Dedicated Marvin Heinze brings a wealth of experience to his second run for Coronado City Council. His whole life has revolved around service, starting as an Eagle Boy Scout and then on to a 30-year military career. He bought his first house in the Cays in 1988 when the neighborhood was still being built. He sold that home several years later and now has another house in the Cays, where he lives with his wife Jill, who works as a civilian for the Navy. Throughout his career, he had four tours here, and retired as a Navy Captain in 2008.
I was surprised to learn that no one in his family has a military background. When his parents told him and his two brothers that they would pay for college, Marvin decided he wanted to do it on his own and went on a ROTC scholarship and earned a degree in architecture. He also got a mechanical engineering degree, but found his true calling in the Navy and made it his career. He was a Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer (EOD). Since the Navy, he has worked directing the Department of Defense homeland defense options related to protecting ports and harbors.
What makes you a good City Council candidate?
“I have a vision to keep Coronado special, keeping the sense of community. I understand things change, but want to control it and keep the village feel.”
Marvin first ran in 2016 because only two people were running for two seats and he felt that people needed more choices in a democracy. He sees being part of the City Council as his next logical evolution, so he now throws his hat back in the ring. Even though he didn’t win last time, he had a positive experience and felt all the candidates got along and shared information, along with a love for Coronado.
What other community involvement have you had?
He currently serves on the Coronado Planning Commission and a several other community non-profit boards. His local government experience includes the Coronado Street Tree Committee, the Coronado CERT Board, and the Board of Directors for the Coronado Cays Homeowners Association.
What idea do you have for Coronado?
He believes Coronado needs to shore up the underground infrastructure including sewage and drainage. He believes in investing in the future to get ahead of potential problems before major breaks occur. He realizes it’s hard for people to understand spending money on things they can’t see, but it is crucial to keep the city intact.
He is a proponent of undergrounding utilities and applauds the City Council for taking steps towards making this important project a reality. Traffic control is another big issue he wants to tackle to help make the community better. He sees that enforcement has helped, but believes there are other traffic calming measures that may help and advocates working with the Navy to find other solutions. “I feel that the city government has done a good job putting an emphasis on public safety, but there is always more that can be done. We need to also ensure that our community is prepared for a major emergency.”
What are your thoughts on the following Coronado concerns?
Beach Sewage Issue
“I am pleased with current path the city is on. By not getting directly involved in litigation, it has helped us maintain the freedom to pursue other avenues. We can always join the lawsuit later, if that’s what is warranted. The city is on the right track working with other governments in bringing national attention to this critical issue.”
Residential Overdevelopment
This is right up his alley because he has served on the Planning Commission for four years. Having watched the myriad of construction projects in the city though the years, he feels that the city has crafted good zoning laws, but there is a continual process of adjustment. “It’s a balancing act between property rights versus community desires,” he comments. He feels that there must be “a fair system that allows for needed affordable housing and multi-family units.” He feels the zoning map perspective makes sense.
Commercial Property & City’s Role
He acknowledges that people become apprehensive when they don’t have all the facts. He supports a diversity of businesses and knows the city needs to work with developers to accomplish this. “Change is not necessarily a bad thing, tourism has helped keep this town vibrant. The city can help incentivize the owner to do what’s right for the city to keep it the special place it is,” he adds.
Traffic/Tourists vs Residents
He advocates that the 3rd & 4th street corridor must feel like a residential street, when people are driving down it, not a highway to speed down. Caltrans controls this area, but he points to the calming effects of parking and bulbouts that all help with this. “The city has looked at taking over the streets, but caution is needed on what costs are associated with this, especially the infrastructure under Orange Ave.”
He says that tourism is a needed thing, but it needs to be shaped and spread throughout the year and group tourism can help with that. He likes the free summer shuttle bus and hopes a solution can be found for the Cays. He and many others don’t always want to get in their cars to come to the village.
Social Media Participation
He started a social media presence during the last campaign. He only shares positive thoughts and is very careful not to delve into planning commission issues on social media. “I feel it can help start discussions, but can have positive and negative impacts. It alerts people to issues, but all the facts are not usually there, so it can skew the discussion,” he comments. He is amazed at how people take liberties saying things on social media that they wouldn’t say in person.
What is your favorite book/hobby?
“My favorite book of the past year was Tribe by Sebastian Junger, who spent one year embedded with an Army unit in Afghanistan, where everyone relied on everyone else and that created a sense of belonging. It is interesting to note that military personnel suffer from PTSD when they come back to civilization, not so much because of the trauma of the experience, but from withdrawal from the security of their connected tribe.”
He thoroughly enjoys the outdoors, backpacking, and camping. He hiked the John Muir Trail, which is a 220-mile trek, in three weeks. He is currently working his way through visiting every one of the 417 National Park Service Units. These areas include national parks, monuments, battlefields, military and historical parks, lakeshores and seashores, recreation areas, scenic rivers and trails, and the White House. He has seen more than 300, and is planning on how he can get to some of the more difficult outposts like Samoa and the Aleutian Islands.
What is your favorite place/thing in Coronado?
“Without a doubt, Sunday morning breakfast at the Coronado Cays Yacht Club.”
Why should people vote for you?
“My whole life has revolved around a theme of service. I believe in keeping Coronado special with the village character, but bringing our small town into 21st century. Having worked in government my whole life, I know how to get things done amidst bureaucracy. Having grown up with depression-era parents, who taught me to spend only necessary dollars, I have lived that way my whole life and will translate that fiscal conservativeness into my role on the City Council,” he concludes. To learn more, visit Marvin’s website at https://Heinze4NadoCouncil.com
