Riverside Council Candidates Discuss Street Repairs, Homelessness, AI And More Ahead Of Election 

Welcome to The Riverside Record’s voter information guide for the November 3 Riverside City Council election where voters in Wards 2 and 4 will cast their ballots to decide who will represent them for the next four years.

The Riverside Record sent questionnaires to the four candidates about several citywide issues to help voters make more informed decisions for themselves, their families and their communities. Don’t know which ward you’re in? You can look that up here.

Use the links below to jump to specific topics

The Candidates

Before diving into the issues, get to know the candidates a little better and see why they think voters should support them. The candidates are placed in the order they appear on the city’s official candidate list.

The following statements have been lightly edited for clarity.

Ward 2

Aram Ayra

Occupation: Educator/city commissioner

I bring over a decade of living in Ward 2 and serving Riverside through neighborhood advocacy and public service. I know this community, because I have spent years working alongside residents to address problems and get things done.

Without holding elected office, I have helped get city resolutions passed, launched a community grant program and secured federal funding to support neighborhood projects, including 26 free community pantries across Riverside. As president of the Riverside Neighborhood Partnership, I worked alongside neighbors to stand up to mega-warehouse projects and pushed for improved features to the city’s 311 app, including bilingual access. I know how to get things done for our neighborhoods, because I’ve already been doing the work.

I am also the only candidate with experience providing oversight for our city budget and making budget recommendations to the [Riverside City] Council. On the Budget Engagement Commission, I voted against budget cuts to road repairs and quality-of-life programs. I understand how budget decisions affect residents, especially when they are asked to pay more in taxes while losing services they rely on.

My campaign has accepted $0 from corporate PACs, warehouse developers or AI data center companies. That independence allows me to take clear positions based on what I believe is best for Riverside, including opposing the Measure Z sales tax increase on residents.

Residents should vote for me because I am unbought and bring a record of getting things done, a deep understanding of our neighborhoods and the experience to put their priorities into action from day one.

Gracie Torres

Occupation: Board member for the Western Municipal Water District

[Residents should vote for me because I have] experience and a record of getting things done. 

I will be ready to lead on day one, and my opponent will not. For eight years on the Western Municipal Water District Board, I have made decisions that affect people’s everyday lives. I secured millions of dollars in state and federal grants to upgrade infrastructure and opposed water rate increases, even when my colleagues wouldn’t. 

Over those years I have built a coalition Riverside hasn’t seen before: public safety, labor, the business community and our Riverside city teachers, who have weighed in on a [Riverside City] Council race for the first time ever. They support me because of my ironclad track record of getting things done for our community. With the support of [Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson] and a majority of the council, I will be able to deliver for Riversiders. 

Unlike my opponent, I don’t change my values when a group decides not to support me. A broad coalition reflects trust earned over years of work, and calling it “bought” only misleads voters. I also live the same reality as everyday Riversiders. I work 10-hour days as a Water Compliance Chemist at the Riverside County Flood Control District, I am raising my three children, and I represent you on the water board. My opponent quit his job to run this campaign, a luxury neither I nor most Riversiders can afford.

I am running for working families, firefighters, educators, laborers, moms and every Riversider: more opportunity for our children, a more affordable life and a city you can rely on. 

Ward 4

Chuck Conder

Occupation: Ward 4 councilmember

My years of experience and leadership are unmatched in the election.

My career in the military taught me leadership skills and a work ethic that I’ve proven for many years in Riverside. My experience and positions on county boards and commissions has given me the opportunity to make very important relationships with our federal government representatives in Washington. 

I know the true facts where my opponent doesn’t. I have the connections that he does not and I have the leadership skills that he lacks. A good leader works behind the scenes for the betterment of his people and does not look for front page exposure. 

I’m very proud of the work I have done throughout the city both as a council assistant and as the Ward 4 councilmember and I hope that I have earned the trust and confidence of our residents to continue serving you.  

