​Professional Background

Update 9/8/2024

EXPERIENCE

I bring 44 years of extensive accounting/finance experience spanning small, medium, and large-scale operations across diverse sectors including manufacturing, construction, information services, entertainment, and distribution. My expertise ranges from local facilities to multinational corporations.

Personal/Professional Background/What this Means

ACCOUNTING

As a Certified Public Accountant, I prioritize ongoing education to maintain a thorough understanding of the latest information, laws, regulations, and techniques in my field. This commitment ensures my knowledge remains current and relevant.

What This Means

See Update Marked 9/8/2024

My experience with small local companies to some of the largest and most famous companies in the world allow me to understand the dynamics of organizations quickly and effectively.  I hit the ground running while cutting through all the unimportant noise to get to the heart of problems at hand.

As a member of the city council, I will draw from my life and business experiences. Being a member of the City Council is a role I fulfill, not who I am.

I refuse to let the title of "elected official" define me. An election doesn't confer special intelligence or superiority over others.

I have firm convictions, yet I acknowledge that these are personal opinions, and I am open to listening to others. I communicate concisely in my statements. I strive to comprehend a person's perspective fully before addressing their request. My actions are driven solely by the desire to benefit others, not myself, my family, my friends, or political donors.​

I assure you that I will genuinely listen, especially to divergent viewpoints, recognizing that this is crucial for learning and making well-informed decisions.

Ultimately, my commitment is that every decision I make will reflect thoughtful consideration and attentive listening.

​On the city council, I will provide honesty instead of giving answers that may sound good but fail to address the actual question or public concern. Our community deserves leaders prioritizing the welfare of residents over mere political wins or losses or political showmanship.

My focus remains clear: I serve the community's voters and residents, not the reverse.

​As I seek your vote for Council Member in District 3 this November 5th, I offer a different approach to seeking your vote. I have clearly outlined the challenges our city faces and, most importantly, detailed how I intend to address them. 

Whereas, from the others we get generic, vague statements. They express support for initiatives like Public Safety, Beautify West Covina, and Keep West Covina Safe – statements no one can argue with, but lacking substance.

The current office holder is part of the problem, ignoring the issues. While the other we have heard nothing more than the very meaningless cliches and slogans or points to Pomona as what West Covina could be.

The incumbent claims their major accomplishments are “flashing” stop signs, dead plants, and broken Christmas lights on trees along Azusa Avenue, while the other is silent, as we face:

Multi-million dollar budget deficits
West Covina Health Department costing us millions of dollars BEFORE it starts to operate
Wasting millions of dollars on the SportsPlex
Not adding one new police officer in years, let alone hiring to the level authorized
A city council almost tripling their pay and benefits
Refusing to address homelessness, crime, graffiti and more in our city

We need a serious candidate working on our serious problems with serious solutions.  I am that candidate.​

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science, Administration

BSA, Accounting

Master Business Administration 

MBA, Finance & Information Systems

CERTIFICATIONS

Certified Public Accountant

CPA, California

Certified Management Accountant

CMA, Institute of Management Accountants

Chartered Global Management Accountant

CGMA, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

​

PERSONAL HISTORY

I've been a resident of West Covina for 34 years, and my family's ties to this community run deep. My children attended schools here, and some of my grandchildren currently do as well. Proudly, I served four years in the United States Air Force, achieving the rank of Sergeant. I met my wife in college shortly after my release from active duty. Family is the cornerstone of my life; I'm a proud father to three daughters and a proud grandfather to seven grandchildren—four boys and three girls. Sadly, I was widowed in 2022 after nearly 42 years of marriage.

EARLY LIFE - DIVERSE FAMILY/COMMUNITY

Growing up in a family (Grandmother born in Mexico) and a community (Huntington Park) of diverse cultural, ethnic, and economic backgrounds. I learned early on to celebrate our commonalities while appreciating our unique differences. Regrettably, not everyone shares this viewpoint, a reality that persists today.

LIFE EXPERIENCES

Throughout my career and life, I've had the privilege of interacting and collaborating with individuals from all corners of the globe, encompassing various cultural, social, and economic backgrounds. These experiences have afforded me a unique perspective to address the challenges we encounter daily within our community.

TREATING OTHERS FAIRLY, BE OPEN AND HONEST

From my upbringing, I inherited a strong sense of fairness instilled by my grandparents, parents and other family members. As a leader in business and the community, I strive to embody fairness, openness, and honesty in every situation, evaluating each issue on its merits without letting personal biases sway my judgment—though admittedly, this can be challenging at times. I always return to the question of what the right course of action in any given circumstance is.