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As I Was Saying…(Continued from p6) In the race for the 21st District Assembly seat currently held by Ira Ruskin, the Democratic candidates are County Supervisor Rich Gordon, venture capitalist Josh Becker and former Palo Alto mayor Yoriko Kishimoto. Becker could have had a chance because he was viewed as the political outsider and the other two are seen as establishment, a plus with voters today. However, he failed to accept campaign spending limits, so his candidate statement did not appear in voter pamphlets. In my opinion, that is a drastic campaign mistake and even though voters will see many mailers from Becker, it is not the same. The two male contenders have virtually raised the same amount of campaign dollars, leaving Kishimoto (the environmentalist) well behind. Taking all that and more into consideration, Gordon will win. The supervisor seat that will be left vacant by Gordon has nonpartisan candidates San Carlos Councilman Matt Grocott, former sheriff and current Sequoia Healthcare District Board President Don Horsley, coastside activist April Vargas, Sequoia Healthcare District Trustee Jack Hickey and Michael Stogner all vying to get 50 percent plus one vote to avoid a November runoff. This is a race where every vote really will count. It will be difficult for any candidate to do that but if you take into consideration Horsley’s name recognition and respect in the county, he could pull it off. If not, it will be a November race between him and April Vargas. Let’s hope this can be solved in June because, regardless of June’s outcome, Horsley will be elected sooner or later. The race to take County Treasurer Lee Buffington’s seat has four candidates. Former Burlingame Mayor Joe Galligan, Deputy Treasurer Sandie Arnott, investment advisor Richard Guilbault and community college trustee Dave Mandelkern are all running in the winner-take-all contest. What has been interesting about this race is reading endorsements from several elected officials who are backing Mandelkern because his “background in building companies in Silicon Valley and taking them public, dealing with investment bankers and managing hundreds of millions of dollars of shareholders’ money gives him the proper background and experience to provide the right leadership for the county treasurer’s office.” Say what? Considering that Galligan is the only candidate who has a college degree in accounting, is a CPA and has a master’s degree in taxation — and is basically the only candidate qualified to hold the office — it surprises me that some would back a candidate who is not qualified to be elected. But the status quo in our county doesn’t care that the county loss of $155 million in the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy has led to jobs being lost, budgets being cut and services eliminated. They will continue to pat each other on the back even if it is not in the best interest of our county. Galligan should and will win. Incumbent County Coroner Robert Foucrault, who is opposed by Stacie Lynn Nevares, a former office assistant in that office, will easily win. Not a hard one to predict: Measure G, the $34/year parcel tax for the San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD). The measure is being touted as a way to provide vital funding for San Mateo County’s three community colleges: College of San Mateo, Skyline College and Cañada College. This all comes down to accountability and whether voters will open their tight pockets during tough economic times. Problems: Seventy percent of the SMCCCD’s total operating expenses are used to pay for staff and faculty salaries and benefits, and only 