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Q&A with Steve Colangelo, running for San Joaquin County Supervisors District 4

1
The Record
·2 min read
Steve Colangelo participates in a candidates forum for San Joaquin. County supervisor, District 4, at the South Forum at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton on Sept. 21.
Steve Colangelo participates in a candidates forum for San Joaquin. County supervisor, District 4, at the South Forum at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton on Sept. 21.

Steve Colangelo faces Steve Ding to replace Chuck Winn as the District 4 representative on the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors. Colangelo was unsuccessful in a 2016 bid for the District 2 seat on Stockton City Council and 2014 for Congressional District 4. The county District 4 includes Lodi. Winn is terming out of office.

Who is Steve Colangelo

Age: 62

Party Affiliation: Republican

Occupation: Small business owner

Community experience: Past president of the Stockton San Joaquin Convention and Visitors Bureau, two-time president of the Stockton Asparagus Festival, financial vice president of the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce.

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Below is an edited version of a questionnaire completed by candidates.

Why are you running for office?

I've lived, worked and raised my family in San Joaquin County. The people and community have given me so much and now our county needs tremendous help, and leaders who will deliver for the people

Do you consider yourself politically conservative, moderate or liberal? And why? 

Conservative

Top five issues in this race: 

  • High cost of living

  • The Homelessness Crisis

  • Public Safety Concerns

  • Energy affordability and availability

  • Water Storage and Supply

What is the best way to handle the water issues facing the county?

We need new technology, but we need to be realistic – it doesn’t completely solve the water issues for those farming 100’s of acres. Ag has a share of the responsibility, but they shouldn’t bear the brunt of it. I think that we should work to access 50,000 acre feet available to East Bay MUD and use that water to recharge aquifers.

How can the county go about increasing economic activity that was impacted during COVID-19?

That begins with lowering the cost of living and how the county can help is working to lower costs of rents and mortgages. Housing costs are the biggest in a family budget, and those budgets have less available income today than they did prior to the pandemic. Next we cannot forget our Agricultural economy and preserve not only the farmland, but also the agricultural support industry here in our county.

Can supervisors have any real impact on improving homelessness? 

It isn't compassionate or humane to not clean up our streets. My plan begins with the proposal of a countywide setback that removes tent camps from close proximity to schools, parks and playgrounds. Then we need to make as available as possible mental health and substance abuse treatment for those who want it.

Final Statement 

First and foremost our next County Supervisor and Board of Supervisors needs to take every action to lower the costs on San Joaquin County families. I believe that I am the best positioned to do that - in addition to taking urgently needed action to clean up our homelessness crisis, that is a countywide emergency. The people of this county are its foundation and for the decades I have been blessed to raise my family, make my home and run my business in San Joaquin County and I will appreciate their votes.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Q&A: San Joaquin County Supervisors candidate Steve Colangelo