By Dianne Anderson

Voters are bringing their game face in the next two weeks, getting serious on the big election and issues all the way down to local city economics, education for the kids, housing security and small business support.

Black candidates are saying do not lag on the bubbles. Fill out the ballots and drop them off at early voting locations.

Time is running out.

Vickie Davis, Rialto City Council

With a background in marriage and family therapy, Vickie Davis sees a fine line between community support, early intervention of mental health issues, and strengthening small business resources to grow the city.

She feels that creating better platforms and incentives to support newer small businesses will help them become viable, which benefits the entire community.

Through her entrepreneurship expo that she founded in Rialto six years ago, she said residents are learning the building blocks of good business, but she’s noticed that many do not know how to tap city resources for success.

Others are not aware of what a seller’s permit is, which, especially in selling food goods, could add up to fines. At one time, the city offered a program to teach civic engagement, and she wants to see that model expanded to teach residents how to engage with different city offices, including business licenses and zoning.

Housing stability is another issue. Residents could benefit from programs to learn to better manage their money and credit, and eventually invest or buy their first home.

Implementation would cost very little with big results.

“Education allows our residents to look beyond housing projects. Affordable housing is supposed to be a stepping stone,” she said. “One study shows individuals that participate in affordable housing programs have a difficult time moving beyond that into home ownership.”

Platforms and incentives could also provide the environment needed to build capacity for new and existing small businesses to thrive.  She wants to see more sustainable solutions.

“How many times as a small business do we see all these RFPs go out and grant opportunities to only the same three to five [businesses] year after year,” she said.

Recipients may be doing good work, but she said more opportunities and offerings could help small businesses expand.

As a therapist, she said early intervention is prevention and also needs to keep pace with the expanding homeless population. Young people, family and friends, need to recognize the warning signs before they get into mental health crisis, and access safe local spaces to seek help.

“They don’t get into the nitty-gritty of what is safety,” she said. “About 70% of the unhoused community is experiencing a mental health crisis, and, or, a substance use issue. We need to provide early intervention,” she said.

Like the national movement, she also wants solutions beyond over-policing, incarceration and fines.

Her nonprofit is 24 years old, and provides housing for mentally ill, disabled adult men. The program started with her mother, who provided resources for her disabled brother, and also housing developmentally delayed teen girls in partnership with the regional center.

“[My uncle] being a Black male and disabled, there were not many resources at the time. He ended up passing away early in life. It created a passion in my mom to serve the community, also teaching her kids to advocate for people who couldn’t advocate for themselves,” she said.

Investing in people, in small businesses and in community, also means that another generation doesn’t miss out on homeownership. One solution could be what other cities have used to promote housing affordability.

With Community Land Trusts, local governments buy land, and build affordable housing offered to residents as a sort of lease, until they own the home when the term is paid off.

“We can build individual homes, and sell those homes to residents for a lower than market housing rate. Once they pay off the homes, we can sell them the land,” she said. “It’s a pathway to homeownership and to build generational wealth.”

Dakira Williams – Rialto Unified School District Board

As a parent of two young children, Dakira Williams watches her own kids, and their little friends, to see how they respond to academic stimulation –  what excites them, what bores them, and what it will take to reach their personal excellence.

Dakira Williams, Rialto School Board Candidate

Her 8-year-old is in a dual immersion program, a first cohort in the district learning Spanish, which will reflect bilingual status on her high school diploma when she gets there.

Studies show how early exposure to a new language leads students to a well-rounded view of the world.

“Some districts have Mandarin up North. I’m for it,” she said. “When you take time to learn a different culture and different language it unlocks something socially, and in your brain – you’re not as ethnocentric.”

In her years of service on the PTA, the Parent Advisory Committee, the District Advisory Committee, and as president of the School Site Council, she has heard all the common concerns of parents, specifically on issues of closing the achievement gap. Williams holds a bachelor’s degree from Howard University and a professional background in subcontracting, project management, and public relations.

She is concerned for all children, but especially in underserved Black and Latino communities, which usually take the hardest hit. Some schools are starting to get kids up to par, but she feels more allocations need to target support and enhanced learning methods to meet students where they are at.

“Looking at every child, what does this child need? Do they need a math tutor, an English tutor, or to learn it in a different way? Do they need special services?” she said.

Identifying individual needs, extended enrichment aspects that match up with each student’s interests can get them excited about learning. From basketball or robots, students can relate to their studies.

“They will be successful. If you like robots, you will be motivated to learn [the sciences]. If they can start having more enrichment opportunities, more students will be motivated to come to school and reduce absenteeism,” she said.

Some benchmark programs show other approaches also work very well. For instance, she points to Savant Academy tests weekly, and consistently excels at statewide proficiency scores. She’d like to see some of that approach replicated.

As a parent and having served several aspects of education in the district, she is enthusiastic about the next level of impact that she can make for the community.

“This is going to be a labor of love, it’s service to make this district as best as it can be using whatever resources I have, and can gain. I really want to see the children in this district reach their fullest potential,” she said.

Felicia Alexander – S.B. City Unified School District board

Felicia Alexander wants educational equity for all students, improvement in test scores, and students across the district to exceed academic standards.

Health and wellness for students is a priority, along with professional development opportunities, tools and training for all district employees to best serve their students.

On her website, she highlights the need to integrate STEM programs from K-12 to provide a good foundation for success in science, technology, engineering, and math, along with Pathways and Linked Learning programs.

“I envision a district where teachers are supported and inspired to bring their best to the classroom, where families are active partners in the learning process, and where students are equipped with the skills to thrive in an ever-changing world. From STEM programs to arts and athletics, I aim to expand opportunities that engage and challenge our youth,” she said on her website.

Alexander, who came on board last year, continues to focus on District accountability measures and strengthening financial resources. For over three decades, she worked in global supply chain initiatives with a career as Corporate Director of Logistics for an Aerospace and Defense company. She also serves as an adjunct professor at California State University, Long Beach.

Among her several accolades, she received the Riverside Historical Society “Women of Achievement” Award in 2023. She is committed to promoting active partnerships for students and families in the learning process to achieve the skills they need for the future.

Alexander earned her Master’s degree from John F. Kennedy University. For community service, she is a San Bernardino County Equal Opportunity Commissioner, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Kappa Omega Chapter, and President-elect of the San Bernardino Assistance League and the American Legion Auxiliary.

If elected, she wants to expand opportunities, and engage and challenge youth through STEM programs, through the arts, or athletics.

“To achieve this vision, I’ll focus on strengthening community partnerships, advocating for innovative teaching methods, and fostering an environment of safety and inclusion,” she said.

Barbara A. McGee – Rialto City Clerk

Rialto City Clerk Barbara McGee has served since 1994 with key responsibilities including overseeing elections, managing essential city records, publishing legal notices, preparing city council meeting minutes, and filing documents with the state of California.

Barbara McGee, Rialto City Clerk

In addition to her clerk duties, she has served on various commissions, including the Human Relations Commission and mobile home and cable commissions and volunteered on multiple boards.

Over the years, she has volunteered for causes to support veterans, the elderly, children, and community involvement in representing the city.
She holds a master’s degree and municipal certification as a city clerk.

To learn more about  local candidates, see

Home

https://www.dakirawilliams.com/
https://www.feliciaalexander4sbcusd.org/

For election information, dates, times, and polling places, see:

California Election Tools:
https://www.vote.org/state/california/

CA Secretary of State Nov. 5 Election:
https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/general-election-nov-5-2024