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Mayor Cooper makes re-election run official this morning with supporters. Photo, Geoff Maleman.
One day after Gary Abrams, a hardy challenger in the past for the School Board, pulled papers for a City Council election, Mayor Jeff Cooper this morning officially filed his re-election papers at City Hall and launched his new campaign website: http://www.cooperforcouncil.com.
Before the ritual – six days before Monday’s filing deadline – Mr. Cooper met with supporters at The Conservancy. He said that his top goal will be to continue to protect Culver City residents.
“Over the past four years, I have worked hard to protect our neighborhoods and keep our city on firm financial footing,” Mr. Cooper said. “I hope to continue those efforts for four more years.”
He said fighting the practice of fracking, encouraging economic development and continuing the focus on the environment will continue to be the cornerstone of his campaign.
As Mayor, the 25-year resident of Culver City led the charge to fight the controversial practice of fracking, encouraging the state to put a moratorium on fracking until it develops guidelines that guarantee safety for our residents. Mr. Cooper took a leadership role in creating the city’s ban on single-use plastic bags. He helped lead the effort to create Tilden Terrace – a mixed-use and affordable housing project that, for the first time, allowed Culver City to fulfill its affordable housing requirement. He led the City Council effort to institute new measures to reduce cut-through traffic in Sunkist Park.
Mr. Cooper said he will hold his major fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 22, and added that voters can learn more about campaign events, his stance on the issues and express their support on the his new campaign website.
“I’m excited about moving our city forward and working together to address our challenges,” he said. “In the wake of the loss of Redevelopment Agency funds, we have to look for new and creative ways to spur economic development. We have to continue to enhance our efforts to be even greener as a city. We have to map out an achievable strategy to keep our city financially strong.”
Since his election in April of 2010, Mr. Cooper has spearheaded the effort to eliminate bullying in parks and on playgrounds and has worked hard to promote public safety, protect the environment and make sure City Hall listens when residents speak.
He voted to reduce the City Council's own medical benefits, eliminating the decades-old policy of providing lifetime benefits to Council members. He joined his colleagues in renegotiating contracts with all city unions to reduce benefits and pensions – a move that saved our city millions of dollars at a time when every penny counts.
Mr. Cooper said he believes that the city should make public safety a top priority and joined the city in unveiling California’s first Smart911 system – a technology that allows residents to give authorities a “safety profile” that will be displayed to 9-1-1 operators during an emergency. He has been a champion for the environment, pushing the city to continue its commitment to compressed natural gas for Culver City’s transportation fleet, to redesign its fleet utilization and replacement program and earn the ranking as the No. 1 municipal transportation fleet in the country.
Mr. Maleman may be contacted at gmaleman@aol.com
