Tommy Hough – Your Neighbor, Your Advocate
As a former on-air host at San Diego radio stations like 91X, KPRI and FM 94/9, I'm not your average candidate for office. My wife and I work for a living, and we earn our paychecks the same as you.
I'm taking a break from my broadcast career to run for San Diego City Council because I'm tired of our District 6 neighborhoods bearing the brunt of being the economic center of the city without receiving a comparable volume of city services in return – because we don't have a councilmember fighting on the ground for our interests.
I'm running because I'm amazed our current councilmember sold out his own neighbors and committed a crime – yet is still sitting on council, writing policy and voting on policy that affects the entire city.
I'm running because I'm fed up with city hall's failure to directly address the problems we know need to be solved, like housing, homelessness, pollution of our air and water, implementing our climate action plan, adding fire stations, retaining our trained police professionals for better public safety, and stopping the spread of short-term vacation rentals, even though we know what the solutions are. And I'm especially tired of the excuses for our broken streets and sidewalks, and the lack off action to rebuild streets we know can't be fixed with a layer of asphalt.
I'm taking a break from my broadcast career to run for San Diego City Council because I'm tired of our District 6 neighborhoods bearing the brunt of being the economic center of the city without receiving a comparable volume of city services in return – because we don't have a councilmember fighting on the ground for our interests.
I'm running because I'm amazed our current councilmember sold out his own neighbors and committed a crime – yet is still sitting on council, writing policy and voting on policy that affects the entire city.
I'm running because I'm fed up with city hall's failure to directly address the problems we know need to be solved, like housing, homelessness, pollution of our air and water, implementing our climate action plan, adding fire stations, retaining our trained police professionals for better public safety, and stopping the spread of short-term vacation rentals, even though we know what the solutions are. And I'm especially tired of the excuses for our broken streets and sidewalks, and the lack off action to rebuild streets we know can't be fixed with a layer of asphalt.
My name is Tommy Hough. I'm not a creature of city hall. I'm not a product of wealthy or powerful elites. I'm not a rubber stamp for developers, and I will never betray the business of the people of San Diego to Downtown developers or moneyed special interests.
I'm committed to our District 6 communities of Clairemont, Mira Mesa, Kearny Mesa, Sorrento Valley, Miramar and Rancho Peñasquitos, and I'm committed to working San Diegans.
Join us in our effort to upgrade our leadership, and vote for a new councilmember free of ethical lapses and determined to make city hall work for all San Diegans.
I'm committed to our District 6 communities of Clairemont, Mira Mesa, Kearny Mesa, Sorrento Valley, Miramar and Rancho Peñasquitos, and I'm committed to working San Diegans.
Join us in our effort to upgrade our leadership, and vote for a new councilmember free of ethical lapses and determined to make city hall work for all San Diegans.
A Unique and Lengthy Relationship with San Diego
I've met so many of you at neighborhood events around our city, and spoken to thousands more of you on the phone and on the air during my 15 years of broadcast service in San Diego. During that time, we've built a community around shared experiences: favorite songs and movies, kids growing up, travel, traffic jams, births and deaths, going from one job to another, working to finish school, joining the serving or retiring from the service, and working to make ends meet.
But what I've heard more than anything over the last 15 years is how the middle class is slipping away for working San Diegans who have to make tough financial decisions not at the end of every month – but every week, and every moment.
"Can we put money away for the college fund?"
"Can we get the car worked on this week?"
"What if I lose my job?"
Despite California's "on-paper" prosperity, the cost of living in Southern California and the financial uncertainty facing middle class San Diegans is very real, and unsustainable. That uncertainty follows us around at work, in the car, while picking up our kids at school or while trying to fall asleep.
But what I've heard more than anything over the last 15 years is how the middle class is slipping away for working San Diegans who have to make tough financial decisions not at the end of every month – but every week, and every moment.
"Can we put money away for the college fund?"
"Can we get the car worked on this week?"
"What if I lose my job?"
Despite California's "on-paper" prosperity, the cost of living in Southern California and the financial uncertainty facing middle class San Diegans is very real, and unsustainable. That uncertainty follows us around at work, in the car, while picking up our kids at school or while trying to fall asleep.
The middle class is much more fragile today than it was even 20 years ago, and is no longer the solid anchor that could be reliably counted on to build and support a family, a home, and a career. Today, too many of our neighbors are going from one end of the city to the other working two or three jobs to make ends meet, while trying to making time for classes and family.
As your councilmember, you will have my ear. I won't lead from the dark or hide in my office, and I won't try to quietly drop potentially controversial projects in your lap in the hope you won't notice. I will lead and stay out in front on issues relating to housing, land use, public safety, parks, open space, and other critical matters so that you hear about it from me, and my office, first. I will ensure the concerns of regular San Diegans are addressed and are a component of every piece of policy passed by council.
I will not hide from you. I've been a public figure for decades. I'm ready to continue serving in your interest at City Hall, so Downtown knows we're here, and that we're not to be ignored.
In addition, I pledge to:
As your councilmember, you will have my ear. I won't lead from the dark or hide in my office, and I won't try to quietly drop potentially controversial projects in your lap in the hope you won't notice. I will lead and stay out in front on issues relating to housing, land use, public safety, parks, open space, and other critical matters so that you hear about it from me, and my office, first. I will ensure the concerns of regular San Diegans are addressed and are a component of every piece of policy passed by council.
I will not hide from you. I've been a public figure for decades. I'm ready to continue serving in your interest at City Hall, so Downtown knows we're here, and that we're not to be ignored.
In addition, I pledge to:
- End to the backroom deals to corporations that land squarely on the backs of working San Diegans.
- Begin the process of developing citywide internet so all San Diegans can get on-line, anywhere the city.
- Break the cycle of loser leases and cronyism that leave San Diego taxpayers coming up short – like when Chris Cate offered Qualcomm Stadium to the Chargers for a dollar a year.
- Find and implement long-term, effective and compassionate solutions to our homeless crisis.
- Rebuild our district's broken streets from the ground up, not slurry-seal them over or fill problem potholes over and over hoping for a different result.
- Fully address our housing crisis by encouraging smart density development in conjunction with transit and parking infrastructure.
- Ensure all San Diegans have a choice in their energy provider with community choice.
- Add more fire stations to a city that is still dangerously short of them.
- Enhance our community parks and opoen space, and work to restore our canyons and watersheds to full ecological health.
Support Our Campaign – Contribute or Volunteer
I've had such a great time re-connecting with neighbors and old friends, and making new friends during our campaign in our District 6 communities. I hope you'll consider investing in and volunteering with our campaign for the ethics of good government, a cleaner environment, a more prosperous future for working San Diegans, and effective representation at City Hall.
I'm ready to fight the Downtown establishment and city hall business-as-usual to serve as your next District 6 councilmember, but I can't do it alone. By supporting our fundraising efforts, you make the possiblity of a change at City Hall and a veto-proof majority on city council possible. Make a secure on-line contribution today to help.
If you'd like to volunteer for our campaign, now is the time. Let us know here. My name is Tommy Hough (it's pronounced "how"). Neighborhoods first.
I'm ready to fight the Downtown establishment and city hall business-as-usual to serve as your next District 6 councilmember, but I can't do it alone. By supporting our fundraising efforts, you make the possiblity of a change at City Hall and a veto-proof majority on city council possible. Make a secure on-line contribution today to help.
If you'd like to volunteer for our campaign, now is the time. Let us know here. My name is Tommy Hough (it's pronounced "how"). Neighborhoods first.
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