NEWS RELEASE:  July 14th, 2022                                                                                                                            Incumbent Ed Smith to Seek Third Term on Monterey City Council   Incumbent Monterey City Council Member Ed Smith, noting his deep ties and long devotion to the City of Monterey, today announced that he will seek a third four-year term in November.                                                                                                   “I am seeking re-election because I care greatly about our community and want to continue ensuring high levels of services in our city,” Smith, who is also vice-mayor, said. “I want to make certain that we maintain policies that are neighborhood-centered and balanced on quality-of-life issues and that the City Council will continue to listen to our residents while preserving Monterey for our families.”                                                                                                                        Smith is a retired police officer who spent most of his career, 26 years, with the Monterey Police Department, retiring as a lieutenant. Smith is co-owner of On Base Leadership, a training company that teaches emerging leaders and supervisors in the private and government sectors. He was first elected to the City Council in 2014 and re-elected in 2018.                                                                                                                      This year, for the first time, members of the City Council will be elected in one of four districts. Smith is running in District 2, where he and his wife of 49 years, Sharron, have lived in the same home for the past 40 years. They have two grown children, who attended Monterey public schools. Smith holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration, and a Bachelor’s degree and a California Teaching Credential.                                                                                                          “Our district has over 7,200 residents and a balance of homes, apartments, businesses, parks, 14 churches, five schools and eight Neighborhood Associations,” Smith said. “It is diverse, large, interesting, and vibrant with a broad range of interests.” He noted that it includes the Old Monterey Business Association and the Del Monte Shopping Center.   Smith said that although the city will have separate districts, he will continue to represent all of Monterey.                                                                                                                          He explained that District 2, “large and expansive,” includes the forested Monterey Vista neighborhood, areas by Via Paraiso Park, the Old Fisherman’s Wharf, and the Commercial Wharf. Also in District 2 are El Estero Lake, Dennis the Menace Park and Downtown. Further parts of the district include the lower part of Old Town, the Monterey High School neighborhood, the City Hall area, Monterey Regional Airport and Fisherman’s Flats, Deer Flats and Foothill Elementary School. Included as well are the Monterey Conference Center and the Hyatt Regency Monterey.                                                                                                        Addressing residents and businesses of Monterey, Smith said:   "I truly love our town, probably for the same reasons you do. The quality of life in Monterey is one of the best anywhere, but we need to work hard to improve Monterey, all our important features and our community services and neighborhoods. I place parks, recreation, the sports center, the recreational trail, ensuring high levels of public safety, improving our streets and sidewalks, serving youth and seniors alike with our community centers as my top priorities.”                                                                                                  During his tenure, he said, “The economic shortfall caused by COVID hit Monterey hard, as well as cities throughout the country, but the Monterey City Council has reactivated many levels of services for our residents and businesses while simultaneously creating a balanced budget in the wake of layoffs and a reduction in city revenues during COVID. The community was patient and understanding and supported many efforts to care for one another.”   Smith continued: “We must continue to be a safe and clean city and pay close attention to the post-COVID economic recovery. The city’s budget is a job I take very seriously. Knowledge and experience are required for a council member in setting policy and directions that are balanced and considerate and focused to residents’ needs. This is how I have served while I have been on the council. I have sought community input and listened to priorities as I have served you. I will continue to be accessible, visible, and engaged and working to always make Monterey better.”                                                                                                                                                                           Smith has represented Monterey on many regional agencies, including in transportation, public safety, and tourism. He is now on the Transportation Agency of Monterey County board and its past chair, and on the executive committee of the Association for Monterey Bay Area Governments (AMBAG).   Smith was a co-chair on Monterey County Measure X in 2016, which voters overwhelmingly approved. Over a period of 30 years, it is expected to raise nearly $30 million annually through a retail transaction and use tax of a three-eighths’ cents to improve regional transportation. This regional effort will concentrate on improvements to Highway 156 between Castroville and Highway 101, and on Highway 68, and provide additional transportation dollars to all cities in Monterey County and unincorporated areas.                                                                                                                                          Smith said that important aspects in these regional projects are habitat species preservation and environmental protection.                                                                                                                                              As he looks forward to serving an additional four years on the City Council, if he is re-elected, Smith said his priorities include:                                                                                                                                                               1. Preserving neighborhood security and quality of life and not overdeveloping                                                                                                                                                   2. Shoring up reserves, with rainy-day funds and a balanced budget                                                                                                                                                             3. Finishing the revitalization of streets, sidewalks, and sewers through the provisions of Measure S, which Monterey voters, by a margin of more than four-to-one, approved in 2018.                                                                                                                                                     4. Continuing to support our military community                                                                                                             5. Promoting Monterey businesses and creating opportunities for new ones