Rich Vandenberg

Occupation: Finance professional

What I bring is a different kind of leadership — one rooted in listening first, being accessible and representing residents rather than telling them what is best for them.

I was born and raised in Riverside. I built my business here, raised my family here and have spent years serving this community on boards, commissions and neighborhood organizations. Through the Budget Engagement Commission and [Measure O] Citizens Bond Oversight Committee, I’ve had firsthand experience reviewing how taxpayer dollars are spent and asking whether residents are getting the results they were promised.

But the most valuable experience I’ve gained during this campaign has come directly from residents. I’ve knocked on approximately 15,000 doors and had thousands of conversations throughout Ward 4. Those conversations have shaped my priorities: protecting neighborhoods from incompatible warehouse development, repairing our streets and infrastructure, improving public safety, addressing homelessness with both compassion and accountability, and demanding greater transparency and fiscal responsibility from [Riverside] City Hall.

I don’t believe elected officials need to have all the answers. They need to listen, ask good questions, surround themselves with knowledgeable people, and have the courage to change course when the facts demand it.

I’m running because I love Riverside and believe Ward 4 deserves leadership that listens, follows through and puts residents first.

The Issues

The following statements have been lightly edited for clarity.

Infrastructure

Do you have a plan for maintaining the infrastructure in your ward, such as streets, sidewalks and other city-owned facilities? 

Ward 2

Aram Ayra

Road repairs, potholes and upkeep of city infrastructure are the top priorities residents bring up at community forums and when I’m out knocking on doors in our neighborhoods. On the city’s Budget [Engagement] Commission, I voted against budget cuts to road repairs and parks and rec funding. Deferred maintenance always ends up costing the city more in the long-run.

I would prioritize repairs along high-need corridors like Blaine Street, Alessandro [Boulevard] and others, advocating for full curb-to-curb resurfacing where appropriate and [as] funding allows. We should be focused on lasting repairs over repeated patching that washes out [with] the first major storm.

I would like to make the 311 city services app easier to use, with an updated user interface, clear tracking of service requests and timelines on follow-up. Requests should not be marked “closed” without an explanation of what was done. My office would help residents follow up on unresolved issues and use those reports to identify recurring problems that need more immediate attention from city staff.

To address the seemingly constant lack of budget for road repairs, I support the passage of [a] warehouse tax, so warehouse operators contribute their fair share towards repairing the damage that heavy truck traffic causes to our surface streets. A portion of that funding should also support stronger enforcement of designated truck routes to keep trucks from cutting through our neighborhoods to avoid traffic on the 215 freeway. Residents should not be left paying for that damage while the traffic causing it goes unchecked.

Gracie Torres

Getting back to basics will be one of my top priorities: paved streets, working streetlights, trash picked up on time and street sweepers that don’t skip a neighborhood. 

My career as a public works professional and eight years on the Western Municipal Water District board have taught me to make data-driven decisions and invest in infrastructure now so taxpayers save later. When a pothole pops your tire, you pay twice: once in the taxes meant to fix that street and again for the tire. 

Ward 2 families deserve reliable services and safer, cleaner, sturdier streets that ease traffic and let them drive with peace of mind.  

Ward 4

Chuck Conder:

We meet annually with our Riverside Public Works Department team to identify where we can best spend the taxpayers money fixing our streets, sidewalks, trimming trees and ensuring the safety of pedestrians and drivers throughout the ward.

Rich Vandenberg:

Maintaining our streets, sidewalks, parks and other public infrastructure is one of the most basic responsibilities of city government, and it will be a priority for me in Ward 4.

After knocking on thousands of doors throughout the ward, the condition of our streets is one of the concerns I hear most often. Residents are frustrated when they pay their taxes year after year but continue driving the same deteriorating roads or waiting for basic repairs.

