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| Heidi Ashcraft |
Heidi Ashcraft caught my attention precisely because she has served on the Torrance School Board as well as a recent appointee to the Torrance City Council.
Not only is she experienced, but her dedication to Torrance education cannot be ignored, including her service on the SCROC oversight board. With state funding about to end for the regional occupation programs, Torrance needs able leadership to ensure ongoing safeguards in funding for vocational training programs.
I wanted to vet her opinions on key issues facing the city council, particularly the pension issue, along with her values and her vision for the city.
1. Why are you running for city council this year? Did you ever plan on running for office before?
#1. I’m running for Torrance City Council because
this is the first time in the history of Torrance there are 4 council seats up
for election, a new mayor and new city clerk, this is a critical election! I have volunteered in Torrance in many
capacities over 36 years, first with my children in their sports, PTA and
scouting, then on many non profit boards such as the Torrance Cultural Arts
Foundation Advisory Board and Torrance Coordinating Board and Torrance Chamber
PAC. For 14 years I have been on the
Torrance South Bay YMCA Board of Managers, elected as that organization’s first
woman Chair of the Board serving in that capacity for 3 years. In 1995 I was first elected to the Torrance Board of
Education and re-elected two more times serving a total of 12 years, I did not
seek a 4th term. I had the honor of being appointed to the Torrance
City Council in December 2013. I believe I have the governance experience
necessary, at a time of great turnover, to lead as a Torrance City Council
Member. I love this city and I want to help it thrive.
this is the first time in the history of Torrance there are 4 council seats up
for election, a new mayor and new city clerk, this is a critical election! I have volunteered in Torrance in many
capacities over 36 years, first with my children in their sports, PTA and
scouting, then on many non profit boards such as the Torrance Cultural Arts
Foundation Advisory Board and Torrance Coordinating Board and Torrance Chamber
PAC. For 14 years I have been on the
Torrance South Bay YMCA Board of Managers, elected as that organization’s first
woman Chair of the Board serving in that capacity for 3 years. In 1995 I was first elected to the Torrance Board of
Education and re-elected two more times serving a total of 12 years, I did not
seek a 4th term. I had the honor of being appointed to the Torrance
City Council in December 2013. I believe I have the governance experience
necessary, at a time of great turnover, to lead as a Torrance City Council
Member. I love this city and I want to help it thrive.
2. You are a registered Republican. Why?
#2. I believe in small government, personal
responsibility, supporting the Constitution, less taxation and being fiscally
conservative, always maintaining a balanced budget, with reserves.
responsibility, supporting the Constitution, less taxation and being fiscally
conservative, always maintaining a balanced budget, with reserves.
3. Tell us about your prior professional/political experience and how they can help the City of Torrance?
#3. My husband and I have owned our business,
Ashcraft Design, since 1986. I am the
Chief Financial Officer of the company. For 12 years I served on the Torrance
Board of Education acting as President, Vice President and Clerk several times. When I was first elected the budget was
approximately $200 million. During my 12 years on the Board hard financial
decisions had to be made as funding became less and less. The budget was always
balanced. When I left the Board of
Education the budget was down to about $165 million. I had the opportunity to research, interview
and hire 2 Superintendents for TUSD.
Ashcraft Design, since 1986. I am the
Chief Financial Officer of the company. For 12 years I served on the Torrance
Board of Education acting as President, Vice President and Clerk several times. When I was first elected the budget was
approximately $200 million. During my 12 years on the Board hard financial
decisions had to be made as funding became less and less. The budget was always
balanced. When I left the Board of
Education the budget was down to about $165 million. I had the opportunity to research, interview
and hire 2 Superintendents for TUSD.
For 11 years I served on the So. Calif.
Regional Occupational Center Board of Education (SCROC or So Cal ROC). First as a Board Member representing Torrance
Board of Education then as an appointed Board Member representing adult
students and high school students outside the City of Torrance and the JPA. Several times over the 11 years on this Board
I was President, Vice President and Clerk. The budget has always been balanced in times
of funding cuts and while I was President of the Board of Education 2012-2013,
all debt was retired. I headed the
Superintendent search, interview and hiring of Dr. Christine Hoffman for SCROC
in 2004. It was announced in Dec. 2012
funding for SCROC would be eliminated. I
went to Senator Ted Lieu in January 2013 and garnered his support in Sacramento
to get the attention of Gov. Brown to understand the importance of SCROC to
students, businesses that partner with the school and the entire South
Bay. Because of these efforts a 2 year
reprieve (termed maintenance of effort) was made.
