Local Firefighter
Local firefighter runs for seat on city council
Topics:
Posted by editor Mon Jun 16, 2008 09:10:58 PDT
Viewed 1151 times
0 responses 5 comments
County firefighter Shane Reed has announced his candidacy for the Tehachapi City Council seat being made available by Mayor Deborah Hand's decision not to run for a third term.
A resident of Tehachapi since he was seven, Reed, 38, said he wants to help bring about change in the city and put an end to political bickering.
“I want positive change in our local government,” he told the Tehachapi News. “I feel that I can be a new, younger positive voice for the residents of Tehachapi.
“There has been a lot of negativity surrounding local politics over the last few years and I want to be more than a voice for change. I want to be able to work with all members of our local government to get things done. I want the residents of Tehachapi to vote for me not as another local politician but as a person who has worked his entire adult life as a public servant.”
Reed is firefighter/helicopter manager for the Kern County Fire Department, assigned to Super Huey Helicopter 408 in Keene.
Reed went to work for the U.S. Forest Service as a firefighter the day after graduating from Tehachapi High School in 1988 and, he said, “I have worked in public safety from that day on.”
He has worked as a paramedic for local ground and air ambulance companies.
“I was certified as a paramedic at age 20 and was the youngest to work in the field as a paramedic,” he said.
Reed also worked at C & P Market and Nunes Ranch.
The candidate is a single father of two children who attend Tompkins Elementary School – daughter Patricia, 10, and son Hunter, 8.
Other Tehachapi natives on the city council welcome Reed's run for the seat.
“He has learned a lot in the last year,” said City Councilman Ed Grimes. “He is a person who has come a long way in learning how to deal with city business.”
Reed was involved with the development of the city fire department, Grimes said, “And he took it upon himself to learn all he could about what makes the city function. I think he really has the city at heart.”
Councilman Phil Smith said, “He's a team player.”
Grimes said, “He's not an advocate for his own agenda.”
Reed said he would like to attract more businesses downtown.
“I support the continued redevelopment of downtown Tehachapi,” he said, “but I want to go beyond the beautification phase and want to see the development of a recruitment committee to recruit new businesses that are needed and wanted in our city.
“I want controlled and well-planned growth. I would like to see a more open and personable city government from the city council all the way down to code enforcement. It's time for all members of our city to work for the betterment of Tehachapi. We voted for change in the last election. I wish we would have voted for positive change.
“I hope to be that positive change for Tehachapi.”
The proposed prison expansion at the California Correctional Institution is an issue currently under discussion at the city council.
“I do not support prison expansion,” Reed said. “In the early 80s expansion the state promised us a bill of goods. They promised Highway 202 expansion and that prison expansion would have minimal impact on the city. The promises didn't get kept.”
Reed said, however, that lately “The Department of Corrections has been pretty receptive to what local people want.”
On the issue of low income housing, Reed said, “Section 8, if done right, works.” He said a local apartment development that welcomes Section 8 renters is a success because of its good management.
“If we have Section 8 that is well managed, then we don't have problems.”
Reed said, “Just because you are low income doesn't mean you're not a hard working person or a not a good moral person.”
Reed said he does not have a campaign manager.
If Reed is elected, he may find himself seated next to a man he is trying to recall. Reed has put in motion the recall process to force a vote on city councilman Stan Beckham. The process, which follows strict policies and procedures set by the state, “takes a long time,” Reed said, and is in the stage of a 30-day waiting period for Beckham to respond to the preliminary petition. A new petition will state why he should be recalled and will carry his response as to why he should not be recalled. That petition, after approval by the city clerk, will go on the ballot.
Reed said he wants to get the timing right so the recall can go on the November general election ballot, thereby saving the city the expense of a special election. One-fourth of the registered voters in the city - or, Reed said, “844.5 people” - must vote for the recall if it is to pass.
In March, Reed was the victim of a cyber crime in which his name and e-mail address appeared to be the source of several vicious and threatening messages sent to city council persons, city employees, school board members and journalists. Tehachapi Police Chief Jeff Kermode issued a statement saying Reed was not the instigator.
“I would like to clearly state that the investigation has determined that Mr. Reed was NOT the sender of the e-mail and had no part in its creation or distribution. Rather, Mr. Reed was victimized by the person or persons who generated and distributed the e-mail using an e-mail address implying that Mr. Reed had been the sender.”
Kermode turned the matter over to the Kern County District Attorney's office for investigation. Those who have been interviewed by county investigator Paul Lambert said they were told that DA's office has identified the Internet address from which the offensive e-mail was sent. The investigator was not accessible for comment.
Those who received the e-mails said they never believed for minute that Reed had sent them.
“It's one of the most mean-spirited things I've ever seen in print,” Grimes said. “Somebody's tried to set him [Reed] up.”
| Send to a Friend | Report a Violation |
I would just like to wish Shane good luck in his quest to be elected to the city council. We don't need council members that will fight and bicker with each other. We need members that will work together for the good of Tehachapi. I'm sad to say that I live outside the city limits so I can't vote for you but I would if I could.
Best of luck
Jim Galagan
I have known Shane for around 10 years now and know his heart is in this town. I know that despite others "smear tactics" Shane will come through and be the best choice for Tehachapi's future. Way to go Shane!!!!! You have my vote!!!
Comment From: olivia
Shane, it was great to meet you yesterday. I thought you looked and sounded great on the news too. Wishing you the best....."Olivia".
