Meet the Roseville City Council Candidates: Tracy Mendonsa

Editor's Note — This is the third in a series of Roseville City Council candidate profiles. Seven people are running in the Nov. 6 election; three seats are available. Read more about candidates in our Election Guide here.

Roseville City Council candidate Tracy Mendonsa is optimistic about Roseville’s economic future. In fact, that is one of the main reasons the first-time politician is running for one of three open seats come Nov. 6.

“We haven’t seen this kind of growth in quite awhile and we want to make sure we take advantage of this opportunity,” said Mendonsa, referring to rumblings of an upturn in the Roseville housing market and recent new storefronts.

At first glance, the former federal investigator, is known as the “crime” candidate among his six opponents with his law enforcement background. Yet, when discussing the City’s issues, his focus often turns to Roseville’s overall quality of life.

“My family and I just love the resources (in Roseville),” said Mendonsa, 37.

Although this is his first campaign, Mendonsa speaks as a seasoned politician talking lengthily about all angles of any given issue.

If elected, he wants to work to increase the City’s revenues to ensure safe neighborhoods and add new businesses so the City has enough in the budget to preserve recreation and community services in spite of the impacts of the recent economic downturn.

“We have to keep up those parks and services. That’s what keeps people here. If we don’t keep them up and they don’t have anyplace to go, they may end up going to Folsom or Discovery Park ..." he said, adding “I want us to start ‘incentivizing’ new business and ‘incentivizing’ existing businesses.”

He suggests doing so by streamlining permitting and approval processes and by aggressively tapping into the City’s existing resources including Roseville Electric.

Specifically, he would promote utility discounts to new businesses, as well as to existing businesses undergoing energy-efficient renovations. He proposes giving new business owners short-term free advertising on City-owned advertising spaces, such as on City park sports field signs.

“Let’s give you some breathing room and help you get some foot traffic in the door,” he said. “We are going to make more on the sales tax end then even if they contracted for a year for the advertising space.”        

Still, a criminal justice graduate from the University of Phoenix, Mendonsa, insists his top priority would be public safety. He said he supports the current Roseville Police Department strategy to re-institute a beat cop presence. He also wants to help promote the public about preventing crimes of opportunity.

Mendonsa worked as a special agent for Federal Investigative Services from 2002 to 2009 working primarily with the U.S. Department of Defense. He then became a college chair with ITT Technical Institute as well as working as an instructor.

Currently, Mendonsa is a regulatory compliance analyst for Purple Communications, where he ensures the Rocklin-based company meets government standards. Purple provides communication solutions to the hearing impaired.                 

The Sacramento native also works as a part-time instructor at Heald College in Roseville, adding he has a special interest in getting a four-year university or satellite campus to locate in the City.

In April, current City Council members entered into a partnership with Sacramento State University leaders to expand its presence in the region.

“We (need) to establish a think tank,” he said, with regards to a possible university. “We (need) to get some great minds together ... It’s always a way to keep our community here. It’s a way to draw from other communities.”

Mendonsa and his wife Kristen have twin daughters. When he is not campaigning, he spends his free time with his family, often barbecuing.

Before running for office, he could be found volunteering for Mother’s Against Drunk Drivers at DUI checkpoints or serving as the district commissioner for the Golden Empire Council of Boy Scouts of America.

Mendonsa has also worked with the American Cancer Society, Crime Victims United, Girl Scouts of America, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the March of Dimes.

To learn more about Mendonsa’s campaign, visit his website here. He can be followed on Facebook here.

As for the Council itself, he holds it in high regard.

“Serving on the City Council is one of the best ways to contribute to society,” Mendonsa said. “The City Council has to represent the City but it also has to represent the residents too.” 

You can read more about Mendonsa in a candidate-provided profile here.

For more local election coverage, see our Election Guide 2012 topic page here.
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