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. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.
MORE: Read all the candidate responses in our Voter Guide
Name: Jennifer Engle
Current job title: Construction Project Manager
Political party affiliation: Non-Partisan
Incumbent: No
Other political positions held: None
City where you reside: Aliso Viejo
Campaign website or social media: jengle4office.com
How can the city best meet the demand and mandates for more housing, including at lower prices, while also preserving the quality of life for existing neighborhoods and residents? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
Put simply, by building more housing. Now, there are things we can do to ensure developments add to our city rather than detract — such as landscape, parking, sustainability and infrastructure requirements — but at the end of the day, we have to build more.
California is working toward achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2045. Where does climate change fall in your list of priorities? How, if at all, would you address this as a councilmember? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
It is not my primary focus right now, but I would generally support measures that have climate-friendly effects. Encouraging bike and public transit use, for instance, or promoting more electric vehicle infrastructure. Having a Climate Action Plan would be an excellent start.
How should the city balance paying off debts, such as pension liabilities, and building reserves all while meeting residents’ needs? Should a solution involve finding new revenue, trimming the budget, or something else entirely? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
When it comes to managing large budgets, balancing them often requires multiple strategies and solutions. In my mind, we can do that in Aliso by being more aggressive in seeking grants, being more efficient with our city projects and cutting wasteful spending.
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.)
Our years-long habit of running budget deficits. We are slowly depleting our reserves, and if we do not correct that trend, we could put our future selves in some very uncomfortable positions. As stated previously, I plan to seek more grants, spending more efficiently and cutting wasteful spending.
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.)
I have more than a decade of construction management experience, bringing together all kinds of folks with diverse talents and backgrounds to accomplish common goals. If elected, I would be the only councilmember with a STEM background, which I believe is very much needed.
Related Articles
Janet Nguyen, Board of Supervisors District 1 candidate, 2024 election questionnaire
Frances Marquez, Board of Supervisors District 1 candidate, 2024 election questionnaire
Chris Duncan, AD-74 candidate, 2024 election questionnaire
Laurie Davies, AD-74 candidate, 2024 election questionnaire
Cottie Petrie-Norris, AD-73 candidate, 2024 election questionnaire
Leave a Reply