Voter Guide 2001: Seven candidates for Menlo fire board Voter Guide 2001: Seven candidates for Menlo fire board (October 24, 2001)

By Marion Softky
Almanac Staff Writer

A better ambulance contract, improved pay and working conditions for firefighters, and more planning for disasters are among the top priorities for most of the seven candidates for three seats on the board of the Menlo Park Fire Protection District.

Four candidates have been campaigning actively for the right to help direct the district that provides fire protection and emergency service from seven fire stations to about 85,000 people in Menlo Park, Atherton, East Palo Alto, and adjacent unincorporated areas.

The four who attended the League of Women Voters candidates forum are:

**Board President and eight-year incumbent Del Krause, who was on vacation but sent a statement. He would be the only member with more than two years experience on the board. **Incumbent Peter Carpenter, who was appointed to the board in March to replace Peg Gunn.

**Ollie Brown, who spent almost 40 years with the district, rising from firefighter to deputy fire chief before retiring.

**Jeramy Hale, a Menlo Park businessman who would like to serve the community, and has been attending fire board meetings for several months.

Other candidates have kept a lower profile. Libertarian Howard Van Jepmond would push for "reform, reform, reform." He would like to improve 911 response and integrate fire and police services.

V.I. Wobogo, a college instructor with a master's degree in chemistry, would like to provide effective representation from East Palo Alto on the board.

When Chita Albert, an educator and caregiver from North Fair Oaks, realized what a big commitment the position would be, she decided she didn't want to be elected. "I'm not ready. I hope to lose by default," she said.

Ambulance contract

"The current ambulance contract is badly flawed," said Mr. Brown.

The contract, which was negotiated over several years, put a paramedic on every fire truck throughout the county, and put one ambulance in Menlo Park to be staffed with Menlo Park firefighters.

Four candidates would like to renegotiate the contract. They agreed the ambulance spends too much time outside the district without adequate back-up, the contract costs the district money, and poses a hardship on firefighters.

"I'd like to see a solution that works for the community, doesn't beat up on guys and doesn't cost the district money," said Mr. Hale.

The same four candidates all spoke of the need to make salaries competitive so that the district can attract and retain firefighters despite the high cost of housing. "We should bring firefighters pay and benefits to competitive levels," said Mr. Carpenter.

Mr. Krause stressed proper fiscal management to meet the district's needs while paying off the $3.9 million debt. The loans helped pay to retrofit six fire stations to withstand earthquake, and to build a seventh fire station east of Bayshore Freeway to help alleviate problems of responding during times of heavy traffic. He supports beefing up public safety and fire-prevention activities.

Mr. Carpenter hoped to develop new sources of funds to improve the district's Urban Search and Rescue team, which went to New York last month, and to make it less dependent on federal funds. He also suggested developing new techniques to respond effectively to incidents despite traffic congestion that blocks streets and slows response.

Mr. Brown and Mr. Hale both urged improving the district's ability to respond to disasters. Mr. Brown urged better coordination with other agencies. Mr. Hale suggested educating people in neighborhoods and placing caches of equipment in different areas. "We should know how to operate together as a community," said Mr. Hale.

The Menlo Park Firefighters Association has endorsed Mr. Carpenter, Mr. Hale and Mr. Brown.

Peter F. Carpenter
Profession : Appointed incumbent. Retired executive who serves on six nonprofit boards and three public service committees; helps organizations and companies clarify missions and values.
Experience : Forest Service smoke jumper. He held executive positions at U.S. Price Commission; Stanford University, including executive director of the Medical Center 1975-76; and ALZA Corp. from 1976 to 1990.
Education : Harvard AB; University of Chicago MBA; two years of doctoral studies at Stanford.

Howard Van Jepmond
Profession : Retired electronic engineer, apartment owner.
Experience : Active Libertarian. Ran for County Board of Education.
Education : Lots of courses.

Ollie Brown
Occupation : Retired deputy fire chief in Menlo Park Fire Protection District; served nearly 40 years in district, starting as firefighter.
Experience : Menlo Park Parks and Recreation Commission; director of American National Red Cross; chairman of College of San Mateo Fire Science Advisory Board; member, San Mateo County Fire Chief's Association and California Fire Chief's Association.
Education : Fire management and municipal administration at San Mateo County Community College District, University of Santa Clara, State Fire Academy, and National Fire Academy; holds lifetime teaching credential for college level fire science courses.

V.I. Wobogo
Profession : College instructor
Experience : Nine years of experience in public administration, including three in special district management. Resident of East Palo Alto for 30 years.
Education : Master's degree in chemistry.

Del R. Krause
Profession : Incumbent since 1993, and current president of the board of the Menlo Park Fire Protection District.
Experience : Retired plant manager and vice president and general manager for the Heublein/UVD manufacturing facility in Menlo Park for 17 years. Also served on board of directors of Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce, with one year as treasurer.
Education : B.S. in business administration with undergraduate work at the University of California at Berkeley and the University of San Francisco.

Jeramy Hale
Profession : Businessman
Experience : Founded and built two Bay Area businesses: a book company, and Sugo Music and Design. Founding board member of "Be the Star You Are," a nonprofit that helps empower youth at risk. Teaches martial arts at Aikido West, and holds a black belt in Aikido and Seibukan Jujutsu; coaches in the Mighty Mite ski program at Squaw Valley.
Education : Two years of college before specializing in communications intelligence with the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War.

Chita Albert
Chita Albert is not campaigning and says she does not want to be elected.