Ahead of the November general election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below.
Name: Jackie Waltman
Age: 78
Current job title: Retired
Incumbent: No
Other political positions held: None
City where you reside: Burbank
Campaign website or social media: JackieWaltman.com
How should the city balance rising costs, paying off debts, such as pension liabilities, and building reserves, all while meeting residents’ needs? Should a solution involve finding new revenue, economic development, trimming the budget, or something else entirely? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
I believe Burbank needs a balanced, long-term approach to its finances. We should first protect essential services, aggressively manage spending, and look for efficiencies before asking residents for additional revenue. At the same time, we have a responsibility to address pension liabilities and other long-term obligations while maintaining healthy reserves so the city is prepared for economic downturns and unexpected costs.
I would support responsible economic development that expands our tax base—particularly by attracting and retaining businesses, entertainment production, and quality jobs—because sustainable revenue growth is preferable to continually increasing taxes on residents. I would also regularly review city programs and contracts to identify savings without compromising public safety, infrastructure, or other core services. My goal would be to leave Burbank in a stronger financial position than we found it: paying down long-term obligations, maintaining prudent reserves, investing in our community, and making sure every taxpayer dollar is spent responsibly.
The public expects transparency from public leaders in spending and governance. How can this be achieved? How can the city do better in this area? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
I believe transparency starts with making City Hall more accessible, understandable, and accountable to the people it serves. As a councilmember, I would support making budgets, contracts, major expenditures, development agreements, and other important decisions easier for residents to find and understand—not simply posting documents and expecting people to sort through hundreds of pages. I would encourage clearer financial reporting, timely disclosure of significant spending decisions, and regular opportunities for residents to ask questions and receive straightforward answers.
I also believe public input should happen early in the policymaking process, before decisions are essentially made, rather than being treated as a formality at the end. Burbank can do better by using technology to make information more user-friendly, explaining the reasons behind major votes, and providing greater visibility into how taxpayer dollars are being spent.
Most importantly, I would hold myself to the same standard I expect from city government: be honest about the challenges, explain my decisions, listen to residents—even when I disagree—and take responsibility for the outcomes. Transparency isn’t just a requirement of public office; it is how we earn and maintain the public’s trust.
In your opinion, what is the biggest need your city faces, and how would you address it? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
In my opinion, Burbank’s biggest need is to manage growth responsibly while protecting the quality of life that makes our city a great place to live, work, and raise a family. We face pressure from rising housing costs, state-mandated density, transportation changes, aging infrastructure, and the need to maintain strong city services, all while preserving the character of our neighborhoods and supporting our local businesses.
As a councilmember, I would focus on thoughtful planning rather than one-size-fits-all solutions. I would work to increase housing opportunities in appropriate locations, particularly along commercial corridors and near transit, while protecting established single-family neighborhoods from unnecessary disruption. I would also prioritize infrastructure and fiscal planning so that growth is matched by the roads, utilities, public safety, and other services needed to support it. At the same time, I would work to strengthen Burbank’s economic base by supporting small businesses and protecting our position as an entertainment-industry hub. Most importantly, I would listen to residents before making major decisions and make sure Burbank—not outside interests—is guiding the future of our community.
Why would you make a good leader, and how would you represent the diverse communities of your city? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
I believe I would be a good leader because I listen, ask difficult questions, and approach problems with a practical, independent mindset. I would not go into City Hall believing I have all the answers; I would listen to residents, small businesses, workers, homeowners, renters, and community organizations and use that input to make informed decisions.
Burbank is a diverse community with different neighborhoods, generations, economic circumstances, and priorities, and effective leadership means representing all of them—not just the people who agree with me. I would make a particular effort to ensure that residents who may not regularly attend council meetings or have a strong voice in City Hall are heard as well.
I believe leadership also requires the courage to make tough decisions, explain them honestly, and take responsibility for the results. My commitment would be to represent Burbank as a whole, protect the quality of life that makes our city special, and work toward practical solutions that benefit our residents today while keeping Burbank strong for future generations.