Mayor Bill Wells

EL CAJON MAYOR SPEAKS OUT ON HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS, GOALS IF REELECTED, AND CHALLENGES FACING THE CITY

 

By Miriam Raftery

View full interview, recorded for the East County Magazine Radio Show on KNSJ, by clicking image at left

September 21, 2022 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells has served as Mayor for nine years, and on the City Council and  Planning Commission before that.  A healthcare professional, he brings a unique perspective to issues such as homelessness. He’s running for eelection and this week, sat down for an exclusive interview in which he discussed his accomplishments, key challenges facing the city, and his goals if reelected. He also spoke out on the city’s conflicts with the county over a homeless motel voucher program.

He says his commitment is to "trying to do what’s right" while" listening to everyone's point of view."


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MAYOR WELLS HEADLINES CONCERT AUG. 28 IN EL CAJON TO HELP THE HOMELESS

By Miriam Raftery

August 1, 2021 (El Cajon) – The Magnolia Center in El Cajon will host a concert on August 28 from 8-10 p.m. to benefit the East County Transitional Living Center that helps homeless individuals and families.  “An Evening With Mayor Wells” will feature El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells, a talented musician, and his friends will provide live musical entertainment. A silent auction and painting demonstration will also be held.


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EL CAJON MAYOR BILL WELLS HOLDS VIRTUAL TOWN HALL MEETING

Answers Wide Variety of Questions Submitted By Local Residents     

by Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

Complete Video

March 30, 2020 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells on Tuesday evening held a first-of-a-kind virtual town hall meeting via the city’s website answering a wide variety of questions submitted by local residents on a live basis through the city’s website and social media sites.

The hour-long webcast addressed such subjects as the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, how the city is addressing the needs of the area’s homeless population during the crisis, the city’s refusal to shutter local gun shops, resident evictions and foreclosures, law enforcement response, and other topics.


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HEAR OUR INTERVIEW: MAYOR BILL WELLS, CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

May 25, 2018 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells, candidate for the 50th Congressional district currently held by Rep. D. Duncan Hunter, sat down for an  interview with East County Magazine’s show on KNSJ radio. In his interview, he spoke about both conservative values and a need for compassion in addressing a broad range of issues, as well as how his experience heading up the city of El Cajon has prepared him for serving in Congress, if elected.

Hear the full interview by clicking the audio link and scroll down for highlights.

Asked why he decided to run, Wells says, “It really started with elected officials across the region worried about the Congressman being under criminal investigation.”  Both Wells and Hunter are conservative Republicans. 

To Wells, the race is primarily about character and integrity. In a thoughtful and in-depth interview, he also discussed some areas where his views differ, such as budget cutting priorities and restraint with nuclear weapons, as well as some initiatives of his own in healthcare and treatment of the mentally ill.

Audio: 

Interview with Mayor Bill Wells, candidate for Congress

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HEAR OUR INTERVIEW: EL CAJON MAYOR BILL WELLS

 

By Miriam Raftery

December 28, 2017 (El Cajon)—El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells was our guest for an in-depth interview on our radio show last week.  You can hear the full interview, originally aired on KNSJ, by clicking on the “audio” link.  Our topics included the performing arts center, a major new goal for helping the homeless, and economic revitalization in the community.

Mayor Wells shared details about the city’s exciting new partnership with Live Nation to reopen the East County Performing Arts Center.  The Mayor, who plays several musical instruments, recalled how music made a big difference in his own life.  “It was the first thing I was really good at,” he reflected, also sharing a humorous anecdote about how he talked his way into the school band as a youngster growing up.

Audio: 

Interview with El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells Dec. 2017

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EL CAJON MAYOR BILL WELLS PAINTS POSITIVE PICTURE IN STATE OF CITY ADDRESS

 

 

 

by Paul Kruze

Hear audio of Mayor Wells’ State of the City address

 

December 15, 2017 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells painted a positive picture of his city in his annual “State of the City” address at the City Council Chambers on Tuesday.

