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Meet John T. Kiramis, Candidate for Lancaster City Council

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LANCASTER – John Kiramis, one of the candidates for Lancaster city council, has been in public service since he was 21 years old.

After retiring as a police lieutenant in 2004, Kiramis said he missed public service and decided to run for city council in Foster City. He was later elected to Foster City mayor.

“I missed it so much I decided, well municipal government has given me a great opportunity to serve the public, and now it’s time for me to give back to the community,” he said.

Kiramis said he felt the same way about local politics when he moved to Lancaster in October 2009.

He has several ideas for the city, if elected for city council.

He would like to improve emergency services, promote more public hearings, put more money in the city’s general fund, and address education issues.

In improving emergency services, Kiramis would like to see the city increase the number of table top or practice exercises conducted at the city’s Emergency Operations Center, the place where department heads such as the police captain, fire chief, city manager and others come together and manage problems during a critical incident.

“You’re only as good as how often you practice,” Kiramis said. “It is a perishable skill, and if you don’t do it very often and something happens, you’re going to be spending the first few hours during an actual critical incident reading manuals and trying to remember what your functions are.”

Kiramis would also like to see more public hearings when important issues or important plans are being considered.

He says projects like the surveillance airplane and the red light cameras would work better if there were more public hearings before the city puts plans into effect.

“I think it’s an expensive experiment,” Kiramis said, referring to the surveillance airplane. “In theory it may have use and application, but what happens when there’s a human cry about the noise? Are we going to scrub this expensive experiment?”

The red light cameras that everyone wanted a few years ago are now being taken down, he added.

“Why are we taking them down?” Kiramis said. “My guess is the human cry from the public…if it was because of the cost, wouldn’t public hearings have revealed that?”

Kiramis added that he wants to improve the general obligation bonds rating from the triple B + rating they currently have to a triple A rating.

“I want to build a consensus with the city council by where we start putting more and more money into the general fund, taking into account the redevelopment agencies are assumed to be no more or at the very best a mere shadow of their former self, which means that projects that ordinarily used to be done by money in the redevelopment agencies are going to have to be done in a different manner,” he said.

“The more money we have in our general fund the more solvent the city is, financially speaking, the better our bond ratings, which means we get to do more with less because we could raise more money as a result of our bond ratings being higher,” Kiramis added.

Because California cities in the future are for the most part going to be on their own in regards to infrastructure and capital improvement projects, Kiramis said Lancaster needs to have stronger bonds. Junk bonds, like what the city has now, will mean higher interest rates and less work accomplished, he added.

Kiramis also wants to address the issue of education, especially considering the controversy that took place in Foster City while he was the mayor.

“I’m very concerned with education, but then you have to take into account the Lancaster city council is not in the business of education, that is the business of the school districts,” he said.

During his term in Foster City, Kiramis said the superintendent and the president of the school board wanted to buy a valuable piece of land to build a new school because they didn’t have enough room for the growing student population. Kiramis said no. He said the land was valuable to the city because of the money gained from leasing the land, which helped pave streets and improve emergency services.

“I think there should be a cooperative effort between school districts and city councils where they can help each other address problems through open communication before problems actually become problems,” he said.

In campaigning, Kiramis said he wants to spend his time meeting constituents and learning about their concerns and issues. He added that he is running on a tight budget of $1,000.

“I want to prove that you don’t have to have a lot of money to run for city council,” he said.

Kiramis said although Mayor R. Rex Parris is giving contribution funds to two of the city council candidates, he will not take contributions for his campaign.

“I’m curious how that’s going to resonate with voters considering most people understand there’s no free lunch in this world,” Kiramis said. “I’ve never seen a dollar given freely that didn’t have a short string attached.”

Kiramis said he believes in accessibility as a council member. In Foster City, he said he would open his doors to his constituents once a week for them to ask him questions and address their concerns. If elected, he would do the same in Lancaster.

“I believe you should reduce government to meet revenue, not raise revenue to meet government,” said Kiramis on why residents should vote for him. “And I pledge to work tirelessly towards this end and to improve the communication between local government and the community.”

Pam Frisella, current vice mayor of Foster City, used to work with Kiramis.

“I served with John for three years and found him very capable,” Frisella said. “(I) don’t know your issues in Lancaster, but believe John would serve your city well.”

John T. Kiramis resides in west Lancaster with his wife Kate.

