Michael Carouba
Candidate for City Council Member, Lodi, District 1 · Business Owner
Mike Carouba is a Realtor with more than 20 years of experience in real estate and a property owner who has lived in Lodi for over 30 years; he was born in San Francisco and moved to Lodi after meeting his wife there. He chaired the successful 2018 Measure L campaign, the half-cent sales tax that funded public safety, parks, and other city services during Lodi's financial crisis. He currently serves on the Lodi Parks and Recreation Commission and the city's Economic Development Ad Hoc Committee, and has been involved with Visit Lodi, the Lodi Chamber of Commerce, and the San Joaquin Council of Governments.
Positions in brief
Carouba says Lodi's financial condition, support for public safety, and restoring confidence in local government are the city's top issues, along with workforce training and infrastructure investment.
Carouba points to Lodi's recent cuts to police and fire budgets and the planned drawdown of $30 million in reserves as evidence the city is at a financial crossroads. He has called for improving street infrastructure, using Lodi Electric Utility's competitive industrial rates to attract business, reducing reliance on outside consultants, and increasing transparency around city finances and decision-making. He has also written that Lodi should invest in workforce training programs to keep pace with other cities.
On the issues
- Taxes & Cost of Living
Says Lodi is at a financial crossroads after recently cutting police and fire budgets, and is campaigning on restoring fiscal stability.
“Today, our city is at a financial crossroads, having just cut the police and fire budgets.”
Source → - Government, Elections & Democracy
Calls for greater transparency from City Hall about Lodi's finances and less spending on outside consultants.
Source →
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