THE RACE FOR HUNTINGTON BEACH CITY COUNCIL

Tariq Malik

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- Although this is her first time running for City

Council, Cook has been active in city politics for a while. She was the

spokeswoman and leader of the Measure C charter amendment, served on the

Planning Commission, General Plan and Advisory Committee, as well as on

the political campaigns of former Mayors Grace Winchell and Dave

Sullivan.

As an environmental attorney, she has set legal precedent for

protecting the Bolsa Chica wetlands and state coastal resources, and

exposed unethical conduct of city officials.

Cook said the most important challenge facing the city is providing

infrastructure, public safety and environmental protection, among other

things.

“Our vision for creating a society that functions efficiently and

effectively is not self-executing,” she said, adding that it needs

leaders with courage and integrity who can help provide that.

BIO

DEBBIE COOK

* Age: 46

* Family: Husband John, son Jody and daughter-in-law Michelle

* Community Activism: Fought beach-side commercial projects, ended

illegal closed-door sessions at City Council and helped to expose

unethical conduct by city officials, Planning Commission, General Plan

Advisory Committee, South Beach Task Force, Central Park Task Force, PTA,

Bolsa Chica Land Trust, American Red Cross and Fountain Valley

Neighborhood Watch

* Contact: o7 [email protected]

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DEBBIE COOK ON:

* REDEVELOPMENT

“The city’s Redevelopment Agency is over $140,000 in debt,” Cook said.

“The majority of that money was spent in the Downtown core to create

projects that have left a legacy of bankruptcies, vacancies and bitter

business owners whose properties were condemned for the benefit of

out-of-town wealthy developers.”

The city, she added, has focused too much attention on Downtown

projects that generate less sales tax revenue than car dealerships.

* BIGGEST CHALLENGE FACING THE CITY

Cook said the most formidable obstacle in the city’s path is its

economy.

The city will need to work on building a durable economy that is

capable of sustaining expected levels of service during periodic economic

downturns, she said.