* This is the first of a series of profiles The AV Times will be publishing featuring Lancaster city council candidates, as well as mayoral candidates. Profiles will be published in random order.

73 comments for "Meet John T. Kiramis, Candidate for Lancaster City Council"

  1. Dear Milly, I regret to inform you I pay my bills, I have a comfortable income and I mow my lawn every week. I do not know how you define “dead beat” but I do not view myself as such. I am a former police officer so your are correct on that account. In as much as you desire I lose, and by that I assume you are referring to the election, that remains to be seen. Having said that, I must regretfully inform you that I have no intention of going away. Sorry, that is not in your cards. Should I lose in this election, I intend to seek election again in 2014, a little wiser and alot better prepared. In closing I am glad to see you intend to vote.

    Sincerely John Kiramis
    jkiramis@yahoo.com

  2. Your a dead beat loser excop whos trying to find a job. Give it up and go away. You will lose. lose. lose.

  3. Let’s elect Kiramis and Reves in Lancaster and send Parris, Sandra and Kenny to Bell. Bell is wonderfully suited for them. I have no doubt they would happy there and so would we.

  4. I hope you win Tuesday and I hope you’re ready for a rough ride. God bless you for what you are trying to do.

  5. keramis is to old and you cant trust cops in politics even if there retired!!!!!!!!!

    • And you prefer what? Ambulance chasers, trade school owners pretending they run a university, ex-baliffs who run, dismissed ex-firemen and restaurantours? Drink your kool aid and learn to spell.

        • Why? Because the “King” can’t be beaten?? I’ve only lived here since August and I’m already disgusted with the cronyism going on here. Eye in the Sky??? HELL NO! No citizen’s comments broadcasted at city council meetings? HELL NO! No discussion, but unanimous votes??? HELL NO! Something’s wrong in this delightful small city that I’ve come to love already – and it’s worth fighting for! NO INCUMBENTS!!! Kiramis really impressed me when he spoke at a local get together and Mike is worth getting in there too. We NEED to break the quorum, have a real discussion about the issues, get that stupid waste of money drone out of here – Those who sacrifice liberty for security, deserve neither!!

  6. Either he doesn’t know or doesn’t care what he’s up against. My guess is he doesn’t care. He’s probably used to going up againt crooks.

  7. Got to admit the guys got huevos. Hes out spent by parris and the clan, his signs keep geting knocked down and hes still out there every day passing out his stuff and talking to people. I never liked cops but Ill vote for him anyway just because he dont give up.

  8. The man is smart and he really cares. I will say he is the current city councils worst nightmare.

  9. OK OK I read what Kiramis said and either this guy is Abraham F—–g” Lincoln or a greater fake than Parris ever wished he could be. I give up.

    • I do not think he is a fake. He is too upfront for that and he will answer any question you ask regardless of whther you agree or not. I voted for him.

  10. Dear Martin,
    I appreciate your candor, albiet I must say I must give our city council the credit due in the manner it has dealt with the arduous task of dealing in these difficult times with a protracted recession that has caught most of our nation by suprise.

    Although I disagree with some of the directions our city council has ventured, I cannot help but recall when as a former mayor, I too made mistakes later wishing I had the hind sight not to have ventured in the misguilded direction I chose. Unfortunately, we do not have the clairvoyance of peering into the future so as to make our best decisions. Instead, we must put faith in our best judgement and with the people who placed us in office.

    I have read much of what has been said regarding our Mayor Parris and the city council. While in office as mayor I also read much of what was said of me and my city council. If but a small fraction of what said was steeped in truth, it would have a bodacious exaggeration. When times are good, those in office can do no harm. When times are bad, they become the scapegoats of all that ails us.

    Let us give those in local office the credit that is due. There is no pay and the hours are long. You please one faction of your constituency and you anger the other. You kiss a baby and you are accused of stealing its lolly pop. You strive to get something passed for the good of all and you are compelled to make a comprimise in the effort. We all enjoy pocking fun at, and making light of those who serve us, yet so few of us even dare to put ourselves out there to be scorned.

    I have a fundemental belief in our system and the process by which conduct ourselves as free people. I believe that in the end when the populous has spoken, it is then time to rally around those who are burdoned with the responsibility of leadership and put our faith and God’s in that they will perform to the best of their ability.

    Hopefully they will prevail and perhaps they may stumble in their effort, yet as Americans we cannot lose sight of the fact, this is the system we chose long ago and there is no finer system that can be found in the annals of man’s experience on earth.

