As I reflect on the past year, I have so much to be grateful for. At this Thanksgiving, I want to express my deep gratitude to the voters of District 3 for their support and confidence. You have given me a chance to serve again and I will work hard each day to be worthy of it.
For those of you who have known me, you know that I came to Chula Vista as a young boy in the wake of tragedy.
My parents were high school sweethearts in the 1960’s at Sweetwater High School, my father’s parents having settled in San Diego from Mexico after the second world war and my mother’s grandparents having immigrated to Boston from the Azores at the turn of the 20th century.
My father enlisted in the Marine Corps at the height of the Vietnam war which is where he served during the first year of my life. One night in October, 1971 our lives changed forever with the death of my father in an automobile accident leaving my young mother widowed with three small children. She bought a home in Chula Vista near Southwestern College in 1972, an area my grandmother protested was the “boon docks” because this was a time when only the college, a middle and high school, and our small neighborhood were the only developments east of Hilltop Drive. There was no I-805, East “H” Street, Eastlake or Otay Ranch. Indeed, most of the district I have been given the honor of representing did not exist.
My siblings and I were blessed when my mother remarried to an amazing man who raised us as his own. Soon there was a baby sister and we were a complete family again. We were lucky to have a place to put down roots and learn the lessons of life. Our mother is gone now but we will gather again this Thanksgiving as we always do, in that old house where we grew up with Dad and one another.
It has been a great honor to have been elected to public office and serve our community in many capacities. I have been lucky to work with and learn from many talented and dedicated individuals who work tirelessly to advance our community into the next century. I have learned much in these past years. Never take yourself too seriously, learn from adversity and don’t be afraid to admit mistakes nor build on successes.
Our politics even at the local level have become a bit poisoned as well with rhetoric and hyperbole not pausing to get acquainted with truth. It is my hope we can all focus again on what we have in common, starting with our hopes and dreams for our city.
Our change to district elections has provided an opportunity to better engage each other at the neighborhood level, increase our awareness of our common challenges and ensure a geographic balance to the City Council. I hope to play a role in enhancing the voices of our neighborhoods in our decision-making process.
I am also very aware that our growing community does not exist in a vacuum. Although many of us appreciate the elements of our city which present a “small town feel” we really are not a small town any longer. We can and should be an important presence in our greater region working to assure that we are what I call a “balanced community.” It is my opinion that we will not achieve our full economic potential unless we find ways to play a unique role in the region’s economy, providing opportunities for employers to invest in our city and provide sustainable, livable jobs to our citizens. We need opportunities to both live and work in Chula Vista, and we should not forget that we are indeed competing in this region for those opportunities as we try to find our place.
Our city has many great strengths, starting with our diversity. Those of us honored with the task of serving can’t do it alone. We need our citizens to be aware and engaged, to participate in our democracy and to add your ideas and critiques. We have a bright future ahead of us if we can stay focused on our dreams and work together.
Padilla is Chula Vista councilman-elect representing District 3.
