The only real choice in the District 4 election is between a top-performing incumbent and tireless quality of life advocate, Caylin Frank, and a relative newcomer Frank Fournier. The third person running for this seat, Chris Olps, looks like a professional city council candidate, who seems to have run in every election for the past 12 or 16 years.
Caylin Frank has been at the cornerstone of ensuring that the quality and standard of life in District 4 of Poway - safe streets, clean environment, and smart mixed use development - continues for the foreseeable future. Her decade or so of experience on the administrative side of City and County government has given here the tools and understanding required to effectively translate ideas into reality. And to understand the nuances of the process and how this can have real impacts on residents. None of the other candidates possess this level of detailed and functional knowledge.
Any concerns that some people had about Caylin's independence have long been put to rest with her active engagement, seven twenty four, in basically every new project or development that enters into discussions for the D4 territory, both from her Dias as Deputy Mayor and behind the scenes as well, out of the public eye.
Our contacts within the City Government have pointed out that the most recent Budget Review Committee (BRC) Long Term Planning Document (a guide used by City planners for deciding how to grow or allow development) lacked ANY recommendation for additional development along or south of Poway road. (District 4) This was unlike any other prior BRC guidance document, prior to Caylin's election to the City Council. Apparently one or more of these BRC plans never made it out of committee as it would have resulted in an unprecedented no confidence vote.
From fighting to ensure commercial development maintains sufficient parking, even if it means split council votes, to responding to resident questions on how to get things done, both in person and online, Caylin has put District 4 interests front and center, as she should. A true asset and a fighter for her constituents, and for Poway.
Vote Caylin Frank
Newcomer Frank Fournier is beast of a man who is new only to city government, having been a resident of District 4 for 20+ years. A former Rugby player and high school Rugby coach, he works on the administrative side of ensuring research coalitions between institutions maintain their ends of the contract. In short, he has reasonably good people skills.
Of the three candidates, his understanding of how city government works is by far the most lacking, having made a number of statements, especially regarding the State mandated redistricting that, if implemented, would bankrupt the City in less than a year. We truly have little doubt that this is a simple case of naivety and not intent. He would be well suited to become a member of the adjunct governing committees, such as the Parks and Rec or Budget Review committees. Get his feet wet, gain some practical knowledge, and move up from there.
If you can manage to get by the half-truths, exaggerations, conspiracy theories, and odd ramblings, try and see if you can get a look at the City Staff. They are there, taking notes about how to address the concerns of each public speaker. There you will see confusion on their faces as they try desperately to understand either what he means or what he wants. Perhaps the only thing that is clear is that Chris Olps is unhappy about something.
That said, Mr. Olps appears detail oriented to a fault, some would say to the point of nitpicking, and, having served as the Co-chair of the BRC (how this works on a five person committee with a Vice-Chair as well is unclear to us), he is knowledgable about how city government works. He may want to expand that government, given his comments that indicate a desire to make this local government as expansive as the State. He also spoke very favorably towards the redistricting process, apparently providing several maps designed to further his political ambitions.
It is this groups' sincere hope that Mr. Olps will not prevail in his latest council bid and then move on with his life.
