Publication Date: Wednesday Aug 11, 1999

ELECTION '99: Council race may be bellwether for March ballot

Twelve candidates file for five seats in November race

Although the Palo Alto Homeowners Association has decided against fielding a slate of candidates in November's City Council race, the election could still become a bellwether for community opinion on the historic preservation ordinance.

The association, formed last year to protest the ordinance, decided at its most recent board meeting two weeks ago not to endorse any candidates in the November election. Last week, the organization's vice president, Michael Campbell, and treasurer, David Lieberman, scrapped plans to run. Campbell said he would focus instead on the campaign to overturn the ordinance on the March ballot. Attorney Richard Alexander, another vocal opponent of the ordinance, also decided not to run in November.

That leaves homeowners association president Craig Woods as one of the 12 candidates who filed election papers by Friday's deadline for the November race. Four four-year seats and the seat vacated by Councilwoman Micki Schneider with two years remaining in her term are up for grabs.

Woods faces three other candidates for the two-year seat. Although he says his platform will focus on more than historic preservation, the vote for the two-year seat could well divide between those who support preservation and those who feel the ordinance violates their property rights--a cause that Woods has championed for the past year.

"It's going to be an interesting race," said former Mayor Mike Cobb, one of eight candidates in the four-year race. "I think that will be an interesting test" of where the community stands on historic preservation.

The other candidates in the two-year race support historic preservation. Phyllis Cassel, a planning commissioner for the past seven years, believes some regulation of historic homes is acceptable as long as there are strong incentives to encourage people to rehabilitate homes. Bob Moss, a Cable Co-op board member and longtime council watcher, is entering the race for the two-year seat on a pro-historic preservation platform, "to dispute the misinformation being put out there by the Palo Alto Homeowners Association," he said.

The fourth candidate in the two-year race is retired advertising executive Jim Burch, a newcomer to Palo Alto politics. Burch said he's in favor of the historic preservation ordinance as it stands. He said he's entering the fray because "it's time for a more reasoned voice."

Historic preservation will likely be much less of an issue in the race for the four-year seats now that the homeowners association has chosen not to field a slate of candidates.

"If the slate had run, there would have been more of a debate on historic preservation," said Cobb.

ISP Channel director Mark Heyer is the only candidate in the four-year race running on a strong anti-preservation platform.

"I am sympathetic with that issue and it's a critical issue," said Heyer, who switched from the two-year to the four-year race to avoid running head-to-head with Woods, with whom he agrees on most issues.

The other candidates for the four four-year seats are trying to steer the election away from historic preservation.

"I think there are a number of issues that need to be discussed," said Planning Commissioner Bern Beecham. "I think it would be a shame for the city if it became a one-issue race."

Other issues that have already surfaced include traffic, parking, more effective government and improving city services.

"I think there's a culture that every government has, and I don't think Palo Alto has a government culture that functions," said Judy Kleinberg, an attorney who runs a local nonprofit organization.

Kleinberg, who is seeking a four-year seat, also is critical of Palo Alto's aging infrastructure.

"Palo Alto used to be at the cutting edge of city services," she said. "Now we're resting on our laurels. Palo Alto hasn't kept up with the changes."

Former Palo Alto planning official Nancy Lytle said she, too, wants to improve Palo Alto government.

"We take too long to accomplish things," she said. "We drown in our process."

There is only one incumbent running in the election: Councilwoman Dena Mossar, who is completing a two-year term and is now seeking a four-year seat. In 1997, Mossar campaigned on a strong environmental platform and was instrumental in getting the city's special events shuttle off the ground, a precursor of the pilot shuttle program the City Council approved last week.

Perennial council candidate Ed Power is also trying his luck again for the four-year seat. Power, who addresses the City Council most Monday nights during oral communications, sometimes singing a song, told the council last month:

"To the members of the Palo Alto Homeowners Association, I will say, as I have said to other issue-oriented groups, that Palo Alto's political problems lie not so much with the issues as with the government that gives rise to the issues. When given the opportunity, 'Turn the rascals out.'"

The only other candidate in the four-year race is homeless advocate Victor Frost, who has a Web site and a local TV show. Frost, who can often be found panhandling outside Whole Foods or Mollie Stones, could not be reached for comment Monday.

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