    Give our spirit in America the chance to do what it has done for over two hundred and fifty years. The right to vote comes with the burdone of excepting the outcome. I will do so and I hope you will as well.

    Sincerely,

    John Kiramis
    jkiramis@yahoo.com

  11. Mr. Kiramis, I’m very impressed with your credentials and opinions. I do however question your sanity. Why on earth would an educated and honest person want to sit on our concil?

  12. I read what you said in the AV Press but I dont agree what you views that the city council shuts people out. Can you explain.

    • Mr. Harris,

      In order to answer your question on why I believe the city council shuts out the public, here are my thoughts on the matter.

      Lancaster council meetings take place at 5:00 p.m. for the benefit of everyone less those who are driving in traffic to come home or those sitting down with their family for supper. The city council breezes through the agenda with no debate nor discussion, line item by line item, with an ensuing customary “lock-step” 5-0, 4-0 vote passage. I have yet to hear a council member “pull” anything from the consent calender for discussion before the entire consent calender is voted upon with one fell swoop. I’ve yet to see the city council convene a special public hearing for the purpose of listening to the views of the public on important matters such as where tax dollars are being allocated or how public policy is being directed. An example on how tax dollars are spent without a public hearing would be “The Eye in the Sky” which I believe will in time be abandoned as an expensive experiment gone awry.

      A similar example as it relates to public policy would be when the Lancaster city council decided to go from being a general law city to a charter city which, I thought was a good decision given Lancaster’s size and population. However, the deision left many citizens confused and angry, yet it was still a sound decision. Public hearings would have mollified many of the public’s concerns.

      I believe that important decisions should be aired out in public. One, it gives the city council the opportunity to fully explain why the decisions are important, and two it gives the public a chance to provide feedback. I recall as mayor, that I found public feedback sometimes helped sway my decisions and avert mistakes. Politicians are not perfect beings and sometimes are prone to errors. In the end, public hearings, provide the city council the right to claim that the public had been heard and was not excluded before the votes were cast.

      Another issue I find odd is the Lancaster city council does not conduct annual budget hearings. As mayor of Foster City, my city council would have 3 to 4 special budget meetings each year during the budget season. These meetings were open to the public and televised. During the budget meeting each city department would present their budget before the city council where upon it would scrutinized line by line. It was a lengthy and arduous process, however it kept each department on their toes and it opened up the “books” so the tax payers could see how their money was being allocated and spent.

      I can appreciate the expedience by which the Lancaster city council conducts meetings and how they are well prepared for their meetings as evidenced by the fact, discussion on matters to be voted upon is often unnecessary. I simply believe there is another way of going about it so that the public does not view the process as akin to back door politcs which I like to think is not really the case.

      I believe local government deserves to be open to the public and that it should be transparent. I also believe that everything that can be done, should be done to make certain the public can attend public meetings and speak when it is convenient for the public and not for those who speak for the public.

      Sincerely,

      John Kiramis
      jkiramis@yahoo.com

      • Thats more than I heard from the incumbents. You got my vote. Good luck with your signs since I see they dont last long. Try rat traps.

      • you have my vote too! I’m going to send you a msg regarding a sign mission I’m about to go on, I’d like to see if you are interested. 3 days and counting!!

  13. Mr. Kiramis,
    I have read your Candidate statement of qualifications, and very impressed with your openess, candor, and life long service to public service. As you are quite aware, the community has not been served by the current city council, Mayor, planning commission which are integral parts of local government. The constituents views, concerns and voices must be heard so those elected can be in tune to the needs of the community–This has not happened in the City Council. I have have direct conversations with council member explaining the concern and objections to Walmart being built on 60th west and L. That council member emphatically stated that he was opposed to such a project, then upon deaf ears, voted otherwise. Back door politics is old-“the only way to accept change, is to create change.” As a founding member of QHC I belived in a right and just cause for the communities of QH and I am a resident of Lancaster. My question is this–What is your management style in listening to the people needs, how will you decide as to what needs action, what does not, and how can 1 or 2 independent members of council override the what is called the Catcus Curtain. I work in the occupational and health dept for a national construction company. Lancaster incorporated land through special interests,Mr. Vose bought the land on the planning commission, sold to Lancaster, made a profit, and then as Vice Chairman of the Planning Commission allowed Walmart to present, restricting the citizens of Lancaster to first express their opinions on the project before Walmart. I spoke directly with Walmart officials outside council chambers and probed questions with their Western Development, community director on knowing the history of the QHHS, had he meet with them, and my concern that another Columbine threat could happen as it did at this campus in 2006. This rep had no knowledge of such an occurrence, he did not do his homework, and did not testify honsetly in city council chambers. We as a group will fight to the end in stopping what is a Zoning issue, from residental to commerical-no matter the cost. We have won the fight against City Hall, and need a Leader as you are to defend our needs and the communities input. How will you do this? I view yourself and Michael Rives as fresh need administrators for the City. Arrogancy is not tolerable when dealing with your constituents, being laughed at is not showing social grace, let alone showing leadership. The King has his own agenda, Lawyers cannot be trusted, especially this one called Mayor. If I give you my vote, how will you work with such a person, in championing the needs first of the community,against this established old boys network. I look forward to your response.
    Sincerely,
    Paul Harris

