CLEARLAKE — Joey Luiz, 28, of Clearlake has turned in final required paperwork to put him on the Nov. 2 ballot for one of the two open Clearlake city council seats.
Luiz has spent the majority of his life in Lake County and most of his youth in the communities of Lower Lake and Clearlake.
He has worked in the Lake County wine industry for more than seven years, the last five as sales manager for Shannon Ridge Vineyards and Winery in Clearlake Oaks.
Luiz has served on the Clearlake Chamber of Commerce board of directors since 2008 and in 2009 did a term as president.
In his time as chamber president, he boasted the organization”s largest membership increase in more than a decade. He also coordinated several successful fundraising and community events such as the Luau on the Lake for Clearlake Fireworks funding, Clearlake Cruise-In and the first chamber-sponsored bass tournament in many years.
Luiz”s other business involvement includes serving on the board for the Clearlake Oaks Glenhaven Business Association, Lake County Theater Company formerly Lakeport Community Players, Northshore Business Association, and on the marketing committee for the Lake County Winery Association.
The community organizations he has been a part of include PIP Committee on storm water management, Clearlake Community Skateboard/BMX Park Committee and the fundraising committee for the teen Safe House Project.
Luiz”s political involvement includes vice chairman of the Lake County Stonewall Democratic Club and ex-officio for Assemblyman Wes Chesbro on the Lake County Democratic Central Committee. He unsuccessfully ran for Lake County Board of Supervisors in 2008.
Luiz said he is proud to announce his candidacy is endorsed by North Coast Congressman Mike Thompson and Lake County District 3 Supervisor Denise Rushing.
“I was excited when you told me you were going to run ? since I met you I have always known you had a passion to go into public service.” Thompson said in a phone meeting with Luiz.
Both Rushing and Thompson have observed the work of Luiz in the wine industry and community involvement.
“I am thrilled that two of our most capable leaders have put so much confidence in my abilities. I plan to use these relationships once in office to bring the best level of services to the people of Clearlake.” Luiz said.
Luiz is running on a platform of openness, responsibility, future and cooperation.
As a council member, Luiz said he will hold town hall style meetings and frequent round table discussions with citizens from all walks of life, he said. He believes strongly in community buy in on all government projects and policies and that listening to what they have to say is critical for progress.
“Certain services that seem obvious and basic need to be reviewed and have priority put on them,” Luiz said.
Although the city is in tough financial times, he said he believes that City Hall should live up to the expectations of the citizens. Other communities are in the same situation but they are still able to water their parks, maintain city owned properties, have a Web site presence and provide code enforcement, Luiz said. He said he will find out why Clearlake, with the amount of tax base it has, isn”t living up to these functions and bring them back to the table.
Clearlake as a city presently and previously has done nothing to invest in youth or youth activities, Luiz said.
Luiz said he has, and will work to change that as he knows firsthand the challenges facing Clearlake”s young people. As a council member, he said he will build a network between educators, youth leaders, parents and city hall to give children positive activities and opportunities to keep their lives on the right track.
In talking with agencies outside Clearlake, he said he has found that many of the services Clearlake residents should receive by working with these other entities have been lost. Luiz said he plans to change that and build on his already good relationship with local, state and federal officials to get the people of Clearlake the maximum amount of benefit. These benefits include improving the health of Clearlake, improving infrastructure and growing the economic climate to create jobs.
For more information call 701-4503 or e-mail joeyluizforcitycouncil@gmail.com.
