Join Marshall Merrifield to put the city's fiscal house in order, so that we can feel secure about San Diego's financial strength and focus again on its bright future.

We have all witnessed the financial meltdown at City Hall. Our city's challenges - the breakdown in financial controls, the loss of our credit worthiness, and a long history of sweeping financial problems under the rug rather than confronting them directly - are having a negative impact on families and our neighborhoods.

Next June, voters will have a chance to elect a new slate of City Council members - Council members who can bring a disciplined approach to the challenges facing our city.

Marshall is the only candidate for this office who has founded and operated a number of successful businesses, including the largest distributor of locking hardware in the United States, which has its headquarters here in San Diego. As a former specialist in municipal finance at Kidder Peabody on Wall Street, Marshall would be a valuable addition to a city council that currently needs more financial experience.

Marshall is dedicated to improving lives. He has significant experience in creating, leading, and participating in non-profit organizations. As a soccer coach in Carmel Valley and a little league volunteer, Marshall understands the heart of the community--its children. He and his wife founded Playground Partners, a non-profit that provides a safe, inclusive, and fun curriculum for lunch recess at public elementary schools in San Diego, enlisting 200 parent volunteers, and benefiting over 10,000 children weekly.

Marshall pledges to be a strong proponent of transparency in government activities and decisions and will insist that city agencies follow established procedures. Marshall supports the "strong-mayor" system and will be an advocate for further reform.

Join Marshall to restore accountability and transparency in city government. Join Marshall so we can once again be proud to call San Diego America's Finest City.

Marshall is a successful San Diego entrepreneur, who has built a 54 year old local security distribution business, Clark Security Products and its affiliate General Lock, into a $145 million revenue business and the nation's largest wholesale distributor and installer of commercial security hardware, with 14 locations nationwide and over 400 employees. In addition, he has started and run several hi-tech and service businesses. Marshall is also the co-founder of BlueWave Security, which manufactures the world's first network access control system based on Wi-Fi technology; he is a co-founder of Shoreline Studios, a software company that first created live animation for sports television in the U.S., including the yellow first down line for NFL broadcasts; he is co-founder of South Swell Sports, which has become a successful San Diego lacrosse league and equipment retailer; and he was a finalist for the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award.

Actively involved in regional economic initiatives, Marshall is a member of the advisory board of The Security Network, a non-profit organization that promotes rapid commercialization of dual usage security technologies and the development of effective regional security for San Diego and Southern California. He is also a member of the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation's five-year strategic planning group, which generates proposals for a study of the defense, security, transportation, maritime & manufacturing industries.

His leadership in creating and managing non-profit organizations has given Marshall an appreciation for the need to make sure all constituencies are involved and respected at every stage in the decision-making process. He served as treasurer for the oldest YMCA summer camp in the nation, Camp Dudley, where he managed an $8 million endowment. Along with his wife, Ginny, Marshall founded Playground Partners in 2000, a non-profit organization that provides a fun, inclusive and safe recess environment for over 10,000 children at 20 San Diego and Orange County elementary schools. Marshall is also a member of the Board of Managers of the Magdalena Ecke YMCA.

While studying at Princeton, Marshall was elected as the Class President in his sophomore year and elected as Chair of the Honor Committee for his senior year. Marshall's sense of integrity and honor was deepened from this experience as a steward of one of the oldest honor codes in the nation: a contract between student and faculty that maintains a code of honor during exams and all academic work. "Marshall was also the varsity punter for Princeton's football team. He holds a BA in Economics from Princeton University.

Marshall lives in Carmel Valley with his wife of 18 years, Ginny, and their three children. They are members of Solana Beach Presbyterian Church.

About the Author

Join Marshall Merrifield Marshall Merrifield for San Diego City Council, District 1