Vision - As an attorney, planning commissioner and an educator, I have the background, intellectual acumen and experience to help set a course to see a shared vision of Stockton come true. For all of us that vision has to include: A Vibrant City free of crime, with an educated work force, good paying jobs and a housing market that finds equilibrium where each of us realize a fair return on our biggest investment.

I understand the top issues facing the City of Stockton and how they are connected. Those issues are crime, education and jobs.

Crime - The police alone cannot solve the problem. Building a larger jail will help. But it will take more than that. We must intervene with kids at a younger age to divert them from crime. We must involve the parents, the police, federal law enforcement, educators, social service and especially recreation programs that prevent criminal behavior in the first place. For those who cannot be diverted then there is the jail and it needs to include rehabilitation programs so that inmates graduate as taxpayers -- ready to go to work, drug free. All of the pieces must be in place if we are to succeed.

Education - The schools cannot solve the education problem alone. We must improve our literacy rate and include parents, city library and recreation. By bringing these entities together to work with teachers we can improve the educational outcomes and graduation rates. We can have graduates ready to enter college or the workforce. But all of the players must come to the table. After school programs have to provide challenging alternatives to each of our youths.

Jobs - We need good paying jobs in Stockton. And to bring new companies to the City we must improve education and reduce crime. Then we must aggressively recruit companies and provide incentives to build a business in Stockton. At the same time we should support and grow our local businesses. We need to spend our dollars here and we need good jobs which pay enough that our local workforce can afford to buy homes and boost local retail sales.

Our Best Days Are In Front Of Us - For a new vision for Stockton, vote for Chris Eley for City Council, District 4.