    • Often while serving on a city council you find yourself dealing with fellow council members all the while working alone knowing poltics is the art of compromize. I do not delude myself into believing that tring to alter a course set some time ago for reason you elude to will be easy. I do however commit to questioning where and how tax dollars are spent as well as seeking answers to what justifies altering public policy. This is what I will commit to in hopes that raising public awareness will cause citizens to think more and be less complacent. Frankly I cannot gaurantee results because complaceny like water runs deep and people will often vote for what they know even when they do not always agree with whether it is in their best interest. What I will gaurantee is the I will listen and use the voice I was given to speak on your behalf. In the end, it is for voters to decide what they want which is the way it should be.

      Sincerely,

      John Kiramis

    • Thank you. Since I cannot find an incumbent to debate and since my signs disappear faster than I can replace them. It heartens me that I have a vote out there. It is grand to know I still exist.

  15. Mr. Kiramis
    After doing a little research of my own I am concerned about your experience with a large Latino community. Lancaster is no Foster City. The Antelope Valley has a large percentage of legal and illegal South and Central Americans. I hope a little of San Francisco rubbed of on Foster City.

    • Dear Ed,

      The minority population of Foster City is nearly 50%. Before I left as mayor to move here, I recruited a latino gentleman to run for the city council. I not only endorsed Mr. Herbert Perez, but I campaigned for him as well. This was not a popular thing to do because I had to tell one of my incumbent fellow council members and a building commissioner I would not endorse them nor would I support them. Today Council Member Herbet Perez sits on the council. You’ll note, if you look on the city’s website he is the only latino.

      Thank you for comments.

      Sincerely,

      John Kiramis

  16. Ace,

    Containment and establishing inner and outer perimeters is aimed at containing incidents which for the most part is standard operative procedure with most law enforcemnt agencies. Containmnet provides time to plan and evacuate.

    John Kiramis

  18. I am impress, but can you stand up to Parris? He doesn’t play fair, if you go along with his policies you will be rewarded, if not, well, life will not be easy for you. Where do you stand on the “more agrassive Sherrif Dept” policy that Parris has in place?

    • Dear Frank,

      Thanks for asking questions. I encourage people to ask questions as it allows them to decide if I am worthy of their vote.

      I’ll try to answer your questions without as best I can. As far as standing up to someone is concerned, I’ve done it before hundreds of times and I’ve gotten accostumed to doing so. As police officer I’ve stared down loaded gun barrels and stood my ground against people who wanted to throw me off roofs or through a bar mirrors. As a former council member and mayor, I stood up to adverisity when it was not popular to do so and casted my vote all alone when my peers voted the other way.

      At the end of the day, you need to ask yourself, am I proud of what I have done? I think the real question here is, how can I not stand up to someone when I believe that I am right? Am I willing to compromise my self-respect because it is convenient to do so. The answer is no. It does not matter to me if the people I work with or am up against play fair or not. Sometimes you have expect the fact they won’t play fair, particularly when the stakes are high and not losing is very important to them.

      As to being rewarded for going along, to that I say this. I never accepted money from anyone when I ran for election in Foster City and I WILL NOT not accept money from anyone while running for office in Lancaster. I am actually flattered Mr. Parris has given my incumbent apponents vast sums of money to run against me and the other candidates. My reward for seeking elected office is the honor of public service which I’ve enjoyed for nearly my entire adult life. There is no greater reward, certainly not some pecuniary gift someone gives to me in return for my soul.

