Just some information about our Alumnus Keith Curry who is running for the California Assembly. Keith Curry was appointed to the Newport Beach City Council in 2006 and subsequently elected in 2006, 2008, and 2012. He served as mayor in 2010 and 2013. In 2010 in his first act as mayor, he introduced the Fiscal Sustainability Plan, a collection of 15 policies to guide the city during the recession. As a result of the plan, Newport Beach generated a surplus every year during the recession, including a $12.7 million surplus in 2013. City reserves grew to $130 million, the highest level in the city’s history. The city reduced its workforce by nearly 100 positions and contracted out several public services at substantial cost savings. The Assessed Valuation of the city rose every year during the recession, including a 5.3% increase in 2013, the largest in Orange County. During this time, the city made significant efforts to reduce its pension burden by closing off legacy systems and introducing a second and third tier pension program. Employee contributions to pensions were introduced at levels that exceed state guidelines. The Orange County Taxpayers Association recognized Newport Beach with an award for its pension reform leadership. Keith was instrumental in expanding the public facilities in Newport Beach and was a leader in the development of the OASIS Senior Center, Newport Coast Community Center, Santa Ana Heights Fire Station and the new Civic Center and library expansion. As mayor, he instituted the Citizens Satisfaction Survey, Citizens Technology Task Force and the my NB mobile app for citizen feedback. He also led on significant government reform initiatives including two significant City Charter updates, repeal of outdated laws and fees, new protections against eminent domain abuse and red light cameras and the update of the city General Plan. The reorganization of the development services functions was recognized by the Orange County Business Council with its “Turning Red Tape into Red Carpet” award. As a member and past President of the Orange County Parks Commission, Keith oversaw the donation of 20,000 acres of public open space, creating one of the largest urban open space areas in the nation. On the city council he has been instrumental in the creation of Coastal Peak Park, Newport Center Park, Mesa -Birch Park and the currently underway Marina Park and Sunset Ridge Park. He is a member of the private Foundation for the Great Park in Irvine. A strong supporter of the arts, he introduced a measure to dedicate a portion of existing development fees to arts and was the head of private fundraising efforts to create a memorial to the Marines of the 1/1 Division, the division adopted by the City of Newport Beach, in Castaways Park and a Centennial Memorial to President Ronald Reagan in Bonita Canyon Park. He is a member of the Laguna Beach Festival of Arts. A Director and member of the steering committee of the Orange County Sanitation District, Keith is a strong advocate for odor control and environmental technology investments. Keith was selected by his elected official colleagues to be President of the Orange County Division of the League of California Cities and President of the Association of California Cities Orange County (ACCOC), where he chairs the government innovation committee. In 2013 he received the Collaborative Policymaker Award from the ACCOC. In 2011, Keith was named Director of the Concordia University Irvine, Center for Public Policy and Visiting Professor. The Center organizes programs on government reform and contemporary issues and Keith teaches public policy and government leadership in the Concordia Business School MBA program. In 2011, Keith retired from a 24 year career as a Managing Director/owner of Public Financial Management, a firm he helped build into the nation’s largest public finance consulting organization. He advised on school, highway, rail and public facility projects throughout the nation, including two projects awarded “Deal of the Year.” From 2004-2006 he served as President of the National Association of Independent Public Finance Advisors and testified before Congress on issues of financial reform and public agency protections. From 1982-1987 Keith served in the administration of President Ronald Reagan as Special Assistant to the Federal Transit Administrator and head of the agency’s private sector initiatives efforts in the Western States. Prior to that, Keith was a Deputy to Los Angeles County Supervisor Pete Schabarum and in 1979; he worked with Paul Gann to qualify the “Spirit of 13” government spending limitation amendment for the ballot (later Proposition 4, which passed in November, 1979.) Keith grew up in Long Beach, attending Millikan High School and California State University Long Beach where he received a Master’s Degree in Public Administration, BA in Political Science and Certificate in Urban Studies. He has also completed executive programs in Driving Government Performance and Negotiation form the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Keith lives in Newport Beach with his wife of more than 30 years Pamela. Their daughter, Julia Capitelli is a graduate of Corona del Mar High School, Concordia University, and USC graduate school. They are members of Mariners Church in Irvine. Basic Info Launched December 2013 Currently Running For Office: State Assembly State: California District: 74
Posted on: Sat, 29 Mar 2014 02:20:40 +0000
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