Fred ShorettIncumbent
Candidate for City Council Member, San Bernardino, District 4 · Council Member / Businessman
Fred Shorett is a third-generation San Bernardino resident and small businessman with over 40 years of local business experience. He was a partner and served as Executive Vice President and General Manager at Crown Printers for more than 25 years, and is now self-employed in the printing and packaging industry; he also holds a California real estate license. He is a Combat Infantry veteran of the U.S. Army who served in the Vietnam War from 1969 to 1970, earning two Bronze Stars, the Army Commendation Medal, and several Air Medals, and is a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He served more than 23 years on the Supervisory Committee of Arrowhead Credit Union. He graduated from San Bernardino High School in 1967 and attended San Bernardino Valley College and California State University, San Bernardino.
Positions in brief
Fred Shorett has focused on the city's homelessness response through programs like the Peace Team and a new navigation center, its fire-service arrangement with the county, and the council's policymaking role under the council-manager form of government.
Shorett describes his role as setting policy while city staff manage day-to-day operations, and blames frequent city-manager turnover on 'toxic politics.' On homelessness, he points to the expansion of the city's Peace Team outreach program and a navigation center opening by the end of 2026, while cautioning that increased spending alone will not solve the problem. On fire service, he says contracting with the county during the city's bankruptcy was a necessary decision made under pressure, and argues service has since improved, though he says he would prefer a city-run department.
On the issues
Points to the Peace Team program's expansion and a new navigation center opening by the end of 2026 as the city's approach, while cautioning that spending alone will not solve the problem.
“Throwing money at the problem is not going to solve it.”
Source →Describes his role as a policymaker who works with city staff rather than managing daily operations, and defends the council-manager government structure voters approved.
“I know my role as a policymaker. My job is to work with my council members...”
Source →Defends the city's decision to contract with the county for fire service during its bankruptcy as necessary, and says service has improved under the arrangement.
“negotiating with a gun to our head”
Source →
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