Vernon Simmons, R-Healdsburg, Candidate for Healdsburg City Council

General Information

Name : Mr. Vernon Pitkin Simmons
Also known as : Vern
Age : 72
Place of residence : 335 Burgundy Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448

Education

College

Attended college : Yes
College : Oregon State University
Degree : B.S.
Year of graduation : 1961

Grad school

University : University of California, San Diego Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Degree : Master of Science
Year of graduation : 1967

Ph D.

University : University of California San Diego, Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Area of research : Low Frequency Sound Absorption in Sea Water
Year of graduation : 1975

Military service

Has served in the military: Yes
Rank : Commander, United States Navy 20 years
Date when discharged from duty : 12 August 1980

Employment Information

Job titles held : Oceanography and Acoustic Research
Employers : Stanford Research Institute (SRI), Office of Naval Research (ONR), DARPA

Political Information

Party affiliation : Republican
Running for a: Local office
Running for position: City Council Healdsburg
Chamber/district: Healdsburg
Incumbent: No
Previous elective offices : NA
Unsuccessful bids for elective offices: NA

Party HQ

Address 335 Burgundy Road
Healdsburg
California
95448

Campaign Manager

Name : None

URLs

Other facts

I have lived in Healdsburg for the last ten years. I served four years on the planning commission and participated in a number of community events. I am a fiscal conservative.

The current deficit spending of the council can not be accepted and must be controlled. City salaries are well in excess of comparable positions in industry. The retirement benefits are well in excess of what is reasonable and what is accepted in industry.

The "defined benefit program" must be replaced with a program that limits the long term liability and unfunded liabilities of the city. At current time the pension unfunded liability for Healdsburg is on the order of $26 million dollars. We must seek effective alternatives such as contracting out select function and closely reviewing the requirements for each employee.

These are difficult times and difficult solutions are called for. Failure to act will surely bankrupt the city and force even more difficult options in the future. Together we can fix this problem but time is short and the options are running out.