George Barich

for Cotati City Council.

Because Experience and Character Matters !

A Real Moderate can make a difference in City Hall.  

"It's time for REAL change from a citizen of proven character who has the strength and leadership skills to stand up to our runaway city government.   I don't run my household on a credit card and neither should our city borrow and spend irresponsibly.  Current city leaders have refused to balance a budget on what it only brings in, and have borrowed millions of dollars we can't afford to pay back as things now stand.   Our town is drowning in a sea of red ink, the reserves are almost depleted, revenues short of projections, and big city retirement packages looming in near future that must be paid out.

The results of this mismanagement by city leaders has resulted in a reduction in essential city services which has placed the problem squarely on the backs of residents and our kids.  I am ashamed that I didn't do more to stop the madness.  But for ten years, I tried very, very hard to turn the situation around.  I offered constructive criticism; I complained, and I politely offered real solutions every inch of the way.  Unfortunately, I was ignored.  My public participation as a model citizen fell on deaf ears of those who did not understand the gravity of the situation of 'Borrowing Gone Wild'.   Now, I need your vote and will stop the Gravy Train mind set at City Hall, get government back to work on basic issues they have ignored, and attempt to restore our town's greatness.

 I am calling for full accountability and a back to basics approach to city problems to cut the fat to get our town back on track.   No magic wands.  No easy fixes.  No more looking to the state and federal government for handouts, grants, or bail outs... Those days are over folks.  The party is over at City Hall with the spending orgies and golden parachute retirement packages for employees.  We should run City Hall like a business because essentially it is a business.  I have the business experience my opponents simply don't have, and will use it to save our town from possible bankruptcy.  

I have been fighting for Cotati's future with a spotless attendance record at open city meetings and been consistently vocal and active in city affairs.  As an Independent Moderate, I am not bought and paid for by any political party, and have refused all offers of financial assistance with my campaign.  With no political ambitions whatsoever, I was asked to run by Cotati business leaders and residents alike to step in and stop the madness at City Hall by having a greater voice for change. With great reservation and reflection on what this election means to our town, I decided to answer the call to help take back our town.  As I have said many times in the past in open public debates, ...if you actually want to become a councilperson, you need to have your head examined... Real leaders are chosen by other local citizens to run for office and end up serving with great reservation and humility...

I bought my first home in Cotati in 1994 which I promise you will be my last.  Cotati is my home and always will be.  I'm here to stay and will not have my town ruined without a fight.  She deserves a good fight.  I can't turn my back on her in her time of crisis.  I won't run; I won't quit, and I won't stand by and watch our town become the next Rohnert Park at the hands of Janet Orchard, Pat Gilardi and our Chamber of Commerce who want new businesses to flood into our town without much thought or consideration for what that means for our town's future.  

Now you can be part of the solution with me."   George Barich       Click here to learn more about what I stand for.

10 years of vocal participation in city government. Bachelors Degree in Government, USF, 1983, Class Valedictorian.   American Red Cross Volunteer, Regular Food Bank Volunteer. Neighborhood Watch Captain for Cotati/West Side, Member of The Coalition to Protect Cotati's Future since 2004.

fondly named "City Watchdog" by The Press Democrat, and "Council Critic" by Jud Snyder of The Community Voice for service beyond the call of duty of any citizen in recent memory.

Key issues facing Cotati I will not ignore.

(*** click on these items for more information)

Over-Spending, Over-borrowing, & Over-Regulation by City Hall.

Our city is drowning in a sea of red ink. Fix our city's financial crisis.

Huge city expenditures and public works projects with no means to pay for them.

Water and Sewer Rates that are sky high, out of control, and need to be rolled back.

Campaign financing. Which city leaders and candidates are bought and sold.

The Big Money handouts to local charities from the city's General Fund.

Term Limits NOW.  It's long overdue.

Televise and record the city meeting NOW.  Stop the stalling and double talk...

The Growing population in Cotati and the loss of our small town character.

Extremists hijacking local government meetings for their own political theatrics.

Shameless Imposters now running for a seat on Cotati City Council. Where did they come from, and who is really financing these campaigns.

City staffers that must be fired and must go NOW.

Cotati's Homeless Crisis?  Where do they go when all city bathrooms are locked? Anywhere they want !

Why haven't we banned styrofoam in Cotati? "Cotati's "GREEN" hypocrisy"

Will Cotati soon become a "Sanctuary City" for convicted felons and illegal aliens?

The "Sovietizing" of Cotati; limiting freedom of speech and reducing public input.

City Festivals that continue to lose money for the General Fund.

A Chamber of Commerce committed to bringing more business to town at all costs.

Streets and roadways in a state of disrepair and a lack of funds to fix them.

Cut through traffic into our neighborhoods and the city's commitment for more of the same.

Our ever growing police department that may bankrupt our town like what's happening in Vallejo, CA.  Who authorized the massive police build up and how can it be saved.

The Rent Control Fiasco and our Mobile Home Parks in crisis

Our Small Town Charm becoming a thing of the past.

The C-Myth: Cotati can be everything to everybody.

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