      You mention an uneasy life for an unwillingness to compromise. I cannot imagine an easy life, if I did compromise my values and beliefs.

      As to your question regarding the Sheriff’s Department. Agressiveness in law enforcement often goes with the territory. If I learned anything while serving as a police officer for 32 years, it was that no one summons you to their home or business to report something good that has happened. Sometimes law enforcement officers use agressive force when it is warranted and sometimes they don’t. Sometimes the heat of the momment causes you to do something your not proud of later. It’s a business of split second decisions which lawyers will sit in comfortable chairs and debate for months, even years.

      Let’s just say I be naive for the moment, since I am not convinced police agression is a pervasive policy that one man controls alone.

      Thanks for your questions. I hope you ask my oppenents similar questions and I hope they answer them.

      John Kiramis

      • As I see it, the concern on the ‘aggressive sheriff’ issue has to do with the pervasive posturing by Parris, et al. Since Parris and his cronies are well known (even by their allies) to be corrupt, it is very easy to assume (whether rightly or not) that his corrupting influence is felt at the command levels of the local sheriff’s station. This support for excessive force is perceived to have a trickle down effect upon the line personnel and resulting in excessive force incidents and questionable deputy-involved shootings.

        I would be very interested to see the statistics on force issues from before and since Parris took office to see if the difference is real or merely perceived.

  19. Mr. Kiramis

    What do you think about the councils policy of censoring the broadcast of whatever is not on the agenda like peoples comments?

    • I’ve been curious as to why, taking into account I do not know of any other city council with televised meetings who follow this practice.

      I would also question as to why we have city council meetings at 5:00 p.m. when every city council in California who I’ve visited has meetings starting at 7:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. is an interesting time since this is the hour of day when our our employed populace is most likely on the freeway heading home or otherwise sitting down to dinner. I would even question why we even televise the meetings since our expedient city council moves so quickly through the agenda there is little time, if any, spent on discussion. Seldom, if ever, is anything pulled off the consent calendar for discussion or debate and I have yet to see anyone encourage public comments on any decision involving public policy or the spending of tax dollars. Let us just say 5:00 p.m. may be accomodating to someone and their schedule.

      What is amazing to me is why there’s so little discussion on agenda items. They’re supposed to be important. It seems as if every member on the council had a “mind meld” without discussion with one another, with a resulting epiphany as to what was the right path to take and how to proceed. When I was a mayor, I can truthfully say it would take 5 to 6 hours to wade through an agenda that our council can zip through in less than two.

      Perhaps it is because the current Lancaster council has a tremendous accumen for understanding complex issues and spends countless hours at home in the diligent study of the issues placed on the agenda for them to decide. Who’s to say? I would be the last person to say, nor even hint at the suggestion our council members meerly appear, much like cast members to a melodrama and vote in accordance to the will and edicts of the mayor. That would be a most sad commentary on our democratic process for which I could not possibly comment upon. I can however, say this much; most of the actual meetings of our council which I have witnessed, take little more time to conduct and conclude than the awards ceremonies that preceed them.

      John Kiramis

      • Let me say it for you.
        Our meetings are held at 5 because it KEEPS the public from joining. And the non agendized portion is no longer televised because Rex can never be certain that he will not have a critic speak that he hasn’t had the opportunity to marginalize. And yes, It is a sad commentary.
        There have been instances of meetings having up to 400 members of the public show up to speak out against actions our city takes. But no matter how many show, it has never been enough to get our council to vote for what we ask.
        We had a ballot measure in 2008 to incorporate our municipal elections in April, into the state and county elections we hold in November. (Allowing Norwalk, not the city of Lancaster, to handle both absentee ballot request and the counting of votes, and saving our city the cost of holding a stand alone election)
        It was passed by a 60% margin. It has never been implemented.
        The people spoke, and our local government refused our vote.

        So why bother holding meetings when the public can both participate and speak on city matters? When our “elected” (and that is questionable) officials have already decided what will or will not be done? They’ve already made the decision it’s just for show, and that we are to isolated from the rest of LA County to feel the need to keep up the pretense of caring what their citizens concerns, needs or wants are.

        • Thank you Maureen for your heart felt comments. So I ask you, what is the answer to opening the doors for open government and allowing those who pay the bills to have their opinions heard.

          I’ve been told more times than I care to count, that I am wasting my time running against an appointed incumbent and an incumbent who do not raise questions and go along with the program. I’ve been told an equal amount of times that I cannot beat the “machine” that currently exists.

