Jerry Rindone has served the city of Chula Vista in many capacities.
He was a councilman for 16 years, which is the most anyone has served in the city’s history.
For 10 years Rindone was also the principal at Hilltop High School.
The former president of the Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce has also sat on numerous boards and committees in the South Bay and Chula Vista.
Come Nov. 4, Rindone hopes to add 40th mayor of Chula Vista to his lengthy resumé.
Rindone, 68, said the time is right for him to run for mayor because Chula Vista’s economy is in much better shape than in years past.
If elected mayor, Rindone said his goals at City Hall includes developing long-awaited city projects.
“Now that the economy is a little better, I want to get the bayfront done, I want to assist the Millennia Village moving forward and I want to also establish a new four-year institution of higher learning,” he said.
“That’s three major accomplishments to get done.”
Rindone puts completing the bayfront at the top of his wish list because of the potential financial benefits it can bring to Chula Vista.
Rindone said the bayfront would be a tourist attraction and that it would also increase business opportunities for Chula Vista.
Rindone adds that residents living west of the bayfront would see an increase in property values, which is good for those citizens, he said.
More importantly, Rindone said, the bayfront needs to be constructed so that citizens can have access to the 535-acre bayfront.
Regarding medicinal marijuana Rindone said citizens should have the right to use marijuana for medical purposes.
“But I don’t support the opening of dispensaries in Chula Vista,” he said. “There’s a conflict with the federal government. They haven’t worked even in Colorado. I think those issues need to get resolved on the federal level.
Rindone said he doesn’t have an issue with same-sex marriage.
“I think anybody who finds a person who they love and want to be with should have that opportunity (to get married),” he said.
On a local level, Rindone said he likes the way Chula Vista’s term limits process is established. Rindone said if voters don’t feel that an elected official is doing a good job then they should not be elected.
“If you’re not responsible and you’re not getting the job done, the voters will make a difference,” he said.
“But to restrict the potential of the most experienced people to be available, let the voters decide.”
Rindone believes he has the experience necessary to move Chula Vista forward.
“Every position that I’ve had, I made a significant difference not just held the position,” he said.
As a councilman, Rindone said one of his accomplishments is negotiating the sewer rates. He said he devised a contract that guaranteed the city had the lowest waste hauling rates in the county.
He also said he led the planning of Eastlake, Rancho del Rey and Otay Ranch Town Center.
As a school principal, Rindone said his successes include Hilltop High becoming a decathlon champion, being named a California distinguished high school and instituting the first robotics program in the Sweetwater Union High School District.
He said voters should vote for the best candidate no matter who it is.
“Gender is not the issue, the ethnicity is not the issue,” he said. “It’s the skills and ability to take a non-partisan approach and to work with people and make them partners and allow everybody to have success.
Rindone said his ability to work with different agencies and commissions is an advantage in the mayoral race.
“One of the differences between myself and my opponent is that I build relationships, build partnerships and I get things done,” he said.
