Leilani Kimmel-Dagostino - 'Senior Activist'

"You're the one who saved our senior tour program!"

Yes, Leilani Kimmel-Dagostino, candidate for Torrance City Council, is the lady residents have seen on television advocating for Senior services at city council meetings.  She's a 'people person' and for four years Leilani served as the chair for the Commission On Aging and twice she has served as vice-chair, the position she currently holds.

"Safety and security" are the most important needs of the community, she said, and when those are assured, her heart lies with "the needs of seniors".

"Torrance is an aging community.  In 2010, I served on the Torrance Census Complete Count - an Ad Hoc Committee - and learned that the average age of Torrance residents was 47," a statistic, she points out, that shows that the population is approaching retirement.  Currently "nobody is focusing on the needs of seniors...that's why I am running."

But all city services depend on 'the budget'.

In the coming decades "the City of Torrance is facing a $400 million obligation (in Pension Plans).  The current council believes that with changes in contracts for 'new hires only' they will have the problem solved in 20 to 30 years.  However, they are assuming a 7% coupon rate of return on investment.  But...if something goes wrong, that's going to have to be monitored.  20 to 30 years down the road - who knows what's going to happen?  There might have to be some adjustments.  That's why you need somebody who understands finance. Governor Brown (has recently required that) pension liabilities have to be published.  Every year when that budget comes out, you have to be looking.  There are always ways to 'move things around' to make them look better than they are."

"I am a budget analyst," she said.  Leilani earned her MBA in Quantitative Analysis from Pepperdine University.  "I am a small business owner.  I have a financial consulting firm and I'm a member of the Torrance Chamber of Commerce, focusing on Tech Pros.  I want to bring technology to senior citizens" and also to schools and entrepreneurial programs.

Leilani has worked with two Ad Hoc committees for the City of Torrance: the 2010 Torrance Census Complete Count committee and the Strategic Planning Committee for Transit - "That's one of my subcommittees of the Commission on Aging which watches over Measure R funding".  She has also worked with the Torrance Police Department on the 'Seniors Don't Be Scammed' program and 'Operation Lookout'.  She fought to get funding restored for the 'Dial A Ride' taxi program for seniors who can't drive anymore.

Leilani has been a long-time supporter of the Torrance Fire Fighters and has earned their endorsement.  "For years I have worked at their events.  I have also worked with their Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) which educates the public on 'what to do' in a general disaster."

"There's nobody on the Torrance City Council who cares about seniors and their concerns like I do.  We're going to need to sustain transportation, housing, hot meal programs and more for our seniors.  My interest is in maintaining a Safe and Secure city with a balanced budget - an honest budget because I am going to drill into everything."

(By the way: Leilani's husband, John, is a Viet Nam Era veteran helicopter pilot who served 23 years with the Marine Corps then transferred to the U. S. Coast Guard to fly Search and Rescue missions.)

All of Leilani's community service accomplishments - too numerous to list but which includes a 'mobile app' entitled 'Discover Torrance' - can be seen on her website: www.leilani2014.com.  Or you can just ask her when you see her; she prides herself on being accessible to everyone.

Or you can call her at home if you'd like.  She'd love to hear from you.