          Perhaps not, but I do know that if you voice an honest opinion which resonates with the people often enough, people will start questioning their forlorned rights and vote for no other reason than to say that our government forgot a little fact which is that government is by the people and for the people and does not exist for the purpose of serving as an exclusive club for the annointed.

          Until the day comes, Lancaster will continue to be ruled by 14,000 of the 65,000 registered voters and little if anything will ever change. I’ll repeat what I’ve said before which comes from Socrates who said “Those who do not engage in politics are destined to be ruled by their inferiors and evil men”.

          John Kiramis

          • Do you mind if I ask what party you’re affiliated with? We have people here that have aligned themselves with the Republican party. Yet they have nothing in common with the Republicans I was raised with here in the high desert. They appear to belong to an American version of the Taliban. Although I’m personally a Democrat, I would have no problem supporting someone on the right, if they could only remember that we all have the rights afforded us under the constitution.

            As far as the quote, I’m very familiar with it, and it’s various variations. I have no answers for you. I have no idea why Americans no longer care enough to pay attention to, and involve themselves with a government that we are ultimately responsible for. It is a responsibility that we are to willing to hand to others. And it is our downfall.
            I regret not introducing myself to you. I sat down the aisle from you at the last city council meeting and recognized you. I was there with a youngster, filming the part of the meeting our fearless leader no longer believes we are privy to. The censored portion. I will make sure I don’t miss the next chance to do so. And thank you for your response.

  20. Dear Ace,

    No purprize. No one likes suprizes anyway unless they involve a gift. I am Greek Orthodox and yes I do pray. Often for guidance and sometimes for forgiveness. I believe there is nothing wrong with multi-denominational prayer at council meetings although I would never compel anyone to stand if it were there belief not to pray. I believe freedom of religion protects both our right to pray as well as not to pray.

    As for child molesters, I’m not sure what your asking. Personally I have arrested many of them and If there is one immutable truth about them, it is that they cannot stop.

    Once released form prison they are governed by section 290 of the California Penal Code, however that does not always work since supervision ceases once they come off probation or parole. I would like to pursue their movement monitored by the Sheriff’s Department to isure their compliance with section 290 more aggressively and if it mean we need more deputies so, be it. A deputies salary and benefits is worth every cent if it protects but one child from the horror of molestation.

    Incidently, I replied to your e-mail although it was returned undelivered. I take no offense to your remarks since you are correct in some part that I am not as well versed on all of the issues as I could be. I am however, learning remarkably fast as I meet more and more people. Thanks for the questions and keep up the good work. People holding office should be questioned more often and removed from often office when they skirt the issues or for that matter insolate themselves from accessability. You cannot have it both ways.

    Sincerely,

    John Kiramis

  21. Hey, John, you told me at a meeting before the last one that it was your first city council meeting. Where have you been the last two years?

    • Dear Mike,

      I’ve spent most of the past two year settling in. It takes a while when you pack up nearly sixty years of living, not to mentions a couple of montains of the stuff you’ve accululated and move four hundred miles to a new home. It espicially takes a while when your sixty and you try to do it alone with yourwife. I have, however, caught many of the meetings on television and I do read the papers each day.

      Thanks for asking,

      John Kiramis

  22. He would be just great. But sadly, he’s only one vote. The god ole boys will still be in charge.

    The King is financing two of his cronies to get them elected. It seems money talks in elections.

    • Sad but true. What’s amazing is people complain of the corruption but less than 20% of registered voters bother to vote. Socrates once said, “Those who do not engage in politics are destined to be ruled by evil men.” I hate to say but some amongst us deserve to be ruled by Rex and the court fools he bought as a gift to himself.

      • I do not disagree. When I first moved to Palmdale in 1990 and commuted to Burbank till 1997, I had little time to follow the local politics although I voted. I’m guessing that many in Lancaster who commute face the same situation in that they have little time left to pay attention to the goings on in Lancaster City Hall after commuting hours and hours each day.

        However, I wonder how they keep from noticing how Palmdale has improved so much over the last several decades while all Lancaster gets is landscaping on the BLVD and on the Avenue L interchange with the SR-14. Where is all the money going in Lancaster?

    • Dear AV Town Crier,

      You’re entirely correct that one vote amongst five, or even seven know that the mayor is entertaining expanding the council to seven seats, does not seem like much change. However I believe it is more than one vote, since one vote also equals one voice.

