coast.
My husband and I knew we wanted to get back to Morro Bay since we first visited the city on a camping trip in 1990. So, when we had the chance to choose a place to settle in permanently and raise our son, we chose Morro Bay over every other town in the U.S. As the parent of a first-grader at Del Mar Elementary School, I am committed to Morro Bay's future. I am optimistic but not naïve about the tough decisions that lay ahead.
In the years that I've lived here, I've already put facilitation skills to work building relationships and connecting people within this community.
Elected as President, Morro Bay Friends of the Library, I lead an organization of over 475 members. I created and continue to organize the 4th of July Bike Parade that brings nearly 500 participants to Morro Bay and is the largest all-ages biking event in the County. I am a graduate of Leadership San Luis Obispo, a countywide leadership training program. And, I serve on the board of Directors for United Way in SLO, which keeps me well informed in the areas and trends in education, health, and income our County.
I am absolutely committed to shopping locally and have spent time getting to know local business people to understand their challenges. As a board member for Morro Bay 4th of July, I continue to create a patriotic and profitable holiday weekend that showcases Morro Bay as the premiere family-friendly destination on the central coast, no matter the time of year.
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I'm a good neighbor and a good team member. As a member of Team Beach Tractors in North Morro Bay, I cooperated with my neighbors to win an 8-page feature article about Morro Bay in Sunset Magazine's April 2012 issue. As a team member, I helped to connect neighbors to one another across generations, set and achieved goals, as well as collaborated with Morro Bay business owners to showcase their products to the Sunset Magazine audience. The April issue of Sunset reached over 1.25 million households in the West! As a member of the Beach Tractors, I'm honored to represent Morro Bay and pleased that my neighbors and I were able to bring exposure to our City without the City spending a dime of marketing money for tourism.
How I Make Decisions
City Council decisions affect residents, business and tourists. A vibrant and strong future for Morro Bay depends upon City Council members educating themselves about issues in order to make fair and thoughtful decisions that benefit the community as a whole.
- I will do my homework to develop a clear understanding of the issues. As the child of public school teachers, I enjoyed school and have always been naturally curious. When I graduated with my Master's Degree, I was named the Outstanding Scholar in my graduate program.
- I always begin to study an issue by taking a big picture view then I dive into the details. I will ask questions of residents, city staff and experts. I will listen carefully to information shared with me. I will weigh all feedback thoughtfully and with respect.
- I will navigate through our city government to get the facts. Ten years spent living successfully overseas in Chile, South Korea, Panama and Brazil taught me how important it is to do your research about the language and customs in a new country. Understanding how our City government works is like learning how to live in a foreign county — even government reports sound like they are written in a foreign language! Frequent relocation has given me extensive experience getting up to speed quickly in new environments. I've learned how to keep my wits about me in times of stress in unfamiliar places.
- I will speak up for residents to find the right solutions. Working in tough urban areas like Center City Philadelphia and certain parts of Greater Long Beach, CA, plus living outside the U.S.A., taught me how important it is to speak up if you don't understand what's happening around you. I've learned that if you approach people politely — yet with confidence — you will be heard and issues are much more likely to be resolved.
- I will work with others to make community-centered decisions. Throughout my life, I've been fortunate to receive extensive leadership training as an employee and as a volunteer. I've been trained in leadership at the national training center for Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. As a member of The Junior League, I received a year of training in civic leadership and community-building. I'm a graduate of Leadership San Luis Obispo which prepares people for leadership positions in our community. A key component of leadership is team building and creating consensus in groups where people have diverse opinions and ideas. I will use my team-building skills to work effectively with the entire Council as well as City Staff to make decisions that are balanced and inclusive of all voices in our community.
Bad decisions delay progress and frustrate residents and city staff alike.
Good decisions — made through teamwork — get things done.
There are many issues of concern to residents and business owners in our community. Over the course of the election, I will be talking about my opinion on current issues and I'll be adding more information about these to my Issues page on my website. Please check the website frequently for updates.
Here is how I stand on two current issues:
Waste Water Treatment Plant:
I will work for resolution to the Waste Water Treatment Plant project.
To build a new Waste Water Treatment Plant, the City of Morro Bay and the Cayucos Sanitary District need to work with the California Coastal Commission to obtain a permit for the best long-term project at the most affordable price. I am committed to working with the California Coastal Commission toward resolution of the WWTP project.
I will work to ensure that unnecessary delays do not create community upheaval and a higher cost for ratepayers.
It is critical for ratepayers to become educated about this important infrastructure project.
Long-Term Economic Vitality
I believe Morro Bay can achieve long-term economic vitality with a two-way, cooperative approach:
- a focused effort on business development and retention
- focused effort on tourism development and growth.
- I support the Chamber of Commerce's efforts to focus more intensely on new business development and business retention and I support the use of City funds, at appropriate levels, to contract with the Chamber to provide the economic development function on behalf of the City.
- I support the current efforts of the Chamber of Commerce and the Merchants' Association to work in partnership on issues of business development and business retention.
- I support the new Tourism Advisory Board in its focused effort to use TBID funds to promote the City of Morro Bay as a tourist destination. I support the creation of a new Tourism Advisory Board that is inclusive of diverse visitor-serving businesses.
In conclusion, if elected, I will work to:
- Unify our business community to strengthen our long-term economic vitality.
- Strengthen relationships between the City Council and residents, business owners, city staff and agencies like the California Coastal Commission.
- Preserve vital natural resources that both enhance our quality of life and promote tourism.
- Focus on appropriate investment in our city's aging infrastructure.
- Be your voice on the City Council!
For more information, please visit my website or simply call me #305-3759. I'd be honored to have your vote on June 5.
Many thanks,
Christine Johnson
