Westminster voters will pick winners in two City Council races next month and at least one of those races will bring a new person to the dais.
In the battle to represent council District 2, incumbent Carlos Manzo is being challenged by Thanh Dang and Hauwie Tieu. And with Councilmember Kimberly Ho not seeking reelection, the winner for the District 3 race will be a fresh face, either Joseph Ngo, Mark Nguyen or K.C. Wolbert.
District 2
Dang, a businessman and engineer, said in a candidate statement that he wants to represent the diverse voices and interests of the community he has lived in for a dozen years, adding that he’s lived in Little Saigon for even longer.
“I am dedicated to fostering economic growth, creating job opportunities, and continuing to improve infrastructure to enhance the quality of life for all residents,” he said.
“I believe in transparency, accountable governance and collaboration,” he added.
“By prioritizing public safety, affordable housing, and sustainable development, I aim to build a bright future for our district.”
Manzo, elected to the council in 2020, said he has an open-door policy and actively participates in community events. Ask by the newspaper’s voter guide about leadership, he said, “I value transparency, inclusivity and collaboration.”
He listed homelessness, public safety and financial security as the Westminster’s most pressing issues.
“It’s critical that we approach (homelessness) with both compassion and practical solutions,” he said. “I would advocate for expanding access to affordable housing and supportive services and work with local organizations to provide mental health and substance abuse support.”
He also talked about creating economic opportunities for small businesses and attracting industries that could boost the city’s financial stability, and prioritizing community policing.
Tieu, a business owner, said, “a healthy democracy thrives on open debate, where everyone’s concerns are heard and the government is responsive.”
He said the city’s biggest issues are crime and homelessness.
“I am a strong advocate for fully funding our Police Department and ensuring they have the resources they need to effectively do their job,” he said. “I also support reversing the state’s lenient policies on crime, which have hampered law enforcement’s ability to address crime and homelessness in Westminster.”
Revitalizing the city, he said, starts with creating a place where people feel secure.
District 3
Ngo, a business owner and member of the city’s Traffic Commission, offered a list of goals he’d strive to accomplish should he win. These include reinstating city staff by bringing back in-house work such as business licensing and planning. He also said he would work to create jobs, improve services and boost revenue.
Another goal, he said, would be to expand affordable housing by allowing more apartments and mobile home units, and to simplify the permit process for building accessory dwelling units.
He also called for moves that could address public safety, including regulating street vending and enforcement of banner permits and regulations on homeless encampments. He’d also like to see more community events.
Nguyen, an engineer, is also on the Midway City Sanitary District board, which covers much of Westminster.
“Central to my mission is the promotion of transparency, accountability, and active community involvement in the decision-making processes, fostering trust and unity within our community,” he said in a campaign statement for the ballot.
“I am well-equipped to tackle pressing issues such as city finances, homelessness, public safety, and economic development,” he said. “I am dedicated in fostering partnerships and exploring achievable solutions to address these challenges effectively.”
Wolbert, a business owner, is a member of the city’s Planning Commission.
“My leadership style is common sense conservatism,” he told the newspaper’s voter guide in response to a question about leadership. “We need to keep what is working well to add a level of stability, but also be willing to implement change to better the community.”
Code enforcement is a first priority, he said.
“We need to clean our streets up to attract more people to our city. In order to do that, we need to address the unbalanced revenue issues to make sure the city is solvent for the next 10 years,” he said, adding that quality development should be a focus going forward. Westminster, he said, is “missing out on the 100-acre mall project being delayed too long.”
The newspaper’s voter guide also asked the candidates questions about meeting the demand for housing, climate change and what makes a good leader. Check out what they said at ocregister.com/voter-guide. The guide includes all the races on the ballots.
