Robert Shields runs for Imperial City Council
IMPERIAL, Calif. (KYMA) – The race for the Imperial City Council is heating up as voters prepare for the upcoming election, where three seats are open on the ballot.
Longtime resident and dedicated community fixture Robert Shields has officially stepped into the arena, looking to transition from a familiar face in the public gallery straight onto the council dais.
Shields has deep ties to the community. He has lived in Imperial for 15 years, went to school locally, and his family roots in Imperial date all the way back to the 1950s.
He also has a unique front-row seat to local government. Because his wife serves as the City Clerk, Shields has attended virtually every city council and planning commission meeting for years, a learning experience that ultimately sparked his decision to run.
“Being involved the last four years kind of triggered like, ‘Man, I might be able to do this,'” Shields told News 11.
Through continuous conversations with local citizens, residents, and business owners, Shields notes that the community’s immediate concerns are front and center.
The number one issue he hears about on the ground is the critical need for better roads and infrastructure.
However, his main reason for running is to ensure that Imperial’s rapid growth keeps moving in the right direction.
Shields said the current City Council has been doing great work, and while some people may disagree on a couple of things, he believes the city must follow through when it comes to supporting local businesses.
His expansive vision for city development includes:
Future business development to secure tax revenue Future housing expansion Future growth for the Imperial County Airport Future growth for the fire and police departments, including potentially establishing an independent city fire department
Shields positions himself as a blunt, vocal advocate who will prioritize direct communication with his constituents, pushing for more conversation regarding upcoming agenda items.
“I’m not a soft-spoken person,” Shields said. “I give the truth. If it’s the truth, you wanna hear the truth…I’m all about truth. I’m all about transparency.”
Despite his push for new expansion, Shields emphasizes that he does not want to dismantle the foundation already built by current city leadership.
“I’m the guy that’s gonna make sure it keeps happening,” Shields stated. “There’s nothing that I want to take away from Imperial. Like I said, what they’re doing is a great thing that they have going on.”
Voters looking to talk infrastructure, housing, and city development will have multiple opportunities to meet Shields one-on-one in the coming weeks.
He has a selection of upcoming campaign meet-and-greets lined up, including a scheduled appearance at Imperial Market Days and an event at United Toyota.
Full logistics, times, and additional dates for all of his upcoming candidate events will be posted directly to his official social media accounts.
Voters are encouraged to check his campaign pages on Instagram and Facebook for the latest updates and to contact him directly with questions.
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