Vince’s Plan for Monterey

Campaign Policy Priorities
Common Sense Leadership for Monterey

My campaign is focused on five core priorities grounded in common sense policies that serve Monterey’s residents first.

1 Public Safety Comes First

The first and most important responsibility of a city government is protecting residents. Public safety is not a line item to be cut when budgets get tight — it is the foundation of everything else. As Mayor, I will ensure our Police and Fire departments have the resources, staffing, and modern equipment they need to do their jobs — funded through smarter spending, not new taxes.

• Maintain strong police and fire staffing levels, ensuring critical equipment needs—such as modern communication systems—are prioritized and funded through disciplined budgeting
• Ensure fast and reliable emergency response times across all neighborhoods by supporting a visible, community-based policing approach that builds trust and partnership
• Prioritize wildfire preparedness, evacuation planning, and coordination with utilities to strengthen infrastructure resilience
• Work closely with public safety leadership to evaluate and implement proven technologies that improve response, coordination, and investigative capabilities
• Encourage thoughtful community-based partnerships that enhance public safety awareness and engagement while respecting neighborhood character and privacy concerns

The first and most important responsibility of a city government is protecting residents. Public safety is not a line item to be cut when budgets get tight — it is the foundation of everything else. As Mayor, I will ensure our Police and Fire departments have the resources, staffing, and modern equipment they need to do their jobs — funded through smarter spending, not new taxes.

2 Responsible Financial Leadership & the Common Sense Audit Committee

Monterey must never again be in a position where essential public safety needs go unfunded because of poor budget decisions. Monterey should never carry $10 million in debt — that is the result of failures in leadership and governance. When the budget is so strained that the Police Chief’s request for new radio communications is answered with “no” because funds were spent on items that nonprofits and outside organizations should be paying for — that is a failure of financial leadership that must end. I hold a simple philosophy: spend better, not more. Before this city asks residents or businesses for a single new dollar, city government must first prove it can be trusted with the dollars it already has.

• Conduct a comprehensive fiscal stability review within the first 90 days and establish a Common Sense Audit Committee to promote ongoing transparency, accountability, and disciplined oversight of city finances
• Introduce clear, public-facing performance dashboards that provide residents with regular visibility into city operations, financial health, and project progress
• Maintain a forward-looking financial approach by supporting long-term forecasting and planning so the city can anticipate obligations and avoid reactive decision-making
• Prioritize the use of taxpayer funds for core city responsibilities, ensuring spending decisions reflect the needs of residents before expanding into non-essential areas
• Promote accountability across all departments by setting clear performance expectations and addressing long-term financial obligations with consistency and transparency

I oppose new broad-based taxes and fees on Monterey residents and businesses as long as the city government has not yet demonstrated it can spend existing revenue wisely. Residents deserve a city that lives within its means, eliminates wasteful spending, and reduces bureaucracy — not one that reaches deeper into their pockets to cover for its own mismanagement. The Common Sense Audit Committee will make fiscal accountability a permanent part of how we govern.

3 Strengthen Neighborhood Associations & Restore Community Trust

Monterey’s Neighborhood Associations are the most important assets our city has. They are the voice of residents, the eyes and ears of our neighborhoods, and a direct link between the people who live here and the government that serves them. I will protect and strengthen them — not exploit them or ask them to pay for City Hall’s mistakes.

• Support Neighborhood Associations as meaningful voices in local decision-making, ensuring they are respected as partners in shaping the future of their communities
• Maintain consistent and accessible communication with residents through regular community engagement and open dialogue
• Provide clear and transparent information tools so neighborhoods can stay informed on city performance, budgets, and project outcomes
• Foster a collaborative approach between residents, community leaders, and city leadership to ensure decisions reflect the priorities of those who live here
• Approach neighborhood issues with steady, independent judgment, focused on long-term community benefit rather than short-term political considerations

Monterey works best when residents, businesses, and city leaders solve problems together. Neighborhood Associations should be empowered — not burdened — by City Hall. That includes fully funding neighborhood improvement districts so that communities receive the core services they were promised, without being asked to make up the difference caused by wasteful city spending..

4 Support Family Businesses, Hospitality & Protect Monterey’s Public Assets

Monterey’s economy is built on hospitality, tourism, small businesses, and the remarkable natural and civic assets that make this city unique. As Mayor, I will ensure city government is a partner to our local economy — not an obstacle. That means no new taxes or fees on local businesses while the city government still has not demonstrated it can spend existing revenue responsibly.

• Support family-owned businesses and the hospitality sector by maintaining a business-friendly environment where local operators can grow and succeed without unnecessary regulatory or financial burden
• Promote a balanced approach to economic development that aligns responsible growth with infrastructure capacity and water availability, with an emphasis on sustainability and long-term viability
• Prioritize the long-term preservation and structural integrity of Monterey’s public assets, including the wharf and waterfront infrastructure, through responsible planning and funding strategies
• Evaluate long-term capital needs for key public facilities such as the Conference Center, Sports Center, Marina, and other city assets, and actively pursue state and federal funding opportunities to support their improvement
• Address deferred maintenance across city-owned facilities proactively, focusing on responsible stewardship of public assets before issues become significantly more costly

Monterey’s public assets and local businesses are what make this city extraordinary. Protecting them means spending limited tax dollars wisely on the infrastructure and services that support them — not expanding government programs that crowd out private investment and burden the businesses that drive our economy.

5 Protect Monterey’s Natural Beauty & Coastal Environment

Monterey’s greatest asset is its breathtaking coastline, beaches, parks, and walking trails. As Mayor, I will always stand firm in protecting what makes this city so extraordinary — and I will do it by directing existing resources toward what matters most, not by creating new fees or expanding government bureaucracy.

• Protect Monterey’s coastline, beaches, and public open spaces by supporting thoughtful planning decisions that preserve the character and long-term sustainability of the community
• Maintain and enhance parks, walking trails, and recreational areas so residents and visitors can continue to enjoy Monterey’s natural environment
• Work collaboratively with state and federal partners to pursue funding and resources that support coastal preservation and climate resilience
• Support strong environmental standards that protect water quality and the health of Monterey Bay’s marine ecosystem
• Approach development decisions with a long-term perspective that prioritizes environmental stewardship and the preservation of what makes Monterey unique.

Monterey’s natural beauty is not just what draws people here — it is what defines us. Protecting it does not require bigger government or higher taxes. It requires focused leadership, smart use of existing resources, and the courage to say no to development and decisions that put short-term gain ahead of what makes this city irreplaceable.

The Common Sense Audit Committee