Personal information:

Name: Gina Fortino Dickson

Age: 40

Family: Married with two children, ages 15 and 10; extended family in Clearlake.

Career/current job: Lake County Office of Education, Healthy Start Site, sSupervisor at Burns Valley School.

Education: Associate’s degree in business management, certified paralegal studies/tax preparation, bachelor of arts degree in liberal studies.

Length of residence in Lake County and your particular city: Moved to Clearlake in 1987, graduated from Lower Lake High School 1990, moved for college, returned in 1997, moved for work, returned in 2006 to raise children and live the dream.

Web site or email address where community members can contact you: www.facebook.com/pages/GinaFortinoDicksonforClearlakeCityCouncil .

Questions:

1. Please outline your experience serving the local community. Include all community or volunteer service.

I have served on the Clearlake Planning Commission for the last 5-plus years; I am a member of the Lake County Children’s Council; Lower Lake High School Booster Club Member; volunteer for parent teacher clubs, classrooms, theater productions, Girl Scouts, youth soccer and swim team; raised money for Lions Club to sustain the Fourth of July Fireworks Display; worked with College Going Initiative to create the Girls in Careers workshop, which provides hands-on insight into career fields and attracted a national level speaker to do the keynote address on the topic, From the Streets to Stanford. I do whatever I see needs doing.

2. Why did you decide to run for public office?

I have really enjoyed my time on the Clearlake Planning Commission and have learned a lot about the structure and function of city business. I am proud of the relationship myself and the other planning commissioners have developed, we have a strong work ethic and always strive to apply the rules equally and without prejudice, which has helped us to tackle many large scale tasks with fairness, diplomacy and timeliness.

3. What are the important qualities you would bring to public service?

A true love and desire for the well being of our city and her residents. I am proud to call Clearlake my home. I bring a knowledge of city government, experience, leadership, enthusiasm, innovation, professionalism, integrity, fairness, common sense, creativity, positive attitude and important perspective. I have the unique perspective of having lived here as a child and as an adult and have lived in other cities as a child and adult. I have seen how it was, how it is and how it can be. I am ready to merge those perspectives in order to make viable decisions for the city of Clearlake, ensuring a sustainable future that we can be proud of.

4. What are the primary functions of a city council member? What are the important skill sets a council member should possess?

Council members represent the citizens of the city, make decisions regarding staffing, budget and policy. They conduct open meetings of the council in order to ensure that the public input is heard. That input is vital to providing the council with a foundation for giving direction and guidance to staff.

A council member must be professional, transparent, have good communication skills and be a skilled negotiator. Most importantly a council member must be able to work productively in a team, while maintaining and sharing their independent viewpoints.  

5. What is your city’s single greatest challenge? How would you address it?

The city’s greatest challenge is the bad reputation, external and internal. We need to create a paradigm shift so we can see ourselves differently, achieving and sustaining, and present our city as a viable municipality in which to live and do business as well as a vacation destination. We can achieve this through communication, marketing, collaboration and role modeling. The increase in hometown pride will work wonders in facilitating this change.

6. If you are elected, what will your top issue be? What other issues are of particular interest to you?

Sustainability of our city and the decisions we make will be my top priority. Making decisions that will withstand the test of time, that make sense for the future and right now. Getting the most from every dollar the city spends.

Other focus areas will be youth development, infrastructure and business/job development, establishing a self-sustaining recreation department within the city. I believe as we address this issue it will affect the causal issues in our community.  

A better reputation will attract tourist, in turn that will attract business, a better reputation will give citizens pride in our community, they in turn will keep it clean and encourage their neighbors to do so, a sense of community will provide an environment where gangs, violence and drugs are not tolerated and those with issues are provided the helping resources they need.

7. Is there a matter that you’ve seen the council handle that you believe should have been approached differently? If so, how would you have handled it?

I have the utmost respect for the council persons and I know that their job is a difficult one, they must coordinate all of the checks and balances that are the backbone of American government.

At one point the council was formalizing the policy of the city to offer health insurance coverage to the council members. I see that as a conflict of interest for the council to make decisions that directly benefits the current council. I would have referred this task to another body, such as the planning commission or a panel of citizens, or put it to a general vote of the public.

8. What ways, if any, would you encourage public and media interaction with you and the city council should you be elected? How would you approach public interaction, especially on controversial issues?

Communication and transparency are key, especially with potentially controversial issues. I would like to establish a Web site, Facebook and other social media, as well as implement a “State of the City Address” submitted to local media by the mayor, perhaps annually.

9. When you think of your city in 20 years, what do you hope it will look like? When considering that future vision of your city, what would you want your legacy to be in improving your community?

Whenever I am making a decision for our city, I always contemplate its effect 20 years from now.

I feel it is important that we foster sustainable growth while protecting all that makes Clearlake unique.

I’d like to see projects that have withstood the test of time; businesses that have been open in our city for the 20-plus years; a thriving downtown, free of blight; families who vacation here every year; residents who have jobs and are self-sufficient and productive citizens, with well-rounded, engaged youth who emit pride in the city.

Financial information: See Form 470 below.

Clearlake City Council Candidates - Gina Fortino Dickson - Form 470