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Publication Date: Wednesday, October 24, 2001

EDITORIAL:Endorsements in local races

Unlike in many previous years, there are several candidates competing for some seats. Let's hope it is a trend toward more interest in local government, which is, after all, the cornerstone of democracy.

Prior to making the following endorsements, the Almanac interviewed candidates in the city council and school board races and sent out questionnaires to the remaining candidates. In last week's edition, the Almanac endorsed all bond issues and the Las Lomitas parcel tax on the November 6 ballot. For more information on our decision, go to www.AlmanacNews.com.

WOODSIDE TOWN COUNCIL: Horses, history and guest houses are the town's hot-button issues this election season, in races between Mayor Carroll Ann Hodges and former council member Gary McKae in District 6, and newcomers Deborah Gordon and Joe Kirley in District 2.

We believe Ms. Hodges and Ms. Gordon are best qualified to serve the interest of all Woodside residents. As current mayor and former planning commissioner, Ms. Hodges has an encyclopedic knowledge of town issues and is an avid proponent of maintaining the town's rural character. She wisely supports adding a history element to the town's general plan. And, although her proposal to limit guest houses on some smaller properties was defeated, she does agree that apartments should be permitted in barns, a move that would be welcomed by many horse owners. She will also make sure the Phillips Brooks School proposal to build a campus in Woodside meets the criteria set forth in the general plan.

Gary McKae, who served one council term from 1993 to 1997, views the history element as a threat and also believes that half the town's planning department could be replaced with computers. Woodside has finally overcome its mid-1990s paranoia of the planning department, an issue that could cripple the town if allowed to restart. Thankfully, Woodside has left that era behind.

In District 2, we support 21-year resident Deborah Gordon, who currently works with former Defense Secretary William Perry on the Prevent Defense Project at Stanford University. Ms. Gordon has volunteered in many capacities at the Woodside Village Church and is past chair of Families in Transition, an East Palo Alto nonprofit. We believe her collaborative approach to problem-solving will serve the council well in the years ahead. Her opponents have tried to paint Ms. Gordon as a foe of Woodside's horse community, but although she lives adjacent to the Mounted Patrol property and has complained about noise and other impacts from livestock events, she has vowed to abstain on any Patrol issues that come before the Town Council.

Joe Kirley, the other District 2 candidate, is an electrical contractor and horseman who devotes much of his time to interests outside the community. And although he has twice failed to win a seat on the Planning Commission, we respect his willingness to volunteer. We recommend that he get more familiar with the town's issues and then seek an appointment to a local board or commission.

PORTOLA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL: Land policies and how to handle development along creeks are coming to the top of the campaign for three open council seats in Portola Valley. Political newcomer and relatively new resident Doug Aikins is taking on incumbent Mayor Ted Driscoll, former council member Richard Merk and George Comstock, who has served eight years on the Architectural and Site Control Commission.

In this surprisingly active race, we recommend voters go with experience and cast their votes for Mr. Driscoll, Mr. Merk and Mr. Comstock. All three have shown a deep commitment of service to Portola Valley and have demonstrated to us a clear command of the current issues.

Mr. Aikins, a lawyer who often represents land developers, including one of the property owners of the politically sensitive Nathhorst Triangle, has lived in the community only a few years. And while he is a member of the town's Geologic Safety Committee, he has attended few meetings, including Town Council meetings.

We admire Mr. Aikins' energy, but comments he made during the campaign about the town's commitment to families and his observation that Woodside High School offers only a "one size fits all" education are off base. As a land-use attorney with experience in municipal law, Mr. Aikins is highly knowledgeable about many issues that come before the town. The question is whether he truly supports the strong environmental ethic that has made Portola Valley the special community that it is today.

SEQUOIA HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT: Incumbent Sally Stewart and Gordon Lewin are our choices for these important seats on the Sequoia board, which oversees Menlo-Atherton, Woodside, Sequoia and Carlmont high schools as well as the Redwood continuation high school. Ms. Stewart, a board member since 1983, is a champion of innovative education, most recently of efforts to decentralize and personalize the high school experience. She has often butted heads with the administration and current majority on the board about her concerns with the growing power of the district office and the resistance to her suggestions, but she promises to keep presenting new ideas that she believes will improve area high schools.

Mr. Lewin, past president of the Menlo Park City School District board, is a parent and a consensus-builder, a quality he promises to use to bring more cohesiveness to the Sequoia board. Mr. Lewin wants to improve the district's academic performance and will work to make schools more personal, so no student falls through the cracks.

COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT: Incumbents Helen Hausman and Richard Holober are our choices for the board. Both candidates pledge to continue working to provide off-campus satellite learning centers closer to where students live, and both are actively supporting Measure C, the bond issue that will provide funds to repair the district's aging buildings.

MENLO PARK FIRE DISTRICT: In this race we endorse incumbents Del Krause and Peter Carpenter and former Deputy Fire Chief Ollie Brown. Mr. Krause has eight years' experience on the board, and Mr. Carpenter has put his considerable executive skills to good use in helping the district improve its operations. Mr. Brown, who just retired after more than 39 years in the district, is an incredible resource and should be elected. All three candidates are committed to revising the contract governing Menlo Park's ambulance, which can be dispatched to other locations, thus lowering response times in Menlo Park. Jeramy Hale, a Menlo Park resident who mounted a strong campaign, would get our support if a fourth seat were open. We hope Mr. Hale stays involved in fire district affairs and runs again in two years.

WOODSIDE FIRE DISTRICT: Peter Berger is our choice in this race for one seat. Mr. Berger, a longtime Woodside resident, has served on the board for 13 years and has been endorsed by the firefighters union. Mr. Berger's opponent, Jim Irizarry, has offered some good ideas during the campaign, and we urge him to stay involved.

WEST BAY SANITARY DISTRICT: Incumbents David Knight and John Carcione deserve re-election to the district board. Mr. Knight has served for nearly 20 years, including a stint during the board's struggle with cleaning up after the manager was convicted of embezzling district assets. Mr. Carcione came in as a reform candidate four years ago, and contributed to the effort, along with other reform-minded colleagues, to keep the district on an even keel.