Carr has the backing of law enforcement (her husband is a police officer) and the votes of Council members Bern Beecham, Larry Klein, and Dena Mossar. She is stumping on a platform of reform, with pledges to rid the office of past ethics transgressions.
Carr is currently a family-court judge and previously served as a prosecutor in the District Attorney's office.
Carr came out on top in the June 6 primary with 43 percent of the vote, besting Sinunu's 34 percent.
Sinunu is the second-in-charge under Kennedy and has handled numerous types of cases. She also helped pen some prosecuting policies and is an expert in hate crimes. Sinunu received a thumbs-up from Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Palo Alto), state Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) and Council members John Barton, Peter Drekmeier, and Yoriko Kishimoto.
Also on the ballot in Santa Clara County is Measure A, an initiative that would amend the county's governing document to make it harder to develop in the hills. Spearheaded by Councilman Peter Drekmeier, it has the unanimous support of the Palo Alto City Council and a slew of environmental organizations.
Opponents say the changes would restrict farming operations and hurt the economy. Some of the opponents to Measure A include real estate agents and ranchers.
The impartial county counsel analysis identified a few legally blurry lines in the measure, which requires a simple majority to pass.
The Palo Alto Weekly and San Jose Mercury News both endorsed the measure.
San Mateo county voters have their own Measure A on the ballot. The one-eighth of a cent sales tax would be used to finance parks. Basically, both cities and counties would get a cut, but their expenditures would be limited to park and open-space acquisition, maintenance, improvements and programs.
The measure needs a two-thirds majority to pass.
The total receipt is expected to be $16 million annually. Supporters include Sheriff Don Horsley, Supervisors Jerry Hill, Adrienne Tissier and Barbara Pierce, mayor of Redwood City.
Opponents include noted tax foe Jack Hickey, who has campaigned against similar efforts in the past.
Other local issues include:
East Palo Alto -- City residents are faced with competing ballot measures and a full slate of candidates for City Council.
* Measures C and D are two different takes on tackling the city's high crime rate. Measure C would levy $100 from owners of a single-family residence, while Measure D would charge $75. Measure C would split the money evenly between policing efforts and social services aimed at crime prevention. All proceeds of Measure D would solely support law enforcement. Measure C is supported by Council members Ruben Abrica, Patricia Foster, David E. Woods and Donna Rutherford. Measure D is supported by businessman Dallas Price and a coalition of renters and homeowners. Both measures require a two-thirds majority to pass.
* Measure E would alter the city's rent stabilization policies enacted in 1986, making it easier to evict tenants. Supporters say some unruly tenants need to go and are unduly protected by the city's policies. Opponents, including the entire City Council, claim the measure would allow evictions for trivial reasons and make it possible for landlords to pump up rents. Measure E requires a simple majority to pass.
* Incumbents David E. Woods and Ruben Abrica face challenges from four other council candidates: Marilu Serrano, a community advocate; Charlie Mae Knight, a former school superintendent; Bernardo Huerta, a native East Palo Altan and a planning commissioner; and David Tschang, who supports mom-and-pop businesses.
Woods and Abrica are both running for second terms. Woods is a business owner who wants to strengthen economic development and safety. Abrica, a college instructor and the current mayor, said he wants to increase the collaboration with other public agencies, promote a community effort to reduce crime and fix streets.
The top two vote-getters will win the seats.
Menlo Park -- Three seats are open on the council and residents also have two measures to consider.
* Incumbents Lee B. Duboc and Mickie Winkler hope to stave off challenges from four others, but current Mayor Nicholas Jellins is stepping down, leaving a third seat open. Duboc and Winkler have allied themselves with John C. Boyle, a venture capitalist and 22-year resident, urging voters to elect all three. Duboc stresses her pro-business attitude. Winkler also speaks out for businesses and playing fields at Bayfront Park.
Candidate Vincent Bressler is a systems consultant who says development in the city is driven by outsiders. Richard Cline, president of Voce Communications and a parks commissioner, is stumping on a platform of reform and council cooperation. Heyward Robinson, a senior research engineer at SRI International and a parks commissioner, said he's progressive and independent and capable of bringing fresh leadership to the city.
* Measure J would give the city the option of constructing sports fields on 17 acres of the 160-acre Bayfront Park. It is an advisory measure that would let the council know if residents would like fields constructed at the former landfill. The type of fields has not been specified but soccer and baseball uses are possible. The measure does not address the funding of future fields. Duboc, Winkler and many sports leaders support Measure J. Vice Mayor Kelly Fergusson, Councilman Andrew Cohen, and several other community leaders oppose it.
A simple majority would be construed as public support for the fields.
* Measure K would add a 3.5 percent utility tax and a 2.5 percent communications tax to pay for general city services including police, streets, storm drains and libraries. The tax would be evaluated every two years by the council and if no longer necessary could be rescinded. The tax would be expected to generate $2.5 million per year. Library, public-safety and parks supporters spoke out for the measure. No one submitted a formal opposition statement.
It requires a simple majority to pass.
Beyond the Valley
* Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-Palo Alto) faces a challenge from the Green party's Carol Liane Brouillet, also of Palo Alto. Information on Eshoo can be found at eshoo.house.gov. Learn more about Brouillet at www.carolforcongress.org.
*A race for the California's 21st Assembly seat pits incumbent Ira Ruskin (D-Redwood City) against community volunteer Virginia Chang Kiraly, a Republican.
Staff Writer Becky Trout can be e-mailed at btrout@paweekly.com
This story contains 1093 words.
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