Last year, after serving for 10 years on our Village Planning Board / Architectural Review Board, I decided to run for Village Trustee and thus further my commitment and personal contribution to the Village of Ocean Beach. I ran for the unexpired portion of Trustee Wingate's term rather than a full 4 year term because I wanted to make certain that I would be able to effectively serve the needs of the residents, and to confirm that my independent voice, ideas and votes would make a difference. Now, I am truly convinced that I can! I am running for re-election to bring new ideas and significant balance to the Board of Trustees, as an advocate for homeowners.

Although I have tremendous respect for our Mayor, we do not always agree on key issues. I do not find the need to be divisive or grandstand at meetings to get things done. While I have voted with the Mayor at Board meetings, my dialogue with him prior to voting has been and will continue to be critical. During these debates, I effectively negotiated homeowner benefits on many items. For example, I would not vote for our budget unless it provided for employee contributions for benefits on all new hires. In addition, the Mayor agreed to consider my proposal to have existing Village employees make contributions to their benefits.

On another matter, I required conditions to be met to control noise on Bay Walk by keeping food and beverage off the deck after dinner hours, before agreeing to a restaurant's request to extend operating hours. These ideas came from suggestions submitted by residents using the e-mail outreach program I have created to encourage community involvement. I appreciate this open communication and will continue to take your suggestions very seriously.

As the Co-founder of the Golden Wagon Film Festival, I'm proud to have brought new, family-friendly, cultural activities to Ocean Beach. As a 10-year member of the Planning Board / Architectural Review Board, I fought to enhance the aesthetics of the business district. As a Trustee, I have listened to your needs and implemented many of your suggestions. I have worked hard to help negotiate a favorable ferry contract that is both financially advantageous to the Village and responsive to major quality of life issues. I have promoted recommendations of the Environmental Commission, worked on the new ferry terminal project, and helped initiate an Adopt-a-Street project whereby businesses clean their adopted streets on Sunday mornings so that our residents wake up to a clean environment. That is what I am about, progress through cooperation, and community involvement.

On Friday, June 3rd, I seek your vote for a full four-year term as Village Trustee so that I may build upon that constructive momentum. I seek to fulfill your interests for a less crowded, cleaner, quieter Village, and to work with the Village Board to find new ways to save taxpayers' money while providing much needed services, repairs, improvements, and betterments. We have a lot of work ahead in this great Village of Ocean Beach, and I look forward to these challenges and future accomplishments.

Respectfully,

Greg Pace, OB Village Trustee