Riverside already has a Pavement Management Program and dedicated funding for street rehabilitation. The challenge is making sure those dollars are being prioritized effectively and that we are not allowing deferred maintenance to become more expensive problems later. My experience on the Budget Engagement Commission has taught me that budgeting is about priorities. I will push to make street and infrastructure maintenance a consistent priority rather than something we address only after conditions become unacceptable.

I also want greater transparency for residents. People should be able to understand how streets are prioritized, when projects are scheduled, and why some repairs come before others.

My approach is straightforward: identify the greatest needs, prioritize safety and deteriorating infrastructure, invest consistently in [preventive] maintenance, and hold the city accountable for following through. Ward 4 residents deserve safe streets, maintained sidewalks and public facilities that reflect the investment they make in their city.

Homelessness

Do you believe the current city council has effectively handled the issue of homelessness, and is there anything you would do differently to tackle this issue if elected? 

Ward 2

Aram Ayra

I think the [Riverside City] Council has taken some steps, but there is still considerable room for improvement on how we respond to homelessness. Rejecting the Quality Inn project, which would have provided permanent supportive housing for nearly 100 people experiencing homelessness, was a major missed opportunity. 

I supported that project because it would have helped people get off the streets and into housing with services to help them stay there. We need to be willing to move forward with these opportunities if we expect conditions to improve.

I also believe the city needs to do more to hold other cities and counties legally accountable for dropping off unhoused people in Riverside without coordinating care or support. This puts pressure on our limited resources and can leave people further away from family and familiar support systems. 

I would push for the City Attorney’s Office to investigate these incidents and pursue available legal remedies, including recovering costs where warranted. Requiring advance notice alone does not address the underlying problem.

We also need stronger coordination with our county and federal partners to secure funding, treatment facilities and mental health and substance use services. Getting someone into housing is important, but people with more complex needs also require access to ongoing care.

As a councilmember, I would press for a clear accounting of our homelessness spending and results, including how many people enter housing, remain housed and receive treatment. Residents deserve to know whether our investments are helping people and improving conditions in our neighborhoods.

Gracie Torres

The Council has made progress, but there is still a long way to go. 

Last year, Mayor [Patricia Lock Dawson] announced that childhood homelessness in Riverside had reached functional zero, and our city hosts the region’s only annual homelessness forum. To build on that, I would get our finances in order and reform our outreach strategy. 

On day one, I would call for a citywide performance and financial audit of homelessness spending, including the [Department of Housing and Human Services]. Then I would ask one question: are these programs getting results? Programs that work deserve stronger investment. Programs that fall short should be fixed or have their funding redirected.

I would also hold the [Public Safety and Engagement Team’s] outreach to a higher standard for data collection, because those interactions should guide the city’s daily approach.  

Ward 4

Chuck Conder

In 2019, I created the Inland Empire Homeless Forum, bringing together 21 cities along with the County of Riverside and the County of San Bernardino to discuss the regional ways we can address homelessness. 

Several years of the COVID-19 shut down increased some of the homeless issues and we restarted the forum in 2024. Our next gathering is on November 16, 2026 and we expect over 25 cities to join in the discussion along with several others requesting from San Bernardino County as we share borders and the homeless issue. 

Our [Public Safety and Engagement Team] and [Parks and Neighborhood Specialists] teams were formed as a result of the 2019 forum and we will continue to work regionally to address the homeless issues across the county.

Rich Vandenberg

I don’t believe the current approach has been effective enough. Riverside has invested significant resources and developed programs that are helping people, but homelessness remains one of the concerns I hear most often from residents.

I also don’t believe homelessness has one cause or one solution. We have people struggling with mental illness and addiction, but we also have seniors on fixed incomes, families who have fallen on hard times, veterans and young people transitioning out of foster care. Treating all of those situations the same will not produce the results we need.

My approach would combine prevention, housing, treatment, accountability and enforcement. We should intervene before someone loses their housing whenever possible because preventing homelessness is both more humane and more cost-effective than trying to rebuild someone’s life after they are living on the street. For those struggling with mental illness or addiction, we need stronger connections to treatment and supportive services. Permanent supportive housing also has a role for people who need it.

