Steve Diels, Candidate for Redondo Beach City Treasurer

Steve Diels is one of two candidates in a runoff for the Redondo Beach city treasurer position. Diels is a former two-term councilman for Redondo Beach District 4, as well as a former president of the Los Angeles League of California Cities and the South Bay Cities Council of Governments.

Below are Diels' responses to a questionnaire compiled by Patch editors.

Redondo Beach Patch: Why are you running for city treasurer?

Steve Diels: I am running to improve city services. As an 8-year veteran of City Hall, I have been both a fly on the wall and viewed city operations from 40,000 feet. I have learned how valuable each public dollar is. The treasurer’s office wastes money. I want to fix it.

Our Redondo Beach tax dollars are at stake in this election. Hundreds of thousands of dollars are wasted managing the treasurer’s office. I want to spend less on the Treasurer so we can spend more on public safety, schools and vital services. The $116,000 salary we pay the Treasurer is among the highest in the State of California. Yes, $116,000. Reducing the salary will also reduce pension obligations. Reducing costs will allow the city to increase services. The time for reform is now. And the place for reform is from within. My opponents in this race are scrambling to justify their desire for the full $116,000 salary (and full pension from the full salary).

As a businessman I know that we can run the office more efficiently—as my business is run. I am committed to do the heavy lifting to make the office fiscally responsible. We can save $300,000 on needed reforms which will require rigor to achieve. I’m not afraid of the challenge. 

Patch: What are your qualifications?

Diels: Illustrating the need for reform, the only chartered qualifications to be Treasurer is that one live in the city for 30 days. Not a very high bar.

My service to the community provides unique insights to the Treasurer’s functions. I have been a CFO for a multi-million dollar enterprise and have served 8 years as your Council Member. I have consistently balanced a $100 million budget. I hold an MBA in management and finance and am a Doctoral candidate in Business Administration. I have worked on very complex financing arrangements including the Redondo Beach waterfront development and the new hotel development in North Redondo Beach. I have financed business mergers and acquisitions. I participated in bond funding and refinancing as chairman of the Redevelopment Agency. I served on the Redondo Beach Audit Committee; the League of California Cities Revenue and Taxation committee; the Southern California Association of Governments; and the South Bay Cities Council of Governments. I currently serve as President the Los Angeles League of California Cities.

Patch: If elected, how do you plan to maximize city revenues?

Diels: Business people know that it's not how much you make, but how much you make stick. That means to take costs into consideration. To maximize revenues means one must minimize the cost to generate the revenue. That means to eliminate the waste. The Treasurer's office can improve performance and cost less. This is a both/and proposition, not either/or.

Revenue audits will be regular activities for all tax and fee revenue sources including but not limited to business license fees, UUT taxes, property tax, sales tax and TOT taxes. Most of our taxes and fees are collected by state and county entities. They must be audited to ensure that the City of Redondo Beach receives its appropriate share.

Patch: Why should people vote for you?

Diels: There is only one choice in this election to maximize revenues and reduce costs. I am committed to enduring the heavy lifting to eliminate the waste and improve services. 

The City charter contradicts itself. The only requirement to be treasurer is 30-day residency in the city. There are no financial qualifications. The minimum work requirement in the charter is one day per month. These items need reform, too. I hope you agree. Please support my efforts to save the city money, improve performance and increase oversight. If you have any questions, please call me at 310-318-5589 or email SteveDielsforTreasurer@gmail.com.

Patch: Is there anything else you'd like to say?

Diels: For those naysayers who say reforms can't be done, I say, "What a bunch of malarkey." The City Charter is not a license to waste. The key word in "fiscal responsibility" is responsibility.  As citizens and as leaders, we are required to act responsibly with the interests of each-other in mind.  A vote for me is a vote for responsible local government. 

If you have any questions, please call me at 310-318-5589 or email SteveDielsforTreasurer@gmail.com.

Related:

• Steve Diels for Treasurer on Facebook
• Steve Diels [Patch]
• Redondo City Treasurer Candidates Answer Questions From The Beach Reporter [Beach Reporter]
• Redondo Beach Treasurer Candidates Face Off [Easy Reader]
• Redondo Beach Treasurer Candidates Spar Leading up to All-Mail Election [Daily Breeze]
  

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