Politics & Government
Meet Gene Goss, Your City Council Candidate
Sierra Madre's Gene Goss, a Professor of Political Science at Long Beach City College, is running for a four-year seat on the City Council.
On April 10, Gene Goss will face off against four other citizens who are vying for a four-year seat on the Sierra Madre City Council (two other candidates are running for the two-year seat). Patch sat down with Goss in his home to find out what he’s all about.
Goss is a 17-year resident of Sierra Madre, and has lived in two different neighborhoods with his wife and nine-year-old son. Though Goss is a newcomer to the local political scene, he’s devoted the better part of his life to studying politics. Goss has been a Professor of Political Science at Long Beach City College since 1991.
"I am a student of government, so it is not just a hobby, it is a vocation for me," said Goss. He’s just as quick to discuss political philosophers- “the farther back you go, the wiser they get,” he says- as he is his favorite Sierra Madre park to play in with his son.
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Goss stresses that he senses a special understanding of Sierra Madre, having raised a child in this community. He reflected on a security this city offers him that he finds sacrosanct.
"I feel so comfortable with [my son] everywhere we go in this town and I think that is precious, especially in this day and age,” said Goss. “There is a lot to protect here, a lot to preserve."
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Goss cites the guidance of this, and other influences from over the years, as having helped steer him to this political endeavor.
“I moved here for a reason,” he said. “We like this place the way it is. We like the low density. The small-town feel. There is just no place like it."
What Kind of Leader Goss Aims to Be
“This is a democracy and it is very important that the public consensus rules,” said Goss. “A political science professor should believe that, or he shouldn't be teaching political science!
"I have a very great appreciation for what I think is the consensus in this city, and has been ever since I have been here," Goss said. “That is, I have friends in Glendale, and I like Glendale, but I don't want Sierra Madre to be Glendale. I think everyone else knows what I mean if they live in Sierra Madre, but I don't want us to just be another suburb in the foothills," said Goss.
It seems to be Goss’ plan to become an ever better listener and leader—in touch with the will of the city and issues that face him and his constituents.
"My instinct is that I don’t want to see [Sierra Madre] change in any significant ways. The basic pattern of development has been fine, and the basic outline of this city is fine, and you can always make improvements here and there, so my goal is to walk to the neighborhoods and meet as many of the citizens as I can. I know plenty, but I need to know a lot more. I want to ask them all kinds of questions and find out what they think," said Goss.
Why is Goss Running?
“I've always had an interest in the local affairs of this community, I have just kind of done it as a bystander [until now] because I had such a busy life, as so many people do,” said Goss.
Goss hails the unique and individual spirit of Sierra Madre as a sort of governing principle for his evolving political platform as he begins this journey down the campaign trail.
"I feel it is my destiny to live here,” said Goss. “As for public office, I feel like that is an honor and I am waiting to see if the people want to bestow that honor on me or not. That is a very great honor and is just not something people should take lightly. They should get to know me and figure me out and see if I am the right medicine for this city."
Goss’ Education
Goss earned his masters in political theory from the University of Southern California, and then spent three years earning his doctorate at USC. During his studies he served as research assistant for the Citizens Research Foundation of USC, which he identifies as a significant repository of public campaign finance documents and materials.
How does Goss see Sierra Madre?
Goss credits his son as the one person who has given him the ultimate Sierra Madre experience.
"He really helped integrate me into this community so much more thoroughly,” said Goss. “I've been to every park in this city with him one thousand times, and to the library at least as many… We do Dickens Village, and we live for the Fourth of July parade."
Goss has also coached and managed his son's little league team for the past five years.
"We just have such a ball up there at Heasley Field,” he said. “It’s like my second home."
In all, seven candidates are running for City Council this year. Get to know all of them:
For the two-year seat:
Chris Koerber
Colin Braudrick
For the four-year seat:
Gene Goss
- Goss' Facebook Page
- www.genegoss.com coming soon
Mary Ann MacGillivray
John Capoccia
John Harabedian
Bill Tice
- Patch has reached out to Tice for an interview and is waiting for a response