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We should all be concerned about the future because we will have to spend the rest of our lives there.

- Charles F. Kettering

Today, 07/26/2016, I'm announcing that after thinking long and hard about how I want to serve my community going into the future, I have decided NOT to run for re-election for Crescent City City Council. I believe there are many good candidates that can put more time and effort into moving Crescent City forward that have the drive and energy needed to serve effectively.

I'm at a point in my life where I want to devote more time to the projects that will give me more satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment, like working with youth in media, expanding my teaching of young entrepreneurs and innovators while trying to continue to expand young athletes' opportunities through the sport of lacrosse.

These expanding roles are happening in my chosen career as an educator of our youth and right now putting in the time shaping the minds of our future leaders sounds a lot more enticing than finding the extra time in slowly working out solutions with our current leaders.

I have learned much about how government works over the last few years, mainly that it is slow, contentious and sometimes seems ineffective. This is not because it is broken, but because we all get a say in it and it's made up of good compromises. Being a member of the public, elected part of government is no easy task, but without the great staff of the City behind the scenes keeping everything going mostly smoothly, it would be impossible to effectively govern.

So, for all those hard City workers from Admin to those dependable workers who keep our parks and streets clean and open for business I give you a hardy "Thank You!" for making me look like I knew what I was doing and making our fair City a wonderful place to live.

For all of those people who I worked with and/or crossed swords with on all the various committees, projects and events that keep Del Norte County running and the best place to live in, I want to thank you for letting me be a part of all the great work you do to keep it happening.

And for all of my supporters and anyone who ever voted for me to start on this great adventure of serving my community for the last few years, you get my heartfelt appreciation and thanks for allowing me to experience what it means to truly put yourself out there and serve your community. I hope my positive experience inspires some of you to get involved and offer to help move our community forward in the future.

With three months left to go in my term there is still a lot of work to do before this very important November election. We need to ensure that our sewer infrastructure that we all depend on is financially secure to continue its future growth and maintenance. We need to continue to support initiatives that improve our infrastructure to make Crescent City an attractive place for new businesses that provide jobs for our citizens. And, probably most importantly, we need to choose new leaders who will work for the betterment of the City as a whole and not slow progress with their petty personal agendas.

It's been a pleasure serving on the City Council and as your Mayor and I will always be an advocate for both Crescent City and Del Norte County in all that I do. I'll still be working in the background for our community through teaching, youth projects and Rotary, so you'll see me around.

Thanks again.

Ron Gastineau

Here's some of the topics that your find on my site right now:
About Me - Who I am, my family history and what my dreams are.

Core Beliefs - Just a few things I feel strongly about.

W.T.Hey? - A Blog about what's on my mind with space for you to comment.

In the future, I'll have some pages devoted to events happening around Del Norte County, A Supporters' Page, Ask the Candidate Page and probably others as I think of them.

This site is a living thing and I hope to keep involved with it well into the future… I have to, I'm the only one working on it… Of course, except for you! Your continued involvement will keep it interesting and me working on it.

Thanks for helping out!


© Ron Gastineau 4 DN 2012