Coronado resident Derik Mundt, who many recognize as the manager at The UPS Store, is making his second run for City Council. Derik shared his passion for the community and why he wants to be a part of City Council.
How did Coronado become your home?
“My first memory of Coronado was coming over the bridge as a teenager and seeing this beautiful community! It looked like something out of a movie, and at that point I knew that Coronado was going to be my forever home. After dropping off my brother-in-law at North Island, I walked up and down Orange Ave. in search of work and got a job that day and it’s the one I still have today. So I guess you could say the Navy and my sister brought me to the Crown City.”
What makes you a good City Council Candidate?
“I am a residents first candidate. To me, and the folks I talk to, preserving the place we call home should be above everything else, including preserving our ocean and fixing the sewage problem. A price tag cannot be put on Coronado’s history and character. I’ve worked as a business manager for over a decade on Orange Ave, and get updates from locals. I’m a very easy person to talk to and I listen to everyone’s input.”
What community involvement have you had?
“I’ve been involved with the community since I first arrived. One reason I love this town is that everyone seems to participate. Early on, I became a volunteer with the Coronado Lions Club, becoming President and Treasurer. My favorite event is our hot dog stand on the 4th of July, which is a 12-hour shift selling hundreds of hot dogs to raise money for people with impaired vision and inner city kids who cannot afford glasses they need. We give out free hot dogs and Starbucks coffee to military veterans and peace officers. This year I walked around the park taking orders from every veteran I could find, so they could enjoy the concert. I have a great time talking with our local veterans.
“Each April, I volunteer for the Coronado Flower Show selling donated plants and gifts. I’ve been a team captain for the Old Goats annual wheelchair basketball game between community volunteers and the Wolfpack team of amputee veterans (we have never won a game!). This year’s game benefitted the Charles Keating IV Foundation, in memory of a local military hero whose life was taken too soon.
“Last year, I co-managed the middle school venue for the Coronado Island Film Festival, and this year will be managing the high school’s venue. I also help organize the yearly ‘Dinner and Play’ event at Coronado Playhouse.
“Throughout the past year I paid for the shipping costs for relief efforts in a variety of disasters across the country. Local residents brought in items from clothes and food to generators, and it pleased me to pay for the shipping and taxes out of my own pocket to assist victims of floods in Houston, the hurricane in Puerto Rico and fires in California.”
What is your platform?
“I see two ways of looking at how we value Coronado. Either we bulldoze all we can to maximize property tax revenue, or it’s our heritage that we see giving long term net worth to the community. I see the people of Coronado giving us a value that you cannot put a price tag on. We need full-time residents and families living in Coronado and not year round vacation rentals. Coronado needs a candidate who wants to protect that sense of community before generating more property tax revenue. I was motivated to run entirely because of what I hear every day from residents. If I had to sum it up, it was the people who walked into my store and told me that they had enough and wanted to move. If locals are considering leaving, we are in trouble. I will also make sure every part of town is properly represented ~ the Village, Cays, Country Club, and the Shores.
“The sewage problem has gotten out of control. I will meet with every official possible to come up with solutions to fix this. We are a beach town, and we are scared to swim or surf in our own beaches. Millions of gallons of raw sewage are dumped in our ocean just south of us. I’m a member of Citizens Against Sewage (CAS) and I generally agree with the CAS Solutions Objectives List.“
What ideas do you have for Coronado?
“I have plenty of new ideas I would like us to explore. Historic Districts are something our city needs, and needs now. We all saw our local history stripped away right with the closing of El Cordova [Garage], one of the oldest operating garages on this side of the Mississippi. My good friend, Mr. Sarber (owner of Costa Azul) lost his restaurant, in which he dedicated 20 years to make a success. I know we can’t go back and fix [those] problems, we just need to make sure our future plans include protection of our village.
“I think RSIP 3 was an improvement, but we shouldn’t stop until we have perfected it. We need a 4 and a 5 and so on until we have the best solutions. I haven’t seen the project study report about relinquishment the city has requested, but I think local control of our main streets will help with traffic calming measures. This is local control of 3rd and 4th and the 75 (Orange Ave).
“We need suicide barriers on the bridge. Bird spikes might be a start, but a fence will be the best solution and the most cost efficient. Caltrans needs to step up its efforts. I lost my father to a similar situation while I was in middle school, so this topic hits home with me. The pain the families and friends go through is indescribable. I’m a member of the San Diego suicide prevention group that is involved with Caltrans, the City, and representatives from other communities.
“I support enforcing all of our old ordinances and codes. This idea is brought up every couple years, enforcement increases then drops again. Keep writing tickets and warnings, until we see all these speeders and people on bikes follow the law. It gets out of control during the summer, and even while school is in session. We need better enforcement of ALL laws. I see people coming out of alleys on bikes not even looking, cars blowing through stop signs and people speeding, but I rarely see people being pulled over.”
What is your favorite book/hobby?
“My favorite book is The City of Coronado General Plan! My favorite hobby right now is metal detection. I’ve found so much local history around these older houses with my detector. Every time it beeps, I find a lost piece of Coronado’s history.”
Where is your favorite Coronado retreat?
“Definitely the beach! You can’t beat laying on the beach with your pup listening to the waves and taking a nap.”
