VOTE: Rialto Mayoral Candidates

By Dianne Anderson
By now, Rialto voters are double-checking their choices, filling in all the important circles for their early vote-by-mail ballot as mayoral contenders tighten up their platform in pushing community development, better jobs, and a cleaner economy.
Vying to maintain her seat, Mayor Deborah Robertson feels this time around is not much different than past runs. She won council all terms since 2002, until taking the seat as mayor, winning all terms since 2012.
One of her top concerns is financial stability as the city weathers the storm for citizens going into a high inflation of 4% rate. She said inflation purchasing costs have over-doubled and rolled over on the city side.
Maintaining and monetizing their revenue streams is critical.
“Figuring out how do we pay off what most cities have — retirement debts from obligations, and keeping infrastructure and growth of our community moving forward,” she said.
Other things are beyond city control like the high costs of building housing, she added, and making affordable market-rate housing while meeting the state obligations of RHNA, Regional Housing Needs Allocation law.
Overall, crime numbers are low. Community safety and well-being are important to her, including greening up the local economy.
For the past 40 years, Rialto has built launch pads for the space program, with the potential to attract more engineering jobs, mechanical and architectural design, welding, electrical and other vital careers. Recently, the city showcased its first in the nation technology that was tested in Rialto.
“It was all environmental scientists, two of them said they would relocate their manufacturing business to Rialto,” she said. “That leads me to look at types of jobs, environmental engineers, environmental scientists, apprenticeship, certification that creates a job market and expands the job market we have.”
Recently, the California Community College Board of Governors met at San Bernardino Valley College for their first-ever Bachelor of Science in Water Resource Management. She credits that movement starting in Rialto with a public-private partnership and the concession agreement she signed in 2012.
It led to momentum to build a workforce for the water industry. She is also encouraged by electrification prospects within the clean sector, of hydrogen, lithium and charging stations.
“We started with Valley College with a robust water program focused on the water industry, and getting certified,” she said, adding that local advanced technology jobs to meet electrification commitments at federal and state levels by 2035 look promising.
Warehousing to draw revenue is a community concern, but she said not all fulfillment centers are for warehousing, rather manufacturing for higher-level products.
“These buildings are spec buildings and they are bringing in tenants and then they build the inside of the building to suit the tenant,” she said.
Trucks rolling in and out of the Inland Empire are always an issue. Even with their launch pad production, she said raw material can not be transported in a car trunk. It must be via trucks.
She recalls logistics and the Port of Los Angeles in the mid-80s when everything that moved offshore to China was brought back in cargo with the first intermodal transfer operations.
“Do you think I had a statement in that decision then? We are now dealing with it, not only just here in America or California or the IE. With all of our decisions and advancement, we’re dealing globally,” she said.
Truck sustainability by 2035 is key.
Soon, she plans to meet and greet with a company developer that builds sites for small, medium and large electrical loads, and she is looking to the future of electrification and yards for trucks converting to recharge. And, she is excited that Assemblymember Dr. Corey Jackson has asked her to convene a group to figure out how small independent truck drivers can convert their fleets for electrification as it unfolds.
Change is sure to come, and she wonders what’s next for concrete gas stations on the south end, and how they could be repurposed.
Over the years, she is most proud of utility-based Proposition 218 during the economic downturn of 2002, again in 2008 and once more, a 5-0 vote put it on the ballot to ensure community savings benefit is permanent.
“Residents in Rialto, we get 8% that’s controlling our own destiny,” she said, adding,” Moving to electrification will be great because whoever is paying for charging their car is going to be electric. They’ll be paying us 8%.”
With the average income in Rialto now at $80,000, she feels the city has come a good way under her leadership, but she said navigating the city’s problems was never alone. Everything about being a Mayor requires a majority vote.
“There’s no “I” in the word team. We all have to have at least a simple majority to get something done,” she said. “You have to do it sometimes 4-1. I still vote my conscience, I will not be bought or borrowed.”
Ché Rose Wright —
As a businesswoman, Ché Wright, wants to see more support for small businesses, a reduction of growth in homelessness, and underutilized vacant facilities.
Most of all, she hopes for a change of the old guard with more youth and millennials bringing fresh ideas to the table. The city is too restrictive, she said, stuck in a place that hasn’t moved much in decades.
