New officials sworn in with promises of teamwork, accountability

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Mayor Joe Gomez says youth, street clean-up will be key points December 16, 2008 - 3:12 PM By ABBY SEWELL, staff writer BARSTOW • Barstow’s new mayor, Joe Gomez, and City Council members Tim Saenz and Willie Hailey Sr. took their oaths of office Monday night, completing the transition in Barstow’s leadership following the Nov. 4 election. In his first meeting as mayor, Gomez promised to focus on the youth of Barstow, to clean up the streets, and maintain an open-door policy with the citizens of Barstow. “The youth of this community is important,” he told the crowd at Monday’s Council meeting. “... It is not what we want for the youth. It is what the youth wants for its future.” As a key piece in the new focus on youth, the mayor announced his intention to form an advisory council made up of local teens, to communicate the needs of Barstow’s younger generation to the City Council. In an effort to involve children in the public process, a Barstow elementary school student, chosen by the schools on a rotating basis, will lead the Pledge of Allegiance at each future Council meeting. Crestline Elementary School third-grader Donyeigh Walton became the first to do the honors at Monday’s meeting. Gomez also asked the Council and city staff to turn their attention to abating unsightly weeds, tumbleweeds and abandoned shopping carts on public property within the next three months. Some of the supporters who came to see the new mayor sworn in were old friends and family, like childhood friend Trinidad Esquivel, who said Gomez’s rise from a kid growing up in a housing project to mayor would serve as a good example for Barstow’s youth. Gomez’s daughter Latecia Miller said she was not surprised to see her dad take office. “Ever since I was little, he would make comments that he would be the mayor of Barstow,” she said. Kathy Alba, a more recent supporter who worked on Gomez’ campaign, said that as the mother of three sons, two of whom graduated from Barstow High School and one of whom is still in school, Gomez’s push to provide more opportunities for young people appealed to her. New Councilmen Saenz and Hailey both took the opportunity at Monday’s meeting to thank their families and supporters. The new Council members express their appreciation to the other Council candidates for running clean campaigns without resorting to personal attacks. Hailey said he hopes to see the Council members pull together despite their diverse backgrounds. He promised to be beholden to no special interests. “My agenda is just the community of Barstow — that’s the only agenda I’ve got,” he said. “And who’s going to control me is God and my mom.” Saenz cited a saying from former President Abraham Lincoln that if he was given six hours to cut down a tree, he would spend the first four sharpening the ax. “I think that’s what this Council is going to do,” he said. “We’re going to prepare, and we’re going to work together as a team.”Contact the writer:(760) 256-4123 or asewell@desertdispatch.com Mayor Joe Gomez bio: Joe Gomez was born in Barstow and graduated from Barstow High School in 1976. He later received an Associate of Science degree from Barstow College. His father, Dennis Gomez, worked as a supply clerk at the Marine Corps Logistics Base for 25 years until he became disabled. At that point, Gomez’s mother Frances Gomez went to work at Del Taco. Gomez coached youth sports in Barstow for many years and served as Vice President of East Barstow Little League in 1993 and 1994. He served as a board member for the Barstow Area Chamber of Commerce from 1998 to 2002 and as Chamber president in 2002. Gomez is currently a licensed insurance agent and runs an online business selling sports memorabilia. He was elected to the City Council in 2004. Source: Joe Gomez and city of Barstow