e e k l y W EL CHICANo Features, Lifestyle & News You Can Use!
Vol 53, NO. 5
THIS WEEK Gloria’s Corner and Words To Think About A3
MLK Celebrations in San Bernardino A7
Hanna Rozzi to graduate from West Point Academy A9
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2016 San Bernardino Runoff Elections
Sixth ward candidates vie, in runoff, to replace longtime councilman
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By Anthony Victoria
n the coming days the sixth ward—which encompasses much of westside San Bernardino—will see a newly elected councilmember for the first time in nearly 13 years.
Bessine Littlefield-Richard faces fellow run-off candidate Roxanne Williams after none of the four would-be council members received a sufficient majority vote in November to replace retiring representative Rikke Van Johnson, who was first elected to the dais for the ward’s residents in 2003.
According to the County’s election website, Littlefield-Richard bested the Nov. 3 election tally after receiving 434 votes. Williams came in second with 410 votes. The other two challengers to Van Johnson’s seat—Anthony Jones and Rafael Rawls tallied 189 and 127 votes, respectively.
Williams, 45, who says she has lived in the ward for just over a year—and in the city for five years-is a San Bernardino County educator and has received Master’s degrees in Educational Administration from Cal State University, San Bernardino and in Anatomy from Loma Linda University. A mother of five children, Williams says she holds various education credentials and taught previously at San Gorgonio High School. She serves on the Parks and Recreation Commission and previously ran for third ward councilmember.
Littlefield-Richard, 53, is a lifelong resident of the sixth ward and says she is one class short of getting her Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership. She has never ran for public office but says she has worked in the public-service sector for 35 years. A mother of four children, LittlefieldRichard reiterated she would be completing her degree by the end of the year. She noted she decided to run now because she says she “was asked to run” and “knows what the community needs”.
Last week, El Chicano sat down with both candidates and asked them the following questions ahead
IECN Photos sixth ward candidates Bessine Littlefield-Richard (left) and Roxanne Williams received the top two vote totals in last november’s election. one will replace longtime Councilman Rikke Van Johnson in runoff elections on February 2. of the February 2 runoff election.
1. The outsourcing of fire services in the city is a contentious issue. One of the stations the city closed was located in the ward on North Medical Center Drive. Do you believe it can be reopened, and if so, what steps will you ensure that it does reopen?
Williams: Actually the better question would be: ‘How can we reduce response times?’ From what I understand, our call response times are above 12 minutes. What I want to focus on is when people call 9-1-1, they want people to show up fast. As regards to the opening of the fire station—where do we get the funds from? How do we pay for salaries and pensions? These are uncomfortable questions no one wants to talk about. We are strapped for money. We were first cash insolvent; now we are service insolvent. We have to outsource because we cannot promise services you can’t pay for.
Littlefield-Richard: We need it back running but in a different place. There is property close by on Highland Avenue adjacent to the Highway patrol location where a larger facility could be built—for example to also house female firefighters. I am working with City Fire to reestablish our station; the senior facility
built specifically because it was close to where seniors could get services. We will have a plan so that when—and if—outsourcing gets resolved, we will have our fire station back.
IECN
.com January 21, 2016
CHALLENGER SEEKS TO UNSEAT 7th WARD INCUMBENT
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By Anthony Victoria
n November, the residents of the seventh ward voted among five candidates, with none receiving over 30-percent of the vote. Jim Mulvihill, the incumbent, received the most numbers--bringing in 501 votes. Scott Beard, his opponent in the February 2 runoff election, received 384 votes.
Mulvihill, 71, a native of Kansas City, Missouri enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1968 and served as a radio operator during the Vietnam War--receiving a Bronze Star medal for his service. In 1976 he received his Ph.D. from Michigan State University in Urban Planning. Mulvihill taught at Frostburg State University in Maryland, before accepting a position at Cal State University, San Bernardino in 1981. He has one daughter, Carolyn, who is an environmental planner with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
2. There is a preponderance of vacant lots and buildings along Beard, 52, has lived in San major thoroughfares of the ward. Bernardino for over 16 years. He Businesses open then leave. What graduated from Cal Poly Pomona specific development would you with a Bachelors of Science like to see? degree in Business Administration, with an emphasis Littlefield-Richard: We do want to encourage small business in Finance, Real Estate, and Law. to move into the ward. On As a businessman, Beard has Medical Center and Highland, we been responsible for bringing need an eatery there. The closing numerous companies and helping of The Mug was devastating. We generate new tax revenue, need places to shop. We have peo- improved neighborhoods for the ple who sell food from carts. I region, according to his camwant to look into getting them paign website. In 2013 Beard led into a building with things done the city’s recall election effort, properly so they can provide for spending over $146,210 to oust their families. We need to get out former Seventh Ward councilof our comfort zone and have woman Wendy McCammack and some ‘outside-the-box’ thinking. city attorney Jim Penman. Williams: I talk about this in my ‘100-day Plan’. It has been a long time since people really got serious about bringing small business to the Westside. My vision for the Mt. Vernon corridor involves ethnic neighborhoods. On the north end, we have historic AfricanAmerican churches. We could have a ‘Soul Town’, a cultural center based on the foods and historic buildings. As you continue down, we get into ‘Little Latin
Sixth ward cont. on next page
Last week, El Chicano sat down with both candidates and asked them the following questions ahead of the runoff vote.
1. We hear about the ‘see something, say something’ approach to crime. Some in the community do not like to say anything, perhaps out of fear. How do you specifically encourage residents in your Challenger cont. on next page