Meet City Council Candidate Chris Koerber

In April, seven candidates will fight for three spots on the Sierra Madre City Council; two four year seats and one two year seat ( and Councilmember Joe Mosca) are up for election. Patch has been chatting with a few of the candidates to see what they’re all about.

By day, Chris Koerber is Vice President of Employee Benefits and Health Insurance at New City Insurance. In his spare time, Koerber is a husband, father of two grown kids and an active member of the foothill community.

Koerber moved to Sierra Madre nearly 15 years ago, and immediately became involved with Residents to Preserve Sierra Madre.

“Shortly after we moved to Sierra Madre an application was made to build a high school on the Willis Estate at 1 Carter,” Koerber wrote to Patch. “I became very involved with Residents to Preserve Sierra Madre (RPSM) and was one of the first donors to their cause.  Our efforts were successful.  In 2004 the developer made a proposal to build single family homes at 1 Carter.  I also actively participated in the EIR scoping sessions and spoke several times during the Planning Commission and City Council hearings to downsize the project and help protect our mountain view.”

More recently, Koerber was a member of the Sierra Madre Community Foundation from 2004 to 2009. “I chaired the grants subcommittee,” said Koerber. “I think the coolest grant that we funded was ‘Summer Movie Nights at the Pool.’”

Koerber, along with his wife Halcyon, is also involved with the popular at the . Together they started the sale of books online for the library, and Koerber says that they’ve been able to sell several books that were higher in value than the usual fare, resulting in more funds for the Friends of the Sierra Madre Library.

Just outside Sierra Madre, Koerber is working with his daughter’s alma mater, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, on their Development Committee and Flintridge Fund subcommittee. “We work to encourage current and past FSHA parents to support the school and keep it financially viable,” he said.

Koerber has a background in financial services, and says one of his goals is the city’s budget.

“I will bring the expertise needed to deal with the difficult and complicated budgets that City Council will be facing for the near future,” said Koerber.

Koerber has a B.S. in Biology from Kent State University, and spent eleven years with the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a Plant, Protection and Quarantine Officer in Long Beach. Later, he became a Certified Financial Planner and started a part-time business as a tax preparer. Koerber eventually switched careers, moving on to New Century Insurance. He started as an agent selling property, casualty, life and health insurance, and today serves as Vice President of Employee Benefits and Health Insurance.

Koerber and his wife raised their children in Sierra Madre, partaking in Little League, Girls Softball, Interact, church youth groups and scouting.

“Scouting is an important part of our family,” said Koerber.  “Halcyon’s dad and I both attained the rank of Eagle Scout. [My son] Dan was a member of Troop 4, Pasadena, and he, too, attained the rank of Eagle Scout. I was honored to be an Assistant Scoutmaster from 1998 – 2005.  Our monthly hikes, campouts and backpacks reinforced my love of open spaces and our local mountains.”

In just a few short months, Koerber’s name will grace the ballot alongside six other candidates.

 “My passion is to partner with the community to retain Sierra Madre’s unique culture and heritage and to leave to our children and grandchildren a city that is economically stable.”

Check out all seven City Council candidates:

For the two-year seat:

Chris Koerber

• Koerber's Facebook Page
• Koerber's Campaign Website

Colin Braudrick 

• Braudrick's Facebook Page
• Braudrick's Twitter
• Braudrick's Campaign Website

For the four-year seat:

Gene Goss

• Goss' Facebook Page
• 
  

John Capoccia 

• Capoccia's Facebook page
• Capoccia's Campaign Website

John Harabedian

• Harabedian's Twitter
• Harabedian's Facebook Page
• Harabedian's Campaign Website

Mary Ann MacGillivray

• MacGillivray's Facebook Page
• MacGillivray's Twitter
• MacGillivray's Campaign Website

Bill Tice