Wells began his address saying that for the past several years, the City of El Cajon has attempted to create a new atmosphere for its businsses, residents, and visitors. He said that in 2017 the city had made significant progress towards this goal. “New and exciting things are continuing to happen for El Cajon, and more is yet to come,” he stated. “The City of El Cajon is taking enormous strides to improve the quality of life liveability of the city for residents and businesses. The city is engaged in major economic development making our city more effiicient, increasing the safety of the community, and rebranding El Cajon as a family friendly place.”


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A MESSAGE FROM EL CAJON MAYOR BILL WELLS

 

September 30, 2016 (El Cajon) --  El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells issued the following statement to clarify his remarks made in a  Sept. 28 press conference regarding the shooting of Alfred Olongo by an El Cajon Police officer. 

I have been asked by several people since yesterday’s press conference if I intended to suggest by one of my responses that it is my opinion, after having watched the video, that the officer’s use of his firearm was not justified.  This was absolutely not my intent.


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READER'S EDITORIAL: STRONGER ALCOHOL LAW PREVENTS PROBLEMS IN EL CAJON

 

By Pastor Rolland Slade, Meridian Baptist Church

June 26, 2015 (El Cajon)--For some time now, alcohol retailers in the City of El Cajon have been under pressure to conduct their businesses more responsibly. But despite all their efforts, irresponsible business practices such as selling to minors and already intoxicated homeless people have continued to be a problem.


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HALF PERCENT SALES TAX ROLLBACK IN EL CAJON

 

April 22, 2015 (El Cajon)—El Cajon has rolled back its sales tax from 9% to 8.5% due to the sunsetting of Proposition O, a temporary sales tax that helped build public safety facilities and more.


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SANTA BRINGS GIFTS TO HOMELESS KIDS-WITH HELP FROM FIREFIGHTERS AND MAYOR WELLS

 

December 22, 2014 (El Cajon) – Community members teamed up to bring joy to homeless children in a special Christmas party at the East County Transitional Living Center on Saturday. Santa made a special visit to pass out gifts, aided by CAL FIRE firefighters.


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EL CAJON TURNS THE CORNER: MAYOR BILL WELLS DELIVERS OPTIMISTIC STATE OF THE CITY 2014 ADDRESS

 

By Paul Kruze

Photo by Randy Jordan

December 16, 2014 (El Cajon)--It has been the worst of times and it has been the best of times for the city of El Cajon.

Mayor Bill Wells painted a generally optimistic picture in his State of the City address delivered on Tuesday, December 9th shortly after he was sworn in before a full City Council chamber. The mayor’s upbeat message came despite having to deal with some formidable headwinds during the past year—a year that saw the fifth largest city in San Diego County deal with political appointments surrounded by controversy, a crackdown on the city’s liquor stores, the city’s improving financial stability and ongoing renovation plans for the embattled East County Performing Arts Center.


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EL CAJON HEARS VIEWS ON ECPAC PARTNERSHIP WITH ROCK CHURCH

 

Council also adopts fees for second-hand shops

By Janis Russell

September 10, 2014 (El Cajon)- At yesterday’s El Cajon City Council meeting,  many people expressed their views once again on the city’s proposed long-term lease of East County Performing Arts Center to Rock Church—with the majority present opposed to the deal.


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EL CAJON CITY COUNCIL VOTES FOR NEW ORDINANCE REGULATING HOOKAHS AND E-CIGARETTES

 

By Janis Russell

July 23, 2014 (El Cajon)- At yesterday’s El Cajon Council meeting, Council had a public hearing on electronic cigarettes and hookahs, then voted unanimously to outlaw hookah lounges in the city.  One existing hookah vaping lounge in the city will be grandfathered in as a legal but non-conforming use, however no new facilities will be permitted.


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JIMMIE JOHNSON DAY ESTABLISHED IN EL CAJON

                    

 

By David Dickens

Photo, left by Randy Jordan: Mayor Bill Wells presents proclamation to Jimmie Johnson

 

June 17, 2014 (El Cajon)-- On this beautiful day in downtown El Cajon,  friends, family, fans, and promoters gathered to pay honor to NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson.


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ST. PATRICK'S DAY HALF MARATHON A GREAT SUCCESS

 

March 19, 2014 (El Cajon) - Sunday, March 16 was a beautiful day for a race in the City of El Cajon, as RunEC held its second annual “St. Patrick’s Day Half Marathon, Main Street 5K, and Green Mile.”


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