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Brad earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Fullerton, majoring in Geography with an emphasis in Land Use Analysis and City Planning. While employed as a Contracts and Legislative Analyst at Pacific Life, Brad attended Western State University College of Law, graduating in 1985 with Scholastic Merit.

Brad is a practicing attorney and is a member of the Board of Directors of his law firm. He also serves as a Pro Tem Judge for the Superior Court of Orange County, and as a court-appointed Arbitrator and Mediator. He's received the prestigious “Super Lawyers” designation every year since 2012, a title reserved for those who have attained the highest degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. His peers in the legal profession have also awarded Brad the highest possible ranking for legal ability and ethics every year since 1988.

Brad was active in campaigning against the development of an international airport at El Toro Marine Base, and has volunteered countless hours serving with the Special Olympics of Southern California, the Saddleback Valley YMCA, and Big Brothers of Orange County. He devoted over 15 years coaching youth sports, volunteering his time and energies to Tijeras Creek Little League, Santa Margarita Little League, AYSO, and National Junior Basketball.

Brad was appointed to the Rancho Santa Margarita Planning Commission in 2010, and served as the Vice-Chair in 2012. He was thereafter elected to the Rancho Santa Margarita City Council in 2012, and served our community as our Mayor in 2015 and in 2020. Brad currently serves as a Rancho Santa Margarita City Council Member, and has served as our city's representative with the Community Associations of Rancho, the Orange County Public Library Advisory Board, the South Orange County Watershed Management Area Executive Committee, and the South Orange County Association of Mayors.

Brad has called Rancho Santa Margarita his home since the Fall of 1986. In fact, after meeting on a scuba diving trip, he and his future wife, Julie, enjoyed their first date in Rancho Santa Margarita; a picnic at the lake. Brad and Julie married in 1990, and they’ve raised their three children in Rancho Santa Margarita. Julie is a Professor of English as a Second Language (ESL), and serves as the Chair of the ESL Department at Saddleback College. She is also very involved in our community and serves as a member of the Board of Directors of RSM Cares, a member of the Board of Directors of the RSM Chamber of Commerce, and as a member of the Rancho Family Fest Organizing Committee. Julie is also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

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ELECT A PROVEN LEADER WHO WILL WORK TO KEEP OUR CITY SAFE, BEAUTIFUL, AND FINANCIALLY SECURE!

Brad will be running for Re-Election to the Rancho Santa Margarita City Council in November, and we would greatly appreciate your support!

During his tenure on the city council, Brad has:

Supported policies that led to RSM being recognized by the FBI as the safest city of its size in Orange County, second safest in California, and one of the safest cities in the United States!

Helped expand and enhance the business community. RSM now has the lowest commercial vacancy rate in south Orange County!

Achieved a balanced budget with financial reserves in excess of $25 million. Brad served as our Mayor in 2020, and his leadership was instrumental in keeping our city financially strong during the global COVID pandemic.

Improved and enhanced the appearance of our city with significant capital improvement projects, including city monuments, decorative street lights with LED lighting, the renovation of our medians, etc.

Supported the construction of a "Splash Pad" in Central Park!

Supported the continuation of the Concerts in the Park, Rancho Family Fest, and several other family oriented events.

Supported transferring RSM's animal control services to a humane, “no kill” animal shelter.

Supported the renovations to the RSM Dog Park.

Created "ZeroTrash RSM" to protect our environment, beautify our city, and create an opportunity for volunteers, particularly young people, to contribute back to their community. zerotrashrsm.wixsite.com/website

Removed scores of redundant and unnecessary street signs.
https://fb.watch/cCGLX99zD9/

Brad is dedicated to:

Financial stability without taxing our residents or business community.

Maintaining public safety by fully supporting our Sheriff’s Department and Firefighters. Brad is vehemently opposed to any suggestion of "defunding" law enforcement.

Managing our budget in a conservative, cautious manner.

Attracting new economic investment without sacrificing the quality of life that we currently enjoy.

Creating rewarding volunteer opportunities and activities for teens and adults.

Supporting the rights of parents to be involved and engaged in the education of their children.

In addition, Brad continues to voice his opposition to residential development of Chiquita Ridge and the Dove Canyon Plaza.

In order to re-elect Brad, it will take a very strong and dedicated grassroots organization. This campaign needs the involvement of people like you, citizens who have watched Brad serve our city so well.

We invite you to get involved with this campaign, and to help Brad continue to make a difference in our community!

Please join our campaign and please invite your friends and neighbors to join us too!

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RSM ISSUES

There are some significant issues facing our city over the next four years; here are just a few....

