Ahead of the November general election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below.
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Name: Joe DoVinh
Age: 57
Current job title: Garden Grove Council Member
Incumbent: Yes
Other political positions held: Garden Grove Planning Commissioner
City where you reside: Garden Grove
Campaign website or social media: joedovinh.com
How can the city best meet the demand and mandates for more housing, including at lower price points, while also preserving local control and the quality of life for existing neighborhoods and residents? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
Garden Grove must seek funding at all government levels and proactively partner with developers as well as local residents to invest and build affordable housing from community track homes to ADUs.
How should the city balance rising costs, paying off debts, such as pension liabilities, and building reserves, all while meeting residents’ needs? Should a solution involve finding new revenue, economic development, trimming the budget, or something else entirely? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
Garden Grove like many other cities in Orange County is facing budgetary challenges. We must be fiscally conservative and continue to develop tourism-related hotels to generate TOT revenue as well as attract international and institutional investors. Every dollar must be expended for maximum benefit to the residents and all sectors/ departments must defer/delay some compensation/raises in order to protect our dwindling surplus for the good of the whole City.
The public expects transparency from public leaders in spending and governance. How can this be achieved? How can the city do better in this area? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
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Garden Grove has implemented SB707 and allows for optimization of public speaking at all Open Sessions. This openness encourages democratic processes to flourish and citizen activism to impact electeds’ decision-making under a microscope, which clearly holds the Council’s leadership to accountability, transparency and responsibility.
In your opinion, what is the biggest need your city faces, and how would you address it? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
Garden Grove needs to maintain a balanced budget, not tap into our reserves, and implement visionary practices and policies that will ensure our success and prosperity long into the future. This means that our resources have to be watched closely and we have to maintain a high level of service for minimal cost. Wasteful ordinances and resolutions must be limited, and every contract should be open and competitive.
Why would you make a good leader, and how would you represent the diverse communities of your city? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
Garden Grove is home to diverse ethnicities, nationalities that are the pillars of our communities and neighborhoods. Our differences are our strength if we respect and support each other and participate in promoting unique identities as well as shared values. My refugee background is part of my DNA as an immigrant advocate. I work hard to protect our population’s diverse needs and interests.
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