Mayor Robertson’s reason for wanting a second term is simple. “I’m not done.”
In her first term, Mayor Deborah Robertson accomplished much of what she wanted. Her focus was on keeping Rialto financially sound, moving forward on commercial and business development, generating jobs in Rialto and enhancing open space for healthy recreational usage.
(Rialto, Calif.) As Deborah Robertson moves from table to table greeting folks at Mary Stewart’s Southern Soul Food, the Mayor of Rialto looks as comfortable as if she was in her own kitchen.
In a way, she is. Mayor Robertson has called Rialto home for nearly 30 years and has served in its local government for 16 years, including three terms as a councilwoman and one as Mayor.
As she campaigns for re-election – Election Day is Nov. 8 – Mayor Robertson’s reason for wanting a second term is simple. “I’m not done.”
“I feel the role of the Mayor is a calling, not just a title,” said Mayor Robertson, who is running against current councilmember Ed Palmer. “We keep it real in Rialto. Our foundation is in a common belief of community. We’re middle class, salt of the earth people.”
In her first term, Mayor Robertson accomplished much of what she wanted. Her focus was on keeping Rialto financially sound, moving forward on commercial and business development, generating jobs in Rialto and enhancing open space for healthy recreational usage.
“The community as a whole is concerned about safety and lowering crime in the city,” said Mayor Robertson. Cutting down on crime was also a major focus in her first term as Mayor.
“I am very proud of the part the city’s police force played in response to the terrorist attack nine months ago in San Bernardino,” said Mayor Robertson. Rialto’s SWAT Team was one of the first responders in support of San Bernardino’s units.
During her time as Mayor, Rialto was also one of the first cities to have its police force wear body cameras. “As the result of a research project, the Rialto police agreed to wear the cameras for one year,” said Mayor Robertson. The results were positive and Rialto decided to keep the cameras. Robertson said it gave citizens a new perspective into law enforcement.
“It gave us empirical data, not just anecdotal,” Mayor Robertson said. “The number of complaints from citizens went down drastically. It brought about a different level of respect for the police.”
Statistically, both violent crime and property crime have gone down in each year of Robertson’s first term as Mayor.
In 2014, Rialto dropped below the national average in violent crime rate for the first time in 12 years, according to City-Data.com. Mayor Robertson is also one of four Mayors in San Bernardino County that have been very vocal about the illegal gun problem.
Under Mayor Robertson’s leadership, Rialto has gained regional and national recognition for innovation in the areas of public-private partnerships, business development and job creation. The City’s refinancing and restructuring of its water and wastewater operations has become a model for other communities in California, pumping millions of dollars into the local economy.
A leading voice on regional and national infrastructure issues, Mayor Robertson chairs the Public Health Subcommittee for SCAG’s 2016 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy, is a member of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Water Council and Metro Economies, and member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns.
She is a founding board member for the NFL/AFL Youth Life Skills Camp, has hosted the annual State of Women event in Rialto for the past seven years, and was recognized by Assembly Member Cheryl Brown as 47th District Woman of the Year.
Mayor Robertson was instrumental in developing Rialto’s Transportation Commission and coordinated a transportation summit for the region. Her wielding influence and determination have helped bring new businesses and housing to the City of Rialto.
With all that she has done Mayor Robertson still has the time for family, two children and six grandchildren, that are the joy of her life.
The Salvation Army Corps of San Bernardino recently welcomed new corps officers, Major Daniel and Captain Anya Henderson.
(San Bernardino, CA) The Salvation Army Corps of San Bernardino recently welcomed new corps officers, Major Daniel and Captain Anya Henderson. The couple previously served the Salvation Army in Estonia, a nation that once was part of the Soviet Union.
“We believe that the best days of the communities that we serve are just ahead of us, and that working together, we will usher in the bright future that we have longed to see! Don’t miss out on this opportunity to stand together for the good of our community. I will be looking forward to meeting you,” said Major Dan Henderson.
Anya was born in St. Petersburg, Russia. At that time, her city was known as Leningrad, and country was known as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).
In the early 1990s the Soviet Union dissolved. Leningrad, which had been named for the first Soviet leader, Vladimir Lenin, took its original name of St. Petersburg and most of the Soviet nation, the Russian Socialist Republic, reverted to its original name, Russia. There are also more than a dozen smaller nations that gained their freedom from what was the Soviet Union. The Hendersons have served with The Salvation Army in several of these former Soviet Republics.
The Soviet Union had banned most churches from the country, but the Russian government was more receptive. In 1992, it allowed the Salvation Army to return to the Russian Federation.
Anya Henderson was one of the first soldiers to serve in the new Russian Salvation Army. She served as a youth worker, administrative aid, corps program assistant and translator (Russian to English).
Anya graduated from the St. Petersburg University Herzen State College of Education with a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education (English Language Emphasis) in 1999. By then she had met and become engaged to Daniel Henderson.
Daniel Henderson is a southern Californian. He graduated in 1989 from Madison High School in San Diego, as a National Merit Scholar, and earned Regent’s Scholarship to the University of California, San Diego. In 1993, Daniel graduated from the University with a bachelor’s of science in biochemistry and cell biology.
From 1993-1994, Daniel Henderson served in the former Soviet republic of Georgia as the Salvation Army’s humanitarian aid coordinator for Western Georgia. During that time, he oversaw the distribution of over 4,000 metric tons of USDA food aid to over 100,000 people, during the instability at the end of the Georgian civil war.
Daniel then returned to southern California, and in 1996 completed the two-year Salvation Army Officer’s Training at the College For Officers Training in Rancho Palos Verdes. Upon graduation and commissioning as an Officer, Daniel was appointed to lead the Petrodvorets Corps in the outskirts of St. Petersburg. He served in that Corps on missionary service for one year, then returned to the USA to take up appointment at the Cathedral City Corps. He then served for one year at the Santee Corps, before being moved to the College For Officer Training as a Training Officer.
In 2001 Anya completed the course of Salvation Army Officer’s Training at the College For Officers Training in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. While she completed her two-year training, she and Daniel were married in March of 2000.
The couple then served together in Cheyenne, Wyoming from 2001-2002 and Narva, Estonia from 2002-2009.
Captain Anya served as the Corps Officer of the Tallinn Kopli Corps from 2009 until coming to San Bernardino. During their time in Tallin, which is the capital of Estonia, Major Daniel served as the Regional Commander for all Salvation Army units in Estonia.
Anya is an accomplished writer and speaker in both Russian and English, and routinely translates speech and written material into both languages. Daniel has spoken and given lectures in Scotland, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Russia, and the United States.
The couple has six 6 children, ranging in age from 16 years to 16 months.
For more information on the Salvation Army or services they provide please call (909) 888-1336.
About the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps
The Salvation Army may be able to provide emergency services including food; lodging for homeless or displaced families; clothing and furniture; assistance with rent or mortgage and transportation when funds are available. The Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) assists rescue workers and evacuees in such disasters as fires.
The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church, and also offers evangelical programs for boys, girls and adults. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865 and in San Bernardino since 1887, supporting those in need without discrimination. The San Bernardino Corps of The Salvation Army serves Bloomington, Colton, Grand Terrace, Highland, Rialto, and San Bernardino. Donations may always be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY. Our local number is (909) 888-1336.