Home: Issues

PUBLIC SAFETY

Proud Supporter of Law Enforcement

Rather than succumb to any effort to defund the police, Brad McGirr has always been a solid supporter of our OCSD Deputies and the Orange County Fire Authority. Brad considers public safety to be the most important issue facing any city, and has repeatedly voted to enhance our law enforcement capabilities. In this regard, Brad has recently voted to add a DUI enforcement deputy, a crime prevention specialist, additional parole/probation sweeps, and to purchase two radar trailers.

As a result of this focus on public safety, Rancho Santa Margarita has been recognized year after year as the safest city of its size in Orange County, the second safest city in California, and one of the safest cities in the United States!

OUR CHILDREN

Providing Activities for our Children!

Brad supported all efforts to design and construct the Splash Pad at Central Park. The RSM Splash Pad is funded in a manner whereby NO taxpayer funds were used for the design and construction of this new community asset!

Not only will the kids enjoy the RSM Splash Pad for years to come, the RSM Splash Pad will certainly benefit our property values.

Our children and our teens deserve to enjoy all that RSM has to offer, and Brad remains committed to a policy that will allow for future amenities and activities for our youth.

EDUCATION

Parental Involvement is Essential!

The California Board of Education has implemented a progressive sex and gender education curriculum in public schools across the state, regardless, in some cases, of parental consent. Gender neutral bathrooms are now the norm, and public school students must now complete an "Ethnic Studies" course founded on "critical race theory" in order to graduate from high school.

Contrary to the positions taken by several public officials across the country, Brad firmly believes that parents have the absolute right to be fully informed, involved and engaged in their children's education! Our children deserve no less!

OUR FINANCIAL POSITION

It's YOUR Money!

Brad was the mayor of our city in 2020, serving as mayor in the midst of the COVID global pandemic. While several cities in Orange County saw their financial position sink, with some cities facing bankruptcy, our city council's conservative economic policies have left RSM with a balanced budget and financial reserves in excess of $25 million. Balance budgets ensure that our residents and businesses continue to benefit from the services that they justly deserve.

In addition, Mello Roos taxes (which have never been imposed by our city) are now a thing of the past.

A vote for Brad McGirr is a vote for our city's financial security!

OUR ENVIRONMENT

Keeping RSM Beautiful!

In an effort to beautify Rancho Santa Margarita, Brad worked with city staff to remove all redundant street signs throughout our city.

Thereafter, with the help of the Bell Tower Foundation, Brad initiated the ZeroTrash RSM organization. This all-volunteer organization has removed thousands of pounds of debris from our streets and wilderness areas, and has provided our students and scouts opportunities to satisfy mandatory community service hours and scout badge requirements.

With an investment of just two hours per month, our ZeroTrash volunteers help to keep our city beautiful!
ZeroTrash RSM (wixsite.com)

CHIQUITA RIDGE DEVELOPMENT

Keep Open Space Open!

Chiquita Ridge is a large stretch of open land that essentially divides RSM and Coto de Caza. While most this property has been designated to remain as open space, there is an area of roughly 23 acres that could be developed in the future. Brad has repeatedly taken the position AGAINST residential development of this property, and has recently voted against changing the zoning designation to allow for such development.

In short, absent an unforeseen economic imperative, Brad remains committed to keeping this property designated as open space to be enjoyed by all.

HOUSING

The Stakes are High

All cities in the six-county southern California region, including the City of Rancho Santa Margarita, have been mandated by the state to update their General Plan to allow for an eight-year plan for new housing growth. Each city must plan for its share of housing need as determined and allocated by the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). SCAG has allocated the City of RSM 680 housing units that the City must plan for during the period from October 2021-October 2029.

Brad agrees that affordable housing is lacking in California, but opposes residential re-zoning/development at the Dove Canyon Plaza, Chiquita Ridge, or the "Flower Field" at Antonio and Las Flores. Brad's voting record on this issue is clear and unambiguous.

OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY

Support Local Businesses!

Sales tax revenue is the lifeblood of any city in California, including Rancho Santa Margarita. Brad has remained a strong supporter of our local business community and recognizes the sacrifices of our business owners and their families.

Prior to his election to the city council, Brad served on the Rancho Santa Margarita Planning Commission and the RSM Economic Development Committee. He continues to work closely with the RSM Chamber of Commerce, initiated the RSM Business Link on social media, and has continually supported policies to support local RSM businesses, including allowing for "temporary" outdoor seating at our restaurants to now be permanent!

BEAUTIFICATION OF OUR CITY

RSM Has Never Looked Better!

Brad supported completing the re-staining of the medians and street corners throughout the entire city, the expansion of holiday decorations, and voted to install decorative streetlights with LED lighting throughout Rancho Santa Margarita.

Additionally, with the completion of the renovations to the Bell Tower Regional Community Center, and with the efforts of our ZeroTrash volunteers and sponsors, our city is looking better than ever!