De Meo wants to switch from schools to fire departments in NCFPD race

For the last six years, Lee J. De Meo has served as a trustee on the Fallbrook Union High School District Board of Trustees, now he wants to become a director in District 1 on the North County Fire Protection District Board of Directors.

De Meo, along with his opponent David Kennedy, were sent questions by Village News so that readers could get a little more insight into each of the candidates and their priorities.

Kennedy did not respond to the questions prior to the press deadline, but his answers will be included in future editions of the newspaper if he responds.

Why do you feel you are uniquely qualified to represent your district on the NCFPD board?

De Meo: I bring my local government experience, community knowledge and personal ideas of community service to the NCFPD board, having served successfully as a member of the Fallbrook Community Planning Group since 2012 and as a trustee of the Fallbrook Union High School District since 2014. I have found it a great responsibility and honor to serve Fallbrookians in these ways and look forward to being able to serve them in this new capacity.

Measure A not passing was a huge blow to the district. How can you help guide the district through future funding issues?

De Meo: Having served as an elected trustee of the Fallbrook High School Board, I have observed and helped implement the current school bond (Measure AA passed in 2016) without raising taxes on the residents of Fallbrook. This bond was successfully structured in such a way to make that happen. I will bring my experience in this to the NCFPD board for future efforts. (I don't believe that the presentation of Measure A was handled correctly).

What are the top three issues facing the district in the coming years?

De Meo: Naturally the first issue to be considered is the ongoing possibilities of seasonal and year round wildfires and our community's ability to both mitigate and prevent them and to make sure that our community is prepared for them, This leads to be able to make sure that North County Fire Protection has what is needed in equipment, facilities and manpower to accomplish those abilities. Finally, with the new homes being built in our area and the increase in residents, we will need to take a look at what will be needed to provide fire protection for these new residents and the area growth as we move into the future.

What are three things you would like to accomplish or shore up with the district if you are elected?

De Meo: I would like to accomplish the three things listed above in question 3. In addition, I would like our first responders to know that they are appreciated by Fallbrookians and to make sure they have what they need, while still being fiscally responsible.

What do you bring to the board personally or professionally that is currently lacking or will add to the board in your opinion?

De Meo: The biggest asset I bring to add to this or any other board (like I have in both the planning group and the high school board) is the ability to quickly analyze information and situations, to understand what that information means, how it relates together and get a good picture of what is happening, what will happen if any particular actions are or are not taken, and be able to make good decisions moving forward to provide good and positive results for Fallbrook and the rest of the district. I look forward to being able to continue to serve.

Jeff Pack can be reached by email at [email protected].