SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Dyna Boen, managing director of Escalent’s telecommunications, consumer goods and retail practices, is officially running after previously applying to fill the seat on city council last year. A major part of her platform is rebuilding trust in local government.
Boen got more politically involved in Tahoe a few years ago with No on Measure N. “As a Californian, we’ve had enough with taxes, sales, income, property. I’ve always paid my fair share of taxes and I saw the impact the measure could have on retirees who can’t live here full time.”
But, she says, “I’m not a career politician. Running for politics is completely new to me. But I run a $30 million business and job creation and building kickass teams is what I’m known for.”
One of the major reasons she applied for the open seat last year was to help promote unity and collaboration among city council. “When people work together, you can see the progress. I wanted to break that gridlock that was happening on city council. I believe in the importance of compromise, and I was asking myself, who do these blocks really serve? Not our community.”
Boen describes herself as an “in-the-middle” candidate who is pro-business and economic security. She told the Tribune that she felt her experience as a business owner and as a mother who lives in Tahoe, enjoying the “spirit of adventure” and environment put her in a unique position to serve the community.
“The community has all the ideas. It’s a matter of trialing them,” she said.
She said she strives to create a welcoming business community by removing red tape as a councilmember. She also is interested in job creation, calling it her “north star.” Boen suggested, after listening to community members, that council could help drive the economy during shoulder season by partnering with local businesses and creating sporting events, which she feels are consistent with the Tahoe brand.
However, she also noted that there was a dependence on second homes and visitors that couldn’t be ignored. Boen is in favor of vacation home rentals, with the caveat that they should have increased enforcement.
To that end, Boen expressed support for funding the police, along with the fire department and public utilities.
For housing, Boen said she believed that the community could come up with solutions there as well and pitched the idea of rent control for South Lake Tahoe. “We need to look at other examples and see what’s right for us.”
Like others, Boen was also interested in funding road infrastructure and repair in Tahoe. “Paved streets send a message to the world. It tells you about the priorities of the city and is tied to economic success, as well as lake clarity. It also makes you feel like city council is actually paying attention when they fix the streets.”
Overall, Boen feels that city council should focus on the quality of life for people. She pointed out the crumbling stairs at Regan Beach as an example of something that should be prioritized. “That’s a locals beach and the stairs are dangerous. Why is it so hard to provide accessibility to the place that everyone works really hard to enjoy?” She also emphasized that she wanted more consideration for veterans and retirees who would be impacted by those quality of life issues around the city.
Boen said she follows her alma mater Stanford Graduate School of Business’s motto of “Change lives, change organizations, change the world” while adding “for the better” to the end of it. She is especially invested in transparency and fiscal transparency for the city. “It’s the taxpayers’ dollars, so we should share the numbers.”
Boen said she’s seen people express that they’re embarrassed of city council and wants to change that. “Resisting and blocking change will only slow things down.. How about we create the future together through collaboration?”
“I’m willing to give a little to get a lot done for the community. I want to be a heartfelt leader who can create a win-win situation for everyone,” said Boen. “All I ask for is that the community votes for someone who is a team player and will get things done for all of us.”
To read more about Dyna Boen’s campaign and platform, visit https://thedynadifference.com/.
