The Road Mandate

Fixing our roads isn’t just a project. It’s a promise. And I’ve made it clear from day one: we’re not waiting for Sacramento to get its act together. While state bureaucrats sit behind desks crafting endless restrictions for lobbyists and to control us, the people of Porterville are dodging potholes on their way to work, school, and church.

Before my advocacy, the City was only repaving about 5 lane miles per year. There are over 600 lane miles in Porterville. It would have taken over 100 years to repave all the roads. Through my constant pressure and advocacy, first as a Councilmember and now as Mayor, we are now repaving more than 30 lane miles per year.

That is a sixfold increase in productivity in just a few short years.

And we did not get there by simply throwing more money at the problem. By using City crews instead of relying solely on expensive outside contractors, we are repaving roads at a fraction of the cost, keeping tax dollars local and supporting local jobs.

Residents are seeing more road work now than they have seen in well over a decade, and we are just getting started.

California’s infrastructure regulations are broken. In some cases, they drive costs up by as much as 20 times what it would take to do the job in any normal state. Environmental red tape, union-only mandates, endless review processes — all designed to slow down local progress and take money away from small cities like ours.

And here’s the kicker: if we fix too many miles of roads in one year, the state threatens us with audits and penalties—as if keeping up with our city’s needs is some kind of violation. That’s not just backwards — it’s an insult to every taxpaying resident in Porterville.

I call it what it is: bureaucratic sabotage of local government.
But I won’t be intimidated, and I won’t be silent.

This is why I’ve made it a mandate to repair our roads—not sometime down the line, but now. We’re fast-tracking repaving projects and refusing to let state interference stop us from doing what’s right. Because every family deserves safe streets, every small business deserves accessible roads, and every resident deserves a city that works for them, not against them.

The Road Measure

This year, I brought forward a proposal to build the next major step on my Road Mandate. On the November ballot, voters will be asked to approve a Charter amendment to reduce the regulations and bottlenecks that continue to slow down road repairs as well as other infrastructure projects.

Even after we increased road repair progress sixfold under my leadership, we are still now limited by outdated restrictions in our City Charter. That is why I am asking for your renewed approval to Keep Fixing The Roads. With a Yes vote on the measure, and with your support for my re-election to the City Council, we can go even further and repave far more than 30 road miles per year.

You’ve already seen all the construction around the city. I realize it can be burdensome to adjust your daily routes, however I don’t plan to hold this office forever. If I can’t get it done, it never will be done— that is why this is a mandate.

We’re not here to manage decline. We’re here to build.

I campaigned hard on this in 2022, and won large. I am delivering. Let’s continue doing so.

Priority INFrastructure

I am not done with roads. That is one of the most basic and core functions a City is supposed to do: fix roads. When I talk about roads, I don’t just have a vision. I have a plan. My vision is that every neighborhood street, intersection, bridge, corridor, and walkway in Porterville is clean and beautiful.

Clean and beautiful roads leads to more businesses, jobs, and economic growth. Below are some of the highlight priority infrastructure projects that I am focused on:

PRIORITY PROJECT: Newcomb Bridge & SoTu Development

My number one infrastructure priority for the next four years is completing the Newcomb Bridge connection to Highway 190. I have already secured $500,000 to complete the environmental review and engineering for this critical project.

The Newcomb Bridge will unlock the 447-acre SoTu (South of the Tule River) Master Plan area—Porterville's next great chapter of growth. Situated in southwest Porterville, between Highway 65 and Westwood St, this mixed-use district will create opportunities for new neighborhoods, major retail, jobs, parks, and open space, ensuring Porterville remains economically competitive for generations to come.

Just as importantly, the bridge will improve traffic flow throughout the city by creating a new east-west connection, relieving congestion on Henderson and Olive, and providing a direct route to Highway 190 through the heart of Porterville. This project is about securing Porterville's future while improving quality of life today.

Priority Project: North Main & North Grand Safety Improvements

The intersection of North Main Street and North Grand is one of Porterville's busiest and most heavily traveled corridors. Working in partnership with Tulare County Supervisor Dennis Townsend and Tulare County, we are advancing plans to add dedicated turning lanes at this intersection.

Because this intersection serves both city and county residents, this partnership reflects what can be accomplished when local governments work together. These improvements will enhance traffic flow, reduce congestion, and most importantly, create a safer environment for motorists, pedestrians, and families who travel through this corridor every day.

Priority Project: Westwood Bridge over Porter Slough

The Westwood Bridge over Porter Slough is a major traffic bottleneck in our city. This corridor currently narrows from four lanes to two lanes and then back to four lanes, creating congestion and delays for residents traveling throughout west Porterville.

I have already secured $500,000 for the environmental study and engineering needed to move this project forward. Expanding this bridge to four lanes and securing the necessary right-of-way is a critical infrastructure priority.

With multiple schools located north, south, east, and west of this corridor, thousands of students, parents, and residents rely on Westwood every day. Widening the bridge will improve traffic flow, reduce congestion, enhance safety, and ensure our transportation infrastructure keeps pace with Porterville's continued growth.

Priority Project: Finishing Main Street

Downtown Main Street is the heart of Porterville, and while we have made tremendous progress, our work is not finished.

Over the past several years, the City has invested millions of dollars into revitalizing Main Street through street reconstruction, tree replacement, decorative lighting, beautification efforts, and infrastructure improvements. These investments are helping create a downtown that residents can be proud of and visitors want to experience.

Over the next four years, I want to continue building on that momentum by completing several key projects, including a new public address and music system throughout downtown to enhance the atmosphere and create a vibrant Main Street experience similar to other successful downtown districts throughout the Valley.

Additionally, the City is moving forward with the construction of a new downtown parking lot at the former JCPenney site on South Main. This approximately $2.1 million investment will provide much-needed parking capacity, improve access for customers, and support the continued growth and success of our downtown businesses.

A thriving downtown means a thriving Porterville, and I remain committed to finishing Main Street.

Safety & Homelessness

Public safety is non-negotiable. I will continue pushing for:

• Stronger enforcement against crime, human trafficking, and cartel activity

• Partnerships that reduce recidivism and improve local culture

• Compassionate but firm responses to homelessness, mental health, and illegal encampments

We must protect our families, our parks, and our streets. That starts with standing up for our residents and supporting the officers, service providers, and local efforts working to build a safer, cleaner Porterville.

Cut Red Tape, Unleash Opportunity

For too long, Porterville’s entrepreneurs, workers, and families have been burdened by unnecessary local regulations—on top of California’s already crushing load. I’m committed to cutting through the red tape so that:

• Businesses can grow

• Homes can be built

• Wages can rise

• Young families can afford to stay

This is about more than economics—it’s about freedom, dignity, and opportunity for every resident.

Government should work for the people—not stand in their way. Over the last four years, we have made significant progress in reducing unnecessary regulations and streamlining development in Porterville.

We have worked to simplify and modernize our Development Ordinance, reducing it from nearly 600 pages to approximately 400 pages, making it easier for businesses, homeowners, and developers to invest in our community. We also reformed the CEQA process by allowing developers to choose their own qualified environmental consultants, helping reduce delays and speed up project delivery. These changes are designed to make Porterville one of the most business-friendly cities in the Central Valley.

California is already the most regulated state in the nation. My goal is simple: let's not make Porterville the most regulated city in California. By continuing to reduce red tape, we can attract new businesses, create jobs, expand housing opportunities, and generate the tax revenue needed to improve city services while securing Porterville's economic future.