Regional Occupational Center Board of Education (SCROC or So Cal ROC). First as a Board Member representing Torrance
Board of Education then as an appointed Board Member representing adult
students and high school students outside the City of Torrance and the JPA. Several times over the 11 years on this Board
I was President, Vice President and Clerk. The budget has always been balanced in times
of funding cuts and while I was President of the Board of Education 2012-2013,
all debt was retired. I headed the
Superintendent search, interview and hiring of Dr. Christine Hoffman for SCROC
in 2004. It was announced in Dec. 2012
funding for SCROC would be eliminated. I
went to Senator Ted Lieu in January 2013 and garnered his support in Sacramento
to get the attention of Gov. Brown to understand the importance of SCROC to
students, businesses that partner with the school and the entire South
Bay. Because of these efforts a 2 year
reprieve (termed maintenance of effort) was made.
I have been constantly involved in the
process of “saving SCROC”, visiting Sacramento and speaking with legislators,
lobbyists and the State Budget Analyst’s Office. I was appointed to the Torrance City Council
Dec. 17, 2013. In January 2014 I asked
for the support of my fellow council members and got it to form a committee to
work with the Torrance Chamber of Commerce and South Bay Cities COG to bring
awareness to all South Bay City Chambers of Commerce and business community of
the South Bay of the funding issue and closure of SCROC. Immediately the South Bay Cities COG became
involved and is working diligently with the entire South Bay letting Sacramento
know SCROC cannot be lost. Our efforts
have been positive and we look forward to new information soon.
process of “saving SCROC”, visiting Sacramento and speaking with legislators,
lobbyists and the State Budget Analyst’s Office. I was appointed to the Torrance City Council
Dec. 17, 2013. In January 2014 I asked
for the support of my fellow council members and got it to form a committee to
work with the Torrance Chamber of Commerce and South Bay Cities COG to bring
awareness to all South Bay City Chambers of Commerce and business community of
the South Bay of the funding issue and closure of SCROC. Immediately the South Bay Cities COG became
involved and is working diligently with the entire South Bay letting Sacramento
know SCROC cannot be lost. Our efforts
have been positive and we look forward to new information soon.
All debt retired? Wow! We need that kind of balanced budgeting in the city.
#4. I have been endorsed by the Torrance Chamber
of Commerce PAC and BizFed PAC.
of Commerce PAC and BizFed PAC.
BizFed is the Los Angeles
County Business Federation, a cross section of entities including Chambers of
Commerce, trade groups and economic development organizations. The city needs to be proactive in pursuing
new businesses as well as maintaining the many businesses we have. The Torrance
Department of Economic Development needs to be expanded in order to do this.
There are key individuals in Torrance and the So. Bay with amazing credentials
that already work with the business communities in other countries and states
that can be used as consultants as “bridge builders” for our city. As a Council Member I would personally visit
businesses to determine what Torrance is doing right and what Torrance is doing
wrong to get or retain their business. I
would also have a strong relationship with Sacramento, as I have for SCROC, and
work to change the business climate in Calif.
County Business Federation, a cross section of entities including Chambers of
Commerce, trade groups and economic development organizations. The city needs to be proactive in pursuing
new businesses as well as maintaining the many businesses we have. The Torrance
Department of Economic Development needs to be expanded in order to do this.
There are key individuals in Torrance and the So. Bay with amazing credentials
that already work with the business communities in other countries and states
that can be used as consultants as “bridge builders” for our city. As a Council Member I would personally visit
businesses to determine what Torrance is doing right and what Torrance is doing
wrong to get or retain their business. I
would also have a strong relationship with Sacramento, as I have for SCROC, and
work to change the business climate in Calif.
#5. Torrance is the 10th
safest city with like populations in the nation. Our police department is proactive and our
citizens like it this way. There has
been an increase in crime in Torrance which is cause for concern. Resident involvement in making the police
aware of suspicious activity is key to fighting neighborhood burglaries. AB109, the early release of criminals, has
had an effect on Torrance. Torrance
Police Dept. has staffed up to address this issue by visiting those who have
been released and moved to Torrance, within 2 days of their residence here to
let them know if they choose to stay here they have to be good citizens and
will be watched. I am totally supportive of police and fire departments having
the equipment, resources and training needed to keep our city safe. These men and women put their lives on the
line day and night for the residents of Torrance and I am grateful for them.
safest city with like populations in the nation. Our police department is proactive and our
citizens like it this way. There has
been an increase in crime in Torrance which is cause for concern. Resident involvement in making the police
aware of suspicious activity is key to fighting neighborhood burglaries. AB109, the early release of criminals, has
had an effect on Torrance. Torrance
Police Dept. has staffed up to address this issue by visiting those who have
been released and moved to Torrance, within 2 days of their residence here to
let them know if they choose to stay here they have to be good citizens and
will be watched. I am totally supportive of police and fire departments having
the equipment, resources and training needed to keep our city safe. These men and women put their lives on the
line day and night for the residents of Torrance and I am grateful for them.
#6. I believe pensions along with salaries should
be handled in negotiations. I will not
change an employee’s pension from what that employee signed on for at his/her
time of hire, that is a contract that should be kept. The City of Torrance has
begun pension reform for new hires and that should continue, with employee
contributions and age adjustments to retirement. Pensions are a concern for Torrance as well
as all cities. There are those who want
residents to think Torrance is on the “brink of bankruptcy”. It is not.
We always have to vigilant with our money as we have been. May 1, 2014
MOODY’S INVESTORS SERVICE wrote about Torrance and its state of economy with
the loss of Toyota. It states “The
city’s stable assessed value (AV) should not change significantly with Toyota’s
departure. The city’s assessed valuation
is $24.9 billion for 2014. Its assessed
valuations stayed healthy throughout the economic downturn, declining only one
year before resuming modest, but stable growth…moveable capital associated with
the employees, could decline somewhat but not enough to materially harm the
city’s already strong tax base.” I am
proud of Torrance and will work to continue the reforms with salaries and
pensions as needed to keep Torrance the great city it is.
be handled in negotiations. I will not
change an employee’s pension from what that employee signed on for at his/her
time of hire, that is a contract that should be kept. The City of Torrance has
begun pension reform for new hires and that should continue, with employee
contributions and age adjustments to retirement. Pensions are a concern for Torrance as well
as all cities. There are those who want
residents to think Torrance is on the “brink of bankruptcy”. It is not.
We always have to vigilant with our money as we have been. May 1, 2014
MOODY’S INVESTORS SERVICE wrote about Torrance and its state of economy with
the loss of Toyota. It states “The
city’s stable assessed value (AV) should not change significantly with Toyota’s
departure. The city’s assessed valuation
is $24.9 billion for 2014. Its assessed
valuations stayed healthy throughout the economic downturn, declining only one
year before resuming modest, but stable growth…moveable capital associated with
the employees, could decline somewhat but not enough to materially harm the
city’s already strong tax base.” I am
proud of Torrance and will work to continue the reforms with salaries and
pensions as needed to keep Torrance the great city it is.
7. How have residents and prospective voters responded to your campaign?
#7. I have been blessed with a wonderful group of
volunteers, more than 35 that have walked their precincts, and many others
working in other ways to see me elected.
I have been endorsed by: Torrance
Police Association and Fire Fighters Association (I have not received money
from them); Torrance Chamber of Commerce PAC; BizFed PAC, Mayor Frank Scotto,
Former Mayors Dee Hardison and Ken Miller; Former Council Members: O’Donnell, Witkowsky, Rossberg; Numark,
Nakano, Lieu, Messerlian, Applegate, Guyton; Torrance School Board
Members: Steffen, Lee, Wermers, Deutsch,
Ragins; Supervisor Don Knabe; Councilman Gene Barnett; Former School Board Members:
Sargent, Ernst, Kuwahara, Driskill; Former Torrance Chamber Chairs: Wolowicz, Oberholzer, Frew; Former City
Treasurer Linda Barnett. Too many residents and voters to write down. My
husband, Dan Ashcraft, is working very hard as my campaign manager. I am
extremely grateful for all of the support I have been given and continue to
receive.
volunteers, more than 35 that have walked their precincts, and many others
working in other ways to see me elected.
I have been endorsed by: Torrance
Police Association and Fire Fighters Association (I have not received money
from them); Torrance Chamber of Commerce PAC; BizFed PAC, Mayor Frank Scotto,
Former Mayors Dee Hardison and Ken Miller; Former Council Members: O’Donnell, Witkowsky, Rossberg; Numark,
Nakano, Lieu, Messerlian, Applegate, Guyton; Torrance School Board
Members: Steffen, Lee, Wermers, Deutsch,
Ragins; Supervisor Don Knabe; Councilman Gene Barnett; Former School Board Members:
Sargent, Ernst, Kuwahara, Driskill; Former Torrance Chamber Chairs: Wolowicz, Oberholzer, Frew; Former City
Treasurer Linda Barnett. Too many residents and voters to write down. My
husband, Dan Ashcraft, is working very hard as my campaign manager. I am
extremely grateful for all of the support I have been given and continue to
receive.
Ashcraft's wide array of endorsements is nothing to sniff at.
I do not agree her affirmations that the city of Torrance is on firm fiscal standing. With over 600 employees taking in $100k a year, the pension liabilities pressing on the city simply cannot be ignored. Still, her record on fiscal discipline while serving on the Torrance School Board should not be ignored, either.