Picture this: Mr. Holloway sitting behind a large round table at a City Council meeting instead of standing behind the attendance desk at school. Crazy. Holloway overseeing legislation instead of giving detentions? Even crazier.

Jerry Holloway, one of SMCHS’s very own Deans of Students, hopes to make a positive impact in the Rancho Santa Margarita community by running for City Council on the Nov. 4 ballot.

“My main motto is ‘open, honest and fair government,’” Holloway said. “I think it’s important to keep the same message throughout a campaign.”

Holloway has lived in RSM since 1990 with his wife Ellen and daughter Cortney. His first career was in public service as a police officer, during which he worked with the Costa Mesa City Council. After retiring from the force in 1998, Holloway served on the RSM City Council from 2002 to 2010 and was mayor in 2005 and 2010.

Despite his experience in the RSM local government, Holloway refuses to rest on his laurels.

“You have to put in the same amount of effort every time you run and treat it as if it’s your first time, even if it’s your fourth, in my case,” Holloway said. “There are seven people running for three positions. I have some name recognition in the city, but you can’t count on that or assume people will vote for you.”

Perhaps you have seen some signs on the corner and recognized the name. For some, Holloway’s experience and present effort come as a bit of a surprise.

“Some of the newer teachers will come up to me after seeing a sign for my campaign on a street corner and say, ‘Is that you?’” Holloway said. “Some are aware that I am running, and others maybe aren’t.”

Above all else, Holloway’s number one priority is public safety.

“It simply has to be,” Holloway said. “People in a city want to know they’re safe, and they want the best police force and fire department.”

His second priority is financial stability.

“The city is in great shape financially, and we need to make sure that continues,” Holloway said. “RSM has a $22 million reserve, and we try not to use it unless we have to. A balanced budget is extremely important, and therefore is the most time-consuming part of the job.”

The time commitment as a member of City Council can vary from 10 hours a week to 40 hours a week, depending on what is going on locally.

“It’s really enjoyable working with other people towards a common goal — good government,” Holloway said.

But worry not. Should Holloway be elected, his job at SMCHS as Dean of Students will not be affected whatsoever. After all, he is well-versed in juggling both professions at once and is anything but short of experience. Who said Deans couldn’t lead a double life?

There’s just one downside to “Jerry Holloway for City Council”:  most of the SMCHS community isn’t old enough to vote.

For more information (or for your parents’ information), visit www.Jerry4RSM.com.