At the same time, compassion and accountability are not mutually exclusive. We should measure outcomes, require accountability from organizations receiving taxpayer dollars, enforce our laws, and continually evaluate whether programs are actually moving people toward stability and self-sufficiency.

Homelessness is too complex for slogans or a single solution. We need different tools for different circumstances, with measurable results and accountability for every public dollar.

Affordable Housing

City data shows Riverside has permitted about 40% of its required market-rate housing units as required by the state, but has lagged behind in permitting units for lower-income brackets. According to CalMatters, fewer than 6% of jurisdictions are on track to hit that target. 

In your opinion, how much responsibility does the city have in tackling affordable housing? And what policies, if any, would you want to introduce to address housing? 

Ward 2

Aram Ayra

The city has a significant responsibility to make affordable housing possible. We control land use, permitting and local funding decisions, which affect what gets built and who can afford to live here. I want people who work in Riverside to be able to stay, raise a family and build a future.

I would prioritize putting our [Local] Affordable Housing Trust Fund to better use, with consistent funding to offset construction costs for housing affordable to lower-income residents. I also want to explore ways for large institutional investors and private equity firms that own housing in Riverside to contribute to that effort.

We should update the University Avenue Specific Plan and make better use of vacant and underused commercial properties along the corridor. We need to create opportunities for affordable housing near transit, jobs and services, while involving surrounding neighborhoods early in the planning process. Projects that meet city standards should have a timely approval process so delays don’t add to their costs. We also need to ensure roads, utilities and public services keep pace with new housing.

We also need more options for people at different stages of life. I support more opportunities to build condos and townhomes that offer a realistic path to homeownership.

Protecting Riverside’s “Prohousing Designation” would be a priority to help us compete for available state funding. I would also pursue county and federal resources to support affordable housing and the infrastructure needed to serve it.

Gracie Torres

Riverside is losing local control over housing to “one-size-fits-all” state mandates, and we need to say so. 

We should be able to address housing in the way that works for Riverside, not Los Angeles or San Francisco. With a one-bedroom apartment renting for $2,500 to $3,000 a month, the cost of living here is far too high for the working families our city needs. 

To build more affordable housing, the city has to become a faster, more efficient partner that builders can trust: streamline permitting, lower costs for builders, keep safety a priority, eliminate needless requirements and make sure project plans don’t sit on a shelf at [Riverside] City Hall. Small businesses need the same fix. 

I support Councilmember [Sean] Mill and [Philip] Falcone’s efforts to bring inclusionary housing policies to new development. I would also make sure new development is built by our labor partners, which means responsible contractors, projects finished on time and under budget and Riverside built by Riversiders. 

Finally, the community should have the first say on the location, size and feasibility of any project in Ward 2, so new development doesn’t overwhelm existing neighborhoods, and traffic and parking concerns are addressed before we break ground. 

Ward 4

Chuck Conder

The Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) requirements are actually only suggestions that can be made to the city.  

The state cannot order a property owner on what they can build on their property. We have an economy where the market sets the rates for housing as well as all other products in our economy. The two most important ways we can help in providing low-income housing is to improve the permitting time required for developers to get their permits and we can also assist a developer hoping to do low-income housing navigate the bureaucratic regulations with Sacramento.

Our one stop shop on the third floor [of Riverside City Hall] has done great work in helping developers successfully receive the support and permits they require, and I suggested and formed the creation of that one stop shop based on the military deployment lines that we used throughout my career in the Air Force.

I am proud of the work the one stop shop does.

Rich Vandenberg

The city has a significant responsibility in addressing housing affordability, but it cannot solve the problem alone. Our role should be to remove unnecessary barriers, use the resources available to us effectively, and make it possible for the private and nonprofit sectors to actually build housing Riverside residents can afford.

