When I ran for office four years ago, I promised voters I would shake-up county government and make it more accountable to taxpayers. In the four years following my election, I did just that -- increasing funding for law enforcement, making significant cuts in county spending, cleaning-up that portion of the welfare system over which we had control, eliminating unnecessary regulations and fees, preserving critical open spaces while protecting the rights of landowners, building new parks and libraries, and focusing public attention on the many problems created by a tidal wave of illegal immigration into our county.

I couldn't have accomplished these things without the support and commitment of my colleagues on the Board of Supervisors. I am fortunate to serve at a time when the other members of the Board share my commitment to change. As we look ahead, continuation of that cooperation will be critical to our success.

Along the way, I've upset a few vested interests and raised the eyebrows of a few editorial writers. But the opinions that really matter to me are those of the people I was elected to represent, and their solid support for my re-election was a gratifying endorsement for all that was accomplished in my first term.

But if you thought the last four years brought significant change, just wait...you ain't seen nothin' yet!

After years of having to explain to voters what the Board of Supervisors is and what it does, we have now reached an historic time when County government is moving into the spotlight as the crucible for change in the relationship between government and the people it serves. Let me give you just a few examples.

Nearly $900 million a year from the County budget currently goes to welfare. Previously, the Board had little or no control over the administration of these funds -- which represent nearly half our total budget. Now, with reforms initiated in San Diego and passed last year by Congress, we have an opportunity to re-make welfare into a program of temporary assistance for those truly in need rather than the system of institutionalized dependency it had become.

To be sure, we will need the cooperation of state government and of private employers; we will need child care, transportation and other support services. But for the fist time in half a century, we will have the chance here in San Diego to design a system that gives people a hand up, not just a hand-out. And I can assure you, this Board is fully committed to being on the cutting edge nationally of making these changes a reality.

San Diego County is center stage on another issue in the national spotlight -- the delivery of health care services. Our county is already a national pioneer in managed care, with 75% of the insured population now part of managed care systems. But less than half of all San Diegans are covered by job-based health insurance. One out of five San Diegans under 65 have no health coverage at all, with children especially vulnerable. And now, the proposed purchase of one of our largest not-for-profit hospital by a national for-profit corporation has brought the changing economics of health care squarely to our front door. County government must assume a leadership role in guiding the process of re-structuring in health care to ensure that the interests of the public are fully protected, and I intend to be actively involved in that process.

Drug abuse has received considerable attention in recent months from the President, Congress and the national media. Here in San Diego, my Methamphetamine Strike Force provided a successful model for enlisting the participation of the public in a unified effort to reverse the very disturbing trends of increased drug abuse among our young people. During the coming year I will ask the Board to dramatically expand our efforts to shut down not just the meth labs, but a whole range of drug processing and distribution networks in San Diego County. In this area, like welfare and health care, the lives of our children are at stake -- and we must lead the way in finding solutions.

We are going to continue to lead the way nationally in addressing the problems of illegal immigration -- a total cost of $230 million to San Diego County taxpayers - and approximately $50 million per year in uncompensated costs just for health care.

We are going to continue the fight to win back the millions in local property taxes unfairly taken by state government from local taxpayers.

We are going to work to solve the long-standing problems in our solid waste system and in doing so restore the fiscal health of County government.

We are going to continue the fight against crime, and help our children grow up to lead happy, healthy productive lives.

And we are going to continue to work enthusiastically with our new CAO to bring about the fundamental changes in County government necessary to restore trust and accountability.

So, in summary, I think it's fair to say that County government in San Diego is going to be where the action is for the next several years. This is a time of historic opportunities and monumental challenges. I came here four years ago with the determination to bring about real change, and I am more optimistic now than I have ever been that we will succeed.

Thank you for your support.