“At a time when the 18-45 demographic is not really engaged or participating in this process anymore I thought it would be important for us to see someone get in the race and carry things forward,” said Wright, who is also vice president of the local San Bernardino branch NAACP.
Through her business consultations, she said she has pulled sizable grants and proposals for cities and partnerships to serve the community.
But while Rialto’s revenue growth seems solid, she said it’s not reflected in infrastructure, as city hall has had bungalows for as long as she can remember.
She participated in the homeless point-in-time count, and is concerned the city hasn’t properly reported homelessness in recent years. Accurate numbers could help bring extra grant dollars to assist and prevent the increase.
Affordable housing is another big concern.
“I feel that as a resident, they are gentrifying our own communities because the current city council and all people I’m running against are making decisions they say are in the best interest of working individuals, but they’re pricing us out of communities we grew up in,” said Wright, a lifelong resident of Rialto.
Sustainability also means affording to purchase products and homes, and living in apartment complexes. She said the availability of living wages and development should meet community needs, and everyone should be encouraged to get involved in civic duty and their local government.
Stronger ties with local business chambers are also needed, and she wants more sustainable infrastructure.
“When you look at these big box corporations, it only takes one Amazon to lose 50% of our tax revenue, and don’t let a Walmart go out of business because now we’ll look like San Bernardino,” she said.
Wright said she has worked a grant with governmental agencies for the Stop the Hate campaign. One effort was with a local city police department on youth programming prevention and advocacy. She also partners with school districts, and churches for youth grant opportunities.
She never planned to be a politician, but said she was mentored by Mayor Robertson.
Win lose or draw, her main hope is to serve the community and ensure people become more informed on the issues.
One is going after more state grant funding that could help residents in the many mobile homes to access extra resources to remodel or rehab. Untapped state funds are available for youth programs, she said.
“There’s tons of funding for parks and recreation on a state level to bring into our community to start more innovative programming and prepare them to be the workforce of the future,” she said.
Potential federal dollars can also help fund projects associated with homelessness, and conversations should focus on using warehouses as a resource, she added.
“From a tax perspective, I know that instead of sitting empty it can be incentivized by getting tax breaks with innovative youth programs, housing some of the homeless, bringing in money to help rehab, and repurposing what we already have to try to serve.”
Rafael Trujillo
In 2016, Rafael Trujillo won City Council and was re-elected in 2020.
In his run for mayor, he prioritizes enhancing quality of life by improving parks, recreational facilities, and community programs. He also wants to attract new business, create jobs and encourage community collaboration to help build more city resilience.
On his website, he takes credit for leadership that resulted in initiatives and economic development, including Renaissance and Cedar Hill Plaza, as well as strengthening additional resources for police and fire departments. He has championed expanding housing opportunities for first-time homebuyers and hiring preferences for veterans. Among several community improvements, he supported the enhancement of Sampson and Frisbie Parks, as well as helping implement measures during the pandemic for rental and utilities assistance.
Over the years, Trujillo has served on several committees, including the San Bernardino County Committee on School District Organization, along with the West Valley Water District, the City of Rialto Parks and Recreation Commission, and as President of the Elm Park Homeowners Association.
Joe Baca
Joe Baca, who was elected to City Council in 2022, is looking to build up city resources and local opportunities, along with strengthening public safety, and promoting economic development to benefit every neighborhood.
He has served in the United States Army, which started his lifelong stint in public service. Baca also was the first Latino elected to the San Bernardino Valley College District, setting his political career in motion, where he served on both the California State Assembly and Senate. For 13 years, he served in Congress representing the Inland region.
On his website, his campaign platform focuses on critical issues like economic revitalization, public safety, education, and infrastructure. He is also seeking to actively engage residents through town halls, listening sessions and community events, ensuring that the voices of Rialto’s citizens are heard and incorporated into city policies.
“As a lifelong resident of the Inland Empire, I understand the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for Rialto,” Baca continued. “I am running for Mayor because I believe in the potential of our city and the strength of our community. Together, we can build a brighter future for all,” he said on his website.
To learn more about the candidates,
Deborah Robertson
https://www.yourrialto.com/291/Deborah-Robertson
Che Rose Wright,
https://www.chewrightformayor.com/