CITY GUIDE : ANAHEIM

Mayor Tom Daly

Age: 43

Occupation: Planning, government relations and business development consultant

First Elected: City Council 1988; Mayor 1992

Term Expires: November 1998

Key Issues: Keep public safety top priority and continue lowering crime and supporting Police Department’s crime reduction efforts with such programs as community policing; make neighborhood improvements, including fixing broken sidewalks, neighborhood cleanup programs, adding parks and playgrounds, and programs to repair and restore older housing; enhance citywide beautification, such as sprucing up major streets, more landscaping and trees, adding gateway monuments and signs and continue placing utilities underground.

Mayor Pro Tem Lou Lopez

Age: 53

Occupation: Anaheim police officer

First Elected: November 1994

Term Expires: November 1998

Key Issues: Hire more police officers with long-term goal of having 400 officers on the street by 1998 and zero-tolerance of crime in city; continue to find funding for youth activities, including after-school programs, bookmobiles, keeping school gyms open for basketball and other sports; work with schools to share school playgrounds for youth activities; and continue additional funding for city beautification efforts.

Councilwoman Shirley McCracken

Age: 60

Occupation: Management training for nonprofit organizations

First Elected: November 1996

Term Expires: November 2000

Key Issues: Complete development of downtown Anaheim; revitalize neighborhoods to make them better places to live by enhancing their appearances and making improvements such as restoring housing, improving infrastructure, repairing potholes and sidewalks, trimming and replacing trees; promote small businesses with their development and expansion and encourage them to remain in Anaheim.

Councilman Tom Tait

Age: 38

Occupation: President, Tait & Associates Inc., a civil engineering and environmental firm

First Elected: Appointed February 1995; elected November 1996

Term Expires: November 2000

Key Issues: Ensure fiscal responsibility with the city operating like a business; promote crime prevention and maintain an Immigration and Naturalization Service agent in the city jail to process suspects who are illegal immigrants; expand technology by supporting public safety officers with state of the art technology; and prepare the city for electric deregulation.

Councilman Bob Zemel

Age: 44

Occupation: Vice president, Public Affairs, Fidelity National Title Insurance Co.

First Elected: November 1994

Term Expires: November 1998

Key Issues: Continue presence of Immigration and Naturalization Service Agents at city jail; support local businesses and professionals and promote economic development by establishing a business cooperative effort with Anaheim Chamber of Commerce; continue to support maintaining an anti-tax and less-government formula in establishing public policy.

Other Key Officials

City Manager: James D. Ruth

Age: 61

Time in office: Seven years

City Attorney: Jack L. White

Age: 53

Time in office: 12 years

Police Chief: Randall Gaston

Age: 53

Time in office: Three years

Fire Chief: Jeff Bowman

Age: 44

Time in office: Ten years

How to Reach Them

Council meets: First, second, third and fourth Tuesdays, 5 p.m., at City Hall, Council Chambers, 200 S. Anaheim Blvd.

Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Telephone: (714) 254-5162

Fax: (714) 254-5164

Web Site: https://www.anaheim.net

Factoids

Motto: The Hub of Happiness (Unofficial)

Flower: Calendula

Tree: Magnolia

Incorporated: 1878

Population: 296,497

Budget: Total citywide budget, $671 million; general-fund budget; $141 million

Number of employees: 2,049 full time

Highest paid employee: City manager, about $146,000, not including retirement benefits

Council perks: $1,000 monthly salary, plus $25 per council meeting and $25 per redevelopment agency meeting; full health benefits; office at City Hall; car allowance maximum of $219 every two weeks; use of city box at Anaheim Stadium and the Pond.

RESEARCHED BY DEBRA CANO