Letter: It's time to vote for Tamara Wallace

Dear Citizens of South Lake Tahoe,
“If you do what you’ve always done you will get what you’ve always got,” that is why the theme of my campaign for City Council has been “It’s Time.” It’s time to do things differently. The evidence....hundreds of potholes jarring us every day. The evidence....a closed down fire station and reduction of crews that decreased safety and raised and/or eliminated property insurance while other City departments and pet projects got increased funding. The evidence....currently being short several police officers and having a radio system that, at times, can’t reach the officers. The evidence....having lost our City Attorney, our City Manager, City Clerk, Assistant Clerk and other key employees and having to pay $19,000 a month to an interim City Manager! The evidence....the Council obviously not supporting the voter’s right to vote on the Loop Road. The evidence....the lack of resolution on VHRs, Sno-Globe, affordable housing and recreational cannabis.

The most telling evidence....the obvious enmity between the Council members themselves. This Council, while well-meaning individuals themselves, just seem unable to work well together. In one instance they brought one of their own Council members before them and castigated her in public in a way reminiscent of medieval flogging. Finally, they have accused each other of alleged Brown Act violations, had the District Attorney involved and dragged their feet on citizen requests for information. Our City was originally incorporated to provide police, fire and roads. Somehow, over the last twenty years, despite an $87 million annual budget, that hasn’t been done. They aren’t listening to the room full of unhappy citizens that show up at each Council meeting. The only answer I’ve heard from this present Council has been to RAISE YOUR TAXES AGAIN! This town is just begging for creative solutions. “It’s Time.”

Why vote for me? First, I have a servant’s heart. I don’t see a Council as ruling over you, but rather serving you and solving community issues together with you. I’m a 20-year resident, regular citizen, mother of five who’s life experiences and interests have prepared me to work on your behalf. We have adopted one child and have foster parented. We currently rent our home, so we understand the affordable housing problem well. I was the Executive Vice-President of Economic Development for the Tulare Chamber of Commerce and am the Executive Director of the California Tahoe Chamber. I was nominated three times for Business Woman of the Year. I was part of a group of five women who raised funds to build a battered women’s shelter. I was President Elect of the Tulare Sunrise Rotary prior to marrying my husband Duane and moving here 20 years ago. Once here, I joined Kiwanis and am a Past-President of the Lake Tahoe Kiwanis Club. I have been a part of too many sports, music and church youth groups and teams to mention. I know numbers. I’ve been the Controller/Business Manager for a large vacation resort and my husband and I managed a group of six lodging properties. I’m a business major at LTCC and Sierra Nevada College and am a graduate of the Institute for Organization Management, UCLA. I’ve done my homework by serving on the City Planning Commission and attending every single City Council meeting for the past two years as well as attending scores of community meetings. I already know the City budget. I’VE LISTENED TO YOU. How do I know I will be able to disagree without being disagreeable? Last year I was part of a local day of understanding that we called Talking Across Political Differences. We spent the evening with those of our opposite political parties listening and understanding each other. I came away really caring about my new friends. I believe they did too. That should be done with our Council. I can and will work with whomever else you elect. I was endorsed by four of the five public endorsements, including the Mountain News and the Tahoe Daily Tribune. I’m proud that the other two endorsements were from groups on opposite sides of many issues nationally and locally, Progress for Tahoe and the South Lake Tahoe Republican Women. I have proven that I can and will work with everyone to make this community better for its citizens.

It makes sense to make big changes this election for a fresh start, but even one person can make a difference and I intend to be that person on your behalf. I will honor your vote with hard work.

Sincerely,
Tamara Wallace