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There are many important issues facing our Valley. These are the ones I'm most passionate about solving:
Smart Development
Paradise takes maintenance. Growth has costs, and many are already struggling to find places to live. We need to be thoughtful about how our City changes over time - growing in a way that respects our mountain character, with incremental changes at a pace that fits our neighborhoods. I will ensure that Big Bear retains its small town charm through whatever the future brings.
Fire Department Transition
The Big Bear Fire Department is undergoing the biggest transition in its history. Success requires deep technical understanding of the details to ensure continuity of protection for our residents. I will work to ensure that our fire fighters are respected, our City is protected, and our finances are secure for the future.
West End Connectivity
The West End is beautiful, but connections to the rest of the Valley need improvement. We're all familiar with traffic backing up to Boulder Bay on the busy weekends, and people driving too fast on neighborhood roads. If you've ever tried to walk into town, you know how difficult it is for pedestrians and cyclists to safely get around our City. Senior residents and those without cars deserve better bus service. I will make it a priority to address these issues: calmer streets, better flow, and safer paths.
Transparent Governance
City Hall should be accessible to all. I will serve in good faith to the best of my abilities and with full transparency. Residents deserve to know the reasons behind every vote, and they should have easy access to the information needed to understand their City government.
Replenish Big Bear
Unlike most of California, we don't get our water from the Colorado River. We rely entirely on rainwater - there are no pipes feeding this Valley. If our wells dry up, there's nowhere to turn. The Replenish Project isn't about saving money or creating a conservation showcase. It's about understanding the math: we have a real risk of running out of water if we don't act.
I believe the original scope of Replenish was too ambitious - trying to do everything in one huge project. We need a new approach: incremental, iterative progress. Start small, learn as we go, and build piece by piece toward true water independence for the Valley. Let's create realistic, phased solutions we can adapt as we learn.
The City needs to be a good partner with other agencies in the Valley, working transparently to make a solution that all can agree on while respecting our financial constraints. As an engineer, I've spent 15 years breaking down exactly this kind of large, complicated, multi-year project - and I'll bring that discipline to the City Council.
You can write to me about anything at cody@electcodylewis.com
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