      I believe one voice can resonate if the message is clear, honest and pure. One voice can motivate people, who otherwise have resigned their civic involvement to once again engage and become involved in what takes place in their community.

      When this occurs you may hear a second independent voice and then who knows, maybe even a third.

      I maybe be wrong, but I like to think this is how change takes place.

      Sincerly,

      John Kiramis

      • John
        I was just being philosophical. I do agree with you on that. One voice speaking out when they see injustice and shining the light of truth on those who lie can (hopefully) awaken those citizens who have been asleep at the wheel and gave up.

        I hope that you and Mike are successful in your bids and keep the people’s interest as a first priority. Perhaps this could signal the start of real change.

        • I’ve gone back and have looked at the “off-year” election results for as far back as I could. It does not appear the people ever gave up. It appears the people were never engaged to begin with. Incumbents, even the appointed ones, can stay in office indefinetly when elections are governed by the 20% who vote as measured with the 80% who stay home on election day or won’t even bother opening their mailout ballots.

          As I speak with people I learn that many of them only vote in national elections which is sad since it implies they care what happens in Washington, but can care less what happens in their home town. Some are not even certain whether they are registered or not.

          Try no to take this wrong, however the mayor and the council members deserve to stay in office when their loyal majority of the 20% of those who vote keep voting them back in office. Conversely, the 80% who will not vote, have no legitimate right to complain. Democracy works both ways.

          As always, “Those who do not engage in politics are destined to be ruled by their inferiors and evil men”. -Socrates

          John Kiramis

          • As stated before, the city of Lancaster encourages low voter turn out by refusing to incorporate our elections with the state and county. As voted on by the people of the city in 2008.

    • Rex always buys his cronies to serve with him that is why we all need to get out and vote for JOHN KIRAMIS as a new council member. Tell all your friends to be sure and vote

      • I do not know whether Mr. Parris purchases his cronies or not, as it is not for me to say nor is it fair for me to even comment. I would say, however that IF he does, he seems to overpay and should ask for a refund.

        John Kiramis

  23. It is time for a new perspective in Lancaster. The current administration has been way to controversial from the start and placement of friends, employees and payback positions on the council are way too self-serving. I’d like to see a clean sweep on the council and then see how the incumbent mayor can operate in an environment where the has to operate with logic and public input instead of closed door deals. That’s fair government and the people of Lancaster should send a strong message against crony-ism.

      • Dear Matt,
        Dear Mark,

        Interesting thing about democracy and how we sometimes take it for granted. Democracy doen’t take us for granted nor does democracy forget us. It’s always there waiting for our yearning to awaken and demand it. Our nation was born out our will and determination for democracy and I like to believe there is not one man or woman among us that can or will disallow it. I have to admit, you do however make an intersting point.

        Sincerley,

        John Kiramis

        • John

          You will find out that the corruption/cronyism goes back a long time. Rex is their lawyer. City Manager Bob LaSala butted heads with Jim Gilley and Frank Visco and their Lawyer R. Rex (before he was elected) and he was gone within two years.

          You are going up against some very powerful (and well connected) gang of special interests that have controlled Lancaster from day one.

          When former council-member (and retired deputy)Jim Jeffra announced that he wasn’t seeking re-election he said; “Lancaster is as corrupt as they come.”

          This was long before the Bell scandal.

          I wish you good luck.

  24. I admit to liking what I am reading from this guy.

    Dare we hope for someone who actually cares what the community thinks BEFORE making decisions to spend or risk millions of dollars of taxpayer dollars?

    • Dear Stinger,

      Thank you for your kind words. I will keep them in mind while I am going door to door and walking the streets, meeting residents and introducing myself while voicing my positions on the issues.

      Occasionally its normal to become a little discouraged and I’ll ask myself, as I did the first time I ran for office, why am I putting myself through this again. You provide me with the answer.

      Thanks Again,

      John Kiramis

      • I truly look forward to meeting with you, John. You appear to be a ray of hope for the City of Lancaster.

          • That is a kind offer that I intend to take you up on, sir. You may expect an email soon, thank you!

        • This is great. Although I live in Palmdale, I’m glad to see you and John Kirimis having this inspiring exchange. I’m sure there are many of us Palmdalians who will look forward to seeing Mr. Kirimis on the council.

          There has been many things the current leadership has said and done that give Lancaster a negative reputation and from reading Mr. Kirimis’s own words, I can tell his being in the race will bring out a lot of discouraged and resigned voters who want a better civic environment for their city.