The numbers make clear that we are falling particularly far behind on lower-income housing. I want Riverside to prioritize projects that are already entitled or close to construction, but have financing gaps preventing them from being built. We should strategically combine existing resources such as HOME, Permanent Local Housing Allocation and CDBG funds with state and federal grants, tax credits and Housing Authority property to leverage significantly more outside investment rather than relying primarily on the city’s general fund.

I also support infill development and adaptive reuse of underutilized commercial properties where appropriate. We need workforce housing that allows teachers, nurses, police officers, firefighters, young families and other working residents to afford to live in the community they serve.

At the same time, housing policy needs to respect established neighborhoods and consider roads, schools, utilities and other infrastructure when adding density.

Riverside doesn’t need another study telling us housing is unaffordable. We need to identify what is preventing viable projects from being built, remove those obstacles where we can and measure our progress by homes actually produced.

AI and Data Centers

The Riverside Council is in the midst of two separate, but connected, artificial intelligence conversations. The council has created an AI ad hoc committee to study the tech while another committee is looking to potentially introduce restrictions on data centers.

What are your thoughts on potential regulations on data centers? Also, how do you think the city should address the use of AI? 

Ward 2

Aram Ayra

I fully support the council’s movement towards a moratorium on AI data centers and would support a permanent ban. I do not believe our grid is equipped to accommodate these projects without significant consequences for residents. I am skeptical of developers’ promises about the real cost of resource use and public benefits. Residents should not be left to shoulder the costs that are frequently downplayed during the approval process.

I believe that AI should have a limited and clearly defined role within city operations. There should be firm safeguards for AI access to residents’ personal information and sensitive city records. The city should be able to clearly disclose how it uses AI and who is accountable for its accuracy, with any proposed expansion subject to public review and scrutiny.

I am well aware that AI may help with routine administrative work, but I generally oppose using it to replace direct customer service or functions requiring human discretion. I regularly hear from residents who struggle to reach the right city department or get a clear answer on a concern that they have. 

Gracie Torres

Let me be clear: there is no room in Riverside for mega data centers, and claiming otherwise is a fear tactic.

When a data center item came before the [Riverside City] Council, I worked with council members to pull it from the agenda so other types of data centers could be better understood and any policy could be written thoughtfully. 

That step opened the council’s discussions on a ban. I did that work as a resident. Imagine what we can accomplish once I am on the council. 

As an environmental scientist, I understand firsthand the concerns over the harm data centers have caused to surrounding communities. Our policies must protect Riverside residents first.  

Ward 4

Chuck Conder

AI is here, and there is no doubting its potential for improving our lives. However, we must be very careful where and how we use AI. The leaders in our [Innovation and Technology] Department are doing a good job assessing AI and briefing us on the potential good and bad effects on the city.

Data centers are not all bad and they all don’t have to be the size of a small city. As long as we permit a data center that is not using evaporative cooling, it will not in any way affect Riverside’s water. Learning from other cities, as long as we require any data center to build their own power needs, it would not affect the cost of power to Riverside residents.

There is a massive push worldwide by China and Russia to build the world’s data centers in their countries, and I for one do not want them controlling our information. This important issue must be deeply thought out.  

Rich Vandenberg

Artificial intelligence and data centers are related, but I believe they should be considered as two separate policy questions.

AI has tremendous potential to make city government more efficient, improve services and reduce costs. Riverside should embrace technology that helps employees do their jobs better, but with clear safeguards. Residents need to know their personal information is protected, decisions affecting people should not be turned over blindly to algorithms, and there must always be human accountability for how AI is used. I support the city’s decision to create an AI working group and develop a comprehensive policy rather than reacting to a rapidly changing technology without understanding it.

Data centers present a different challenge. They can bring investment and technology jobs, but they can also consume significant amounts of electricity and water and place demands on infrastructure. I would not support allowing them without strong standards governing location, energy and water use, noise, environmental impacts and proximity to neighborhoods.

