Robert Cuthbert of Santa Barbara West County
Real Change In Real Time
There is much to appreciate about our community. We are set off from the “beaten path” of Highway 101. This has made the City a “stand alone” self-reliant community. The local culture is friendly, family oriented, and idyllic. Our unique home in the valley deserves appreciation and I will work to keep the Lompoc Valley a place where we want to live.
The three critical issues I am standing for are:
· A sustainable economy and support of local business
· Improving our community by improving public safety and basic services
· Bringing real “open government” back with greater citizen participation
More than just a campaign platform, these are the issues I will focus my work on in office.
Sustainable economy is more than the latest “catch phrase,” it is the most practical path for more living wage jobs, better consumer value, a deeper tax base, and better living standards. The City has neglected economic development for decades only meandering without a plan. We must understand and collect the hard data, learn our community’s assets, and labor market. Then we must target potential employers that are a real “fit” to this unique community.
Collectively small businesses are the major employer nationally, they deserve our support here. While supporting the existing businesses we need to recruit small corporations to the Valley that do not directly compete.
As the economy improves we need to set priorities toward services everyone in the City uses. Fire protection, law enforcement, utilities, water, roads and sewage services should take priority.
Open government means transparency. We deserve answers and have a right to understand the decision making process. The perception that City Hall ignores the public must be changed. Elected leaders need to respond on the issues.
On City Council I will do more than vote in my turn, I will continue my commitment to the broad community, set meaningful priorities, while creating a sustainable and practical economic development plan.
Short Biography
Robert Cuthbert, a California native, lived in the San Fernando Valley in his early youth. Then moved to Santa Barbara County and spent his teen-age years in Santa Ynez.
His activism began early, when at eighteen he had the opportunity to work for the United Farm Workers (AFL-CIO) as a community organizer. He spent 5 months living in South Central Los Angeles with other organizers. That experience instilled a level of idealism that he holds today, as well as an understanding that successful political organizing is completely dependent on integrity and honesty.
Robert married in his early thirties, worked as an electrician, started his family and moved back to Santa Barbara County, settling in Lompoc.
He returned to college in the late 90’s and earned two Associates degrees in Social Science and Spanish by 1997. He soon attended Cal Poly as a full-time student and graduated Magna Cum Laude in three years with a degree in the Social Sciences (Complex Organizations).
In 2000, Robert became inspired and compelled to further activism and ran for City Council locally several times and was appointed to the Lompoc Public Safety Commission where he continues to serve.
He was a Candidate for the 33rd State Assembly in 2006 and 2008.
Currently, Robert is running for Lompoc City Council on a platform of targeted economic development, public safety, and open government.