  25. Finally, a breath of fresh air and hope for Lancaster. Wonder how King Rex will go after him since everyone knows people with a brain and an opinion contrary to our kings don’t belong in his court of fools.

    • Dear CKAY,

      Let’s not worry about Mayor Parris. Between my long career as a cop and my short career as a mayor, I’ve learned to deal with most anyone and anything.

      What is important and what I choose to worry about are the issues and keeping the dialogue alive. It involves meeting residents and voters and learning more from them as to what their concerns are. I am well aware that many concerns involve the issues surrounding crime, jobs, government innacessability and I’m trying real hard to learn more so I don’t appear to be as ignorant as Mr. Carter suggests.

      Thanks for your thoughts.

      John Kiramis

      • Dear Mr. Kiramis

        Thank you. I already stopped thinking about that person. I hope there are more like you out there so we can all stop thinking about him.

  26. Seems like a decent, well-rounded, and most importantly INDEPENDENT thinker. He seems to promote engaging discussion between Council members and the community, which I think is a BIG plus. I’ve always been dismayed by how important measures sail through the current Council without sufficient discussion and input from the public. This Kiramis guy at least will listen to citizen concerns and take them into consideration. That’s good enough for me!

      • I voted “NO” contrary to my fellow councilmembers “YEAS”, some times alone and I have no doubt I may diasgree in the future if elected. The one thing you will see from me is thorough and complete discussions, which includes input from Lancaster residents, before I cast a vote, particularly when it involves spending our money or establising city policy.

        I’ve been told I am naive more than once; but I learned at an early age and still subscribe to the doctrine and belief in which every citizen has an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. This is how democracy is defined.

        When citizens are excluded from voicing their thoughts and government becomes inaccesable, by closing its doors to those it does not wish to hear, then anything can happen. This is not how I choose to live.

        John Kiramis

        • Mr. Kiramis, I have to ask. Are you in anyway associated with Mr. Parris? Thank you in advance for your reply.

          • Dear Jacky Jackson,

            Although I attend council meetings, I can tell you I am in no way associated with Mr. Parris other than the time I introduced myself to him in a restaurant nearly two years ago after my wife and I moved to Lancaster. It was a cordial meeting which lasted all of one minute.

            Thank you for asking me what was on your mind.

            John Kiramis
            jkiramis@yahoo.com

        • Mr. Kiramis. I am a Palmdale resident but I want to tell you that you’ve made a great first impression here on this site where we all bicker a lot.

          Your words pop off the page as being honest and trustworthy and not the usual politician speak. It will serve you well as people are hungry for that.

          My reference to the ‘NO’ votes was because as I’ve watched council meetings on TV frequently, for entertainment I must say. Most votes are unanimous. Now, it’s one thing for a council to be aligned on an issue and another thing when certain people are running the whole show with no dissent allowed. I’m sure you get a sense that that is what many people here complain about the current leadership.

          Heck. If you lived in Palmdale, I’d vote you. Same if I lived in Lancaster.

          • Dear Parker,

            Thanks an awful lot. You have no idea how an occassional positive remarks lifts one’s spirit to keep trudging on.

            It saddens me to hear from many of the voters I meet that the key issue on their minds is that the Lancaster council moves in lock step and how there is seldon, if ever, any discussion regarding public policy or spending. I know there are many other important issues, however this one seems to usually come out on top.

            I’d like to think our council is simply the most efficient, harmonious and best organized city council I have yet to see and that I plainly lack the mental faculties to appreciate them for what they are.

            Maybe public hearings and discussion are not all that important because our elected leaders were in fact chosen by the electorate for their infinite wisdom which when applied makes their agenda fly by smootly without need for laborious discussions.

            I hope the latter is true and I’m just too unsophisticated to realize and undertsand the prominence of greatness when I see it.

            Sincerely,

            John Kiramis

    • Dear S. Parker,

      Thank you for your positive comments. The interesting thing about being an independent thinker is that it’s not hard at all. We all think and we all have points of view. What is hard is having a point of view or an opinion and not expressing it for whatever reason you may have. I feel sorry for those who have opinions and keep them to themselves for reasons that it is one very frustrating and two erroding in time upon one’s dignity and self respect.

      Let’s all express our opinions. Trust me when I say, we’ll all be better off for it.

      John Kiramis