The Loma Prietan
October 2002
Loma Prieta Election Endorsements
by Rafael Reyes
It's election time again and there are some hot local races with many open seats to keep an eye on. The following are our endorsements for Daly City, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Menlo Park, Milpitas, Mountain View, Pacifica, San Jose (District 7), Santa Clara, and Saratoga. Your vote, or better yet your vote plus your volunteer time, makes a difference to these candidates and will make a real difference to the quality of decision-making in these cities. Please support these candidates as best you can!
Santa Clara
Re-electing John McLemore is one of our top priorities in this year's municipal elections. John has been a long-time friend of the environment, going out of his way to help members of the environmental community and provide critical support for CalTrain through his positions on VTA and CalTrain boards. We have endorsed John twice in the past and now enthusiastically support him for a third time for mayor.
We also support Dominic Caserta
and Jamie Matthews for seats 2 and 5 respectively. Both have made CalTrain electrification a priority and have an interest in smart growth.
Menlo Park
With Steve Schmidt and Mary Jo Borak retiring,
it is essential we elect Toni Stein and Bill
Halleck . Toni has a track record of supporting transit alternatives and direct experience in areas such as integrated pest management and air quality. Bill also is strongly committed to transit and has experience with watershed protection. Toni Stein and Bill Halleck are the clear environmental choices in this race.
Mountain View
In a tough field, we have the good fortune of
having several very strong candidates. As Parks and Recreation
Commissioner, Greg Perry has researched and pushed for
integrated pest management implementation. Greg has publicly supported
incentivizing solar power and opposes the runway expansion. Tom Frankum,
currently an Environmental Planning Commissioner, has worked on
establishing solar guidelines and supports construction and demolition
waste management. Tom opposes SFO bay fill and is a smart growth
supporter. Mike Kasperzak , the one incumbent we are supporting in Mountain View, wants to see a clean up of Moffitt Field and supports transit-oriented development.
Pacifica
Julie Lancelle is the exceptional choice in Pacifica as a former council member and long time Club activist. She was a key organizer in getting GGNRA to include Mori Point. She has also worked against Measure E, which would bring irresponsible development to the coastal quarry zone.
Jim Vreeland, an incumbent with
excellent technical background, has experience with integrated pest
management and wetlands restoration and will bring considerable ongoing
expertise to the council. Bruce Hotchkiss twice voted in the minority against the wrongheaded quarry EIR and would work to ensure coastal protection.
San Jose District 7
Terry Gregory is the choice in San Jose. He supports reliable bus service for low income communities. Gregory is President of the San Jose Conservation Corps. As past president of the Coyote Creek Gardens
Association, he worked with his community in training over 150 local gardeners how to implement organic methods.
Daly City
Judith Christensen is not only familiar with green building concepts but her home utilizes passive solar techniques. She is interested in expanding bus service as well as integrated pest management. Judith is also seriously concerned with SFO's Bay fill runway plan.
Los Altos Hills
Breene Kerr and Dean
Warshawsky both have shown commitment to open space protection by working on the Open Space Initiative. Both would look to offer incentives for solar systems. With the Council considering selling off their trail easements, their election is crucial.
Los Gatos
Paul Dubois
has a strong record on the city's Planning Commission. He is a supporter of the Verona light rail station and is committed to protecting the hillsides.
Milpitas
Hillside protection and a smart growth approach
to BART expansion through Milpitas are key issues here and
Althea Polanski and Paul Hay bring the right mix of experience for both issues. Polanski volunteered with Save Our Milpitas Hills and has tremendous community experience. We were impressed with Hay's technical depth on key issues facing the city.
Saratoga
Norm Kline, Nick
Streit, and Kathleen King are our choices for Saratoga. They will work to curtail irresponsible development at the Mountain Winery. Kathleen King has a solid understanding of the link between public health and environmental protection. Nick Streit has a strong record as a seated Councilmember in Saratoga, and similarly, Norm Kline as the Planning Commission Chair in Santa Clara. Furthermore, Norm Kline was endorsed by Byron Sher, our leader in the California Senate on environmental issues.
All three have shown a commitment to open space
protection and addressing watershed contamination.