Kelly Chastian Seeks to Rejoin the Council

COLTON>> Kelly Chastain, former Mayor and District 3 Councilwoman, is campaigning to rejoin the Colton City Council this election. As Colton residents and business still recover from the economic downturn of the past decade, if elected, Chastain said she will focus on economic issues. “In today’s still challenging economy, we need a council that can work together and be focused on looking for ways to cut spending, bring in new businesses and jobs to increase city revenue, as well as make sure we have a balanced budget that will support services to residents,” Chastain said. Chastain points to high utility rates facing residents and local businesses as an example of an economic policy that can be addressed by the council. “Utility rates are the thing I hear most about from residents,” Chastain said. “ We need to bring some relief to struggling Colton families and business owners and the City Council has the power to help them out. Chastain said she believes with better budget management the council can reduce electric, water and sewer to better reflect what surrounding cities pay, which would be at least a 10 percent decrease in what residents pay now. She said she sees declines in quality of life issues citywide since her departure from council as evidence that the current council’s policies are not working. “Over the past six years, I’ve seen a steady decline in our city,” Chastain said. “From appearance, to loss of businesses, decreases in city services and the high utility rates. We need more action than talk and I believe my past experience, in Colton and regionally, can bring real solutions to problems facing our city today.” During her time on the council, Chastain said she was able to bring some major improvements to the city and points to those accomplishments as the types of leadership Colton residents can expect again if she is elected. “I’m proud of the things I was able to get done in my last time on council,” Chastain said. “We decreased crime by 10 percent, brought $68 million in road improvements to help relieve traffic and address issues with train noise, renovations and improvements to Veteran’s and Ceasar Chavez Parks, creation of the Colton Bike Path, installed gutters, curbs and sidewalks. It’s time our council focused again on bringing these types of major improvements to Colton.” Chastain is a 50-year resident of Colton and graduate of Colton High School. She has been married to her husband, Marlon, for more than 30 years and has two childen, Justin, 24, and Jenna, 17. Paid for by Friends of Kelly Chastian.