Why Kathryn
A Bakersfield story, start to finish
Kathryn Halling was born in Oildale, taught in our schools, and now runs a firm helping local businesses understand their books. She wants city hall held to the same standard.
Kathryn graduated from North High School and CSU Bakersfield, then taught at Highland High School. She is a wife, a mother, and a numbers person who started a firm doing the books for other businesses, small and large alike.
Since leaving education she has spent her career helping business owners understand their financial statements and their real position. She wants to bring that same discipline to the City of Bakersfield for Ward 3.
“Bakersfield is an oasis in California that has lost its way. We are so inundated with a population of drug addicts that my kids can’t even walk around our own neighborhood by themselves. Our city is hamstringing our emergency responders with budget cuts even though Measure N is making nearly double projections. Pile this on top of everything going on with sewer and non-existent financial audits. Anyone can see we’re in trouble.”
Her view of the job is simple: a city government should do its core work first — safety, infrastructure, and financial management — and it should be able to show its work.
“As a business owner, I understand the importance of balancing a budget, cutting unnecessary waste, and making every dollar count. Our city government should operate with the same discipline and accountability that families and businesses practice, via transparent spending and policies that encourage economic growth while protecting taxpayers.”