by Breeanna Jent on 2014-09-10

Retired registered nurse Lori Nickel is running to represent Moreno Valley’s District 4, with goals of involving the city’s residents in its government. “I believe a top priority for the city should be an impartial needs assessment to gauge how the people perceive the city’s success in meeting their needs and to identify priorities for the new council,” Nickel said. Nickel said her vision was to implement an ad hoc committee of residents from each district to assess these needs with the help of all council members through district-specific meetings. “This must be an open and inclusive process that provides a legitimate forum for the people to voice their concerns and influence the development of potential solutions,” Nickel said. Moreno Valley’s economic stability is another area Nickel said she wants to involve citizens in, with feedback from citizens as to what goods and services they are receiving outside of city boundaries. Hearing impaired herself, Nickel said she also wants to provide accommodations to residents living with special needs and/or disabilities, including closed captioning for televised and recorded meetings, and completion of the FIOS system citywide to improve Internet speed and access in residents’ homes. Three challenges the city faces are, she said: “Erosion of public trust, lack of diversity in the local job market, and embracing the diversity of our multi-cultural city.” “We (the citizens and the council) will pursue common goals as a team… Leadership by example… will be central to all actions in my capacity as a council member,” Nickel said. Nickel has served in the Moreno Valley Unified School District, the city’s Jogging and Bicycle Trails Advisory Committee, and the Riverside County Transportation Commission Citizen Advisory Committee. “We are mounting a full campaign with a legitimate focus on returning the District 4 council seat to a long-term resident who is invested in the community, who is looking out for the best interests of the citizens and who can be trusted to execute the responsibilities of office with unwavering ethics.” Other District 4 candidates include Weldon Boone, Gwendolyn Cross, Yxstian Gutierrez, Jaime Moreno, Wraymond Sawyerr and Robin Wetmore.