By Dylan Fair
Staff Writer
Budget cuts, contract negotiations and the well-being of a community are some of the obstacles Manhattan Beach City Council candidate Amy Howorth hopes to meet. With a combination of seven years on the school board and a new perspective on community issues, Howorth is exactly what Manhattan Beach needs.
Howorth was first elected to the Manhattan Beach Unified School District board in 2003. Since that time, she has helped manage the district through some of the hardest financial times in the state’s history. She was reelected in 2007, and has now turned her attention to issues that extend beyond the school district.
Seven years of experience on the school board serves as an excellent precursor to city council. Howorth faced significant community pressure when budget cuts were handed down from Sacramento, and this adversity far surpasses any issues that faced the Manhattan Beach City Council over the last seven years. Sacramento has cut over five million dollars from MBUSD. That ability to deal with critical situations over qualifies Howorth for the job.
Pension plans must be addressed by all candidates, and Howorth has a reputable plan. Current agreements with the police and fire department includes retirement at age 50 and a 90 percent pension plan, and this has become costly for the city.
Howorth looks to explore all options in solving this problem. She wants to reach a consensus through contract negotiation with both the police and fire departments. She is also considering raising the retirement age.
Howorth stands poised and ready for the job, even with many community issues looming in the horizon. She brings a passion for her fellow community members as well a love for the community itself, and she is a clear choice for Manhattan Beach City Council.
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