I also don’t believe Riverside should chase economic development at any cost. We should be pursuing industries that provide good-paying jobs and strengthen our economy without sacrificing residents’ quality of life.

AI-powered License Plate Readers and Body Cameras

The city of Riverside has a contract with AI-powered Automated License Plate Recognition company Flock and recently approved a contract with Motorola Solutions to purchase AI-powered body cameras.

Do you agree or disagree with the city’s move to approve both of these contracts? Why or why not?

Ward 2

Aram Ayra

I support equipping our public safety employees with the tools they need to investigate crime and keep people safe. 

But I have serious concerns about Flock Safety, including the information they collect, searches conducted without judicial oversight and potential misuse by individual officers. Residents should not have to accept open-ended surveillance as a condition of receiving effective public safety services.

I support a full public review of Riverside’s Flock contract to assess whether its public safety benefits justify its costs and privacy risks. Given the controversy around Flock’s corporate practices and concerns about its proprietary system, I would be open to cancelling our contract. Cities can purchase and manage their own hardware rather than leasing from third-party vendors, and I think Riverside can explore that option.

I support body cameras because they provide an important record of police encounters and encourage accountability and transparency. My concerns about the Motorola contract center on how footage is stored, how long it is retained and whether outside agencies can access it without judicial oversight.

As a councilmember, my priority would be clear, enforceable safeguards for surveillance systems with clear consequences for violations. Restrictions on outside access, independent audits and public reporting should all be standard practice. 

We should not have to fight for basic answers about who can access our information and how it [is] used.

Gracie Torres

Riversiders deserve stronger privacy protections, and I will fight for them. Both contracts have drawn controversy in Riverside, and across the country, and residents are right to demand real oversight and accountability. 

As a mother, I also know what this technology delivers. Last month, Riverside police used license plate reader data and tips from residents to identify and arrest the driver who struck a [Riverside Polytechnic] High School student walking home from school. 

I saw these tools at work firsthand on a ride-along with [Riverside Police Department] (RPD) officers. Riverside’s results back that up. In 2025, RPD reported clearing homicides at a rate far above the national average of about two-thirds, and modern investigative tools are part of that success. 

Public safety and privacy go together. I will push for firm limits on how long data is kept, regular public audits of who accesses it and strict enforcement of state law barring data sharing with federal and out-of-state agencies. The new body cameras, used for translation, deserve the same scrutiny, with clear rules for how footage and AI-generated data are used, stored and shared.

The Community Police Review Commission should review any misuse of either technology, and officers responsible should face discipline. I support tools that keep Riversiders safe, and I will hold them to the standards our community expects. 

Ward 4

Chuck Conder

It cannot be denied that the use of Flock cameras continues to assist our police department in solving crimes.

We have a 100% solving rate on murders in the city this year and many other crimes, such as robberies, assaults and thefts have been solved by the use of cameras.

Again, this is another issue of safety for our city. When criminals have no fear, there is no limit to what they will do, but knowing that they are possibly under surveillance can deter them from conducting the crimes. 

When the crimes occur, this is an important tool, properly used, for our police department to protect the citizens of Riverside. 

Rich Vandenberg

I support both technologies, but I believe their use must come with strong safeguards, transparency and accountability.

I strongly support body-worn cameras. They provide an important record of interactions between law enforcement and the public, protecting residents while also providing transparency and accountability for our police officers. Technology that improves public safety and strengthens public trust is something I support.

I also support automated license plate readers, such as Flock cameras, because they can be valuable investigative tools. However, my support comes with strict expectations regarding privacy and access to the information they collect. There should be clear rules defining who can access the data, when it can be accessed, how long it is retained, and the legitimate law-enforcement purposes for which it may be used. Access should be documented and subject to regular review.

Public safety and privacy do not have to be competing values. We can give our police officers modern tools to investigate crimes while still protecting residents from inappropriate surveillance or misuse of their information.

As technology continues to advance, the city council has a responsibility not simply to approve new tools, but to ensure strong policies governing how those tools are used and to continually evaluate whether those protections remain adequate.

New City Manager

The city is in the process of searching for a new city manager. What qualities do you consider non-negotiables for the role?

Ward 2

Aram Ayra

I would like a city manager with strong budget knowledge and a clear commitment to fiscal accountability. 

They should be able to explain where taxpayer money is going, whether programs and contracts are delivering results and what options we have before asking residents to pay more or accept cuts to services. [The Riverside City] Council and the general public need honest assessments of our finances, including problems that may be inconvenient to acknowledge.

Employee culture is also a major priority for me. City employees should feel comfortable raising concerns, identifying waste or questioning practices without worrying about potential retaliation. My preferred city manager would support strong whistleblower protections and follow up on complaints in a serious and timely manner. I want someone who is able to hold department heads to the same standards they expect from their staff.

I would also like someone who is willing to push back, including on council members, when a proposal could hurt residents or create long-term problems for the city. I think a city manager should offer their best professional judgment and explain their concerns openly, even when it would be easier to agree out of professional convenience.

Transparency and accountability have to be part of how [Riverside] City Hall operates every day. A city manager needs to be able to cooperate with independent oversight and take responsibility when something goes wrong. I would look for someone who can acknowledge a mistake and then follow through with appropriate corrective action.

Gracie Torres

I have seen what the right top executive can do. 

On the Western Municipal Water District board, I helped give our general manager the tools to become a regional and statewide leader in water. More importantly, we expanded the community’s access to him. 

I pushed for a communications strategy that put customer service and transparency first and personally reached residents whenever controversial issues came to the agenda. I want the same from Riverside’s next city manager. 

My non-negotiable is a city manager who knows the job is accountable to the public and puts Riverside first, ideally someone from Riverside. That person must be committed to bringing jobs to Riversiders, investing in our streets and infrastructure and tackling homelessness in a practical, innovative way. 

As General Plan 2050 rolls out, our budget should follow residents’ priorities, which takes a city manager who leads by listening, not silencing. 

We also need someone unafraid to call out abusive conduct by city staff so [Riverside] City Hall doesn’t stay stuck in a toxic cycle. Above all, I want a city manager who gets things done and reminds staff that we are here to serve residents every single day.  

Ward 4

Chuck Conder

The new city manager must have all of the facets of leading a large city and most importantly, I am looking for a “deal maker” who can help bring jobs and income to the city.

Our past history of waiting for more meetings has allowed other cities around us to attract the businesses and jobs that should’ve been here in Riverside.

Bottom line, we’re getting our butts kicked by those who understand how to make a deal and bring the businesses to their cities.

We must remember the saying of the famous British [Special Air Services], “Who Dares Wins.”

Rich Vandenberg

The city manager is responsible for running the day-to-day operations of an organization with thousands of employees and a significant public budget. That requires an experienced administrator, but experience alone is not enough.

My non-negotiables are integrity, transparency, accountability and strong communication. I want a city manager who gives the [Riverside City] Council honest information, even when that information is difficult to hear, and who understands that public dollars belong to the residents we serve.

I also want someone who can build a strong organizational culture. Riverside has talented employees, and our city manager should set clear expectations, hold department leadership accountable and create an environment where employees are encouraged to identify problems and improve how we deliver services.

Fiscal discipline is also essential. The next city manager needs to understand our long-term financial obligations, prioritize core services and infrastructure and be willing to identify inefficiencies rather than automatically looking to residents for additional revenue.

Finally, I want a city manager who listens to the community and understands that the council sets policy while the city manager is responsible for effectively implementing that direction.

Riverside needs a professional administrator who will tell the truth, manage responsibly, demand results and remember who we ultimately work for: the residents of Riverside.