City Guide

BUENA PARK

Mayor: Donald L. Bone

Age: 50

Occupation: Painting contractor

First elected: November, 1987

Term expires: November, 1996

Key issues: Deal with the state budget crisis and how potential state cutbacks in the future will affect the city. Increase police programs to ensure public safety. Address the changing demographic makeup of the city’s population, as well as the city’s evolving economic base.

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Councilman: Don R. Griffin

Age: 63

Occupation: Architect and planner

First elected: April, 1974

Term expires: November, 1996

Key issues: Maintain city services within the limited revenue available to the city. Enhance public safety by hiring more police officers and asking residents how to fund additional police services. Improve public transportation. Examine the state’s plan to widen the Santa Ana Freeway with an eye on how to protect the surrounding community.

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Councilwoman: Rhonda J. McCune

Age: 48

Occupation: Commercial real estate appraiser

First elected: November, 1985

Term expires: November, 1994

Key issues: Provide city services with dwindling revenue. Re-evaluate how the city provides some municipal services and look at ways of sharing services with other cities. Increase public safety programs and services.

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Councilwoman: Donna L. Chessen

Age: 56

Occupation: Consultant

First elected: November, 1985

Term expires: November, 1994

Key issues: Ensure a strong financial base for the city. Encourage new development and find new revenue sources. Retain businesses and keep jobs in the city. Recognize the needs of the increasing ethnic diversity of the community. Recognize the city’s growing senior citizen population and respond to their needs.

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Councilman: Arthur C. Brown

Age: 57

Occupation: Retired Los Angeles County deputy sheriff

First elected: November, 1990

Term expires: November, 1994

Key issues: Address the impact on the city budget of the recession and loss of state funding. Balance the budget while continuing to provide the same level of city services. Continue to promote the entertainment corridor and encourage tourism. Examine tourism as a way of boosting the local economy.

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Other Key Officials

City manager: Kevin O’Rourke

Age: 42

Time in office: Nine years

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City attorney: James L. Markman

Age: 51

Time in office: 11 years

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Police chief: Richard M. Tefank

Age: 48

Time in office: Four years

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Fire chief: Herb R. Jewell

Age: 41

Time in office: Three years

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How to Reach Them

Council meetings: First and third Monday at 5 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 6650 Beach Blvd.

City Hall hours: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays; closed every other Friday

Telephone: (714) 562-3500

Fax: (714) 562-3599

Fast Facts

Motto: “Center of the Southland”

Flower: Bird of Paradise

Incorporated: Jan. 27, 1953

Population: 71,696

Legislative districts: 4th Supervisorial; 67th, 68th and 72nd Assembly; 32nd, 33rd and 35th Senate; 39th Congressional

Annual operating budget: $37.3 million

Number of employees: 520, including full- and part-time

Highest paid employee: City manager, $93,792 per year, excluding benefits

Council perks: Members receive $500 per month, plus $30 per meeting for Community Redevelopment Agency meetings

COMPILED BY DEBRA CANO