Letter: Why I am running for City Council in District 1
Kris Beal.
– My name is Kris Beal, and I am running for City Council in District 1.
At one of my first meet-and-greet events, one neighbor asked, “Why’s a nice girl like you running for city council?” We both laughed.
I did not enter this race lightly or to fulfill personal ambition. When the seat opened up after Mayor Martin’s passing, I considered applying for the appointment to be selected by the council. I sought advice from trusted friends and community leaders. I researched and learned about the city demographics and items before the council. The more I reflected, the more I realized that my skills, experience, and community connections would be an asset to the council.
After not being appointed and further research and reflection, I decided to run and let the voters of District 1 decide. My conviction has only strengthened after knocking on a lot of doors in every neighborhood in the district.
I know my path is not typical, but it is exactly for this reason that I am the best candidate at this moment. My value to the council lies in the fact that I am different and will bring a different perspective and a new voice to our city’s business.
I was the Executive Director for the Vineyard Team, a non-profit dedicated to sustainable farming practices. I have 23 years experience in government relations, managing budgets, programs, and stakeholder processes. I served on the Paso Groundwater Basin Committee and worked on the County Master Water Plan. I have served our Latino community through education, outreach, and scholarships. My executive leadership is strongly aligned with the needs and interests of our city.
I have a long history of community service: participating in community and school-related committee meetings, conducting wellness programs at substance abuse treatment facilities, serving food or cleaning up tables and chairs at community events or fundraisers, donating photography to non-profit and community events, organizing civics education meetings, and more.
Volunteerism matters. My long-term service to our community shows that my care is matched with actions. It also demonstrates my connections to different segments of our community. It’s one thing to live here, but it’s another thing to have a history of service.
My endorsements are unique, broad, and pertinent to my qualifications: friends who have known me for 50 years, parents who have seen me advocate for children and schools, former colleagues who have known my work here in the community. These people know my work ethic, my values, and my strengths.
Local government matters. It affects our lives on a daily basis. This election, District 1 voters have a choice with a clear contrast between the candidates.
The above spells out my qualifications and readiness to serve in a new way, in addition to the contrast with my opponents.
As for the original question: Why’s a nice girl like you running for city council?
At my core, I believe that we deserve a choice in who represents us. Historically, many of the council contests go unopposed. I also see a large segment of our city lacks intentional representation even though 60% of our residents are younger than 50. Our working families and young people deserve a voice on the council, and balancing the perspectives on the council will benefit our town in the long run. I want the town we are passing off to our children and grandchildren to offer the same opportunities I had to create a better life in the town I love.
And I’m not alone with these values. That’s why I’m running for city council.
Ballots are arriving, feel free to reach out to me at krisbealforcitycouncil@gmail.com
I respectfully ask for your vote.
Kris Beal, M.S.
About Kris Beal
With deep roots in Paso Robles since 1976, Kris Beal is highly respected for bringing diverse groups of people together to solve problems, and building collaborative partnerships amongst community members, businesses, and government entities. A graduate of Paso Robles public schools as well as Cal Poly SLO, she taught at Cal Poly prior to leading a local non-profit for more than two decades. She is now ready to serve the people of Paso Robles in a new way by becoming a new voice on the City Council; a bridge that recognizes Paso’s rich history while preparing a healthy community for future generations.
For more information on Kris Beal’s candidacy for the District 1 seat on the Paso Robles City Council, visit www.krisbealforcitycouncil.com. District 1 includes portions of Downtown and Uptown, as well as the areas of River Oaks, Union Road, and the Airport.
Editor’s note: Opinion pieces and letters to the editor are the personal opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Paso Robles Daily News or its staff. We welcome letters from local residents regarding relevant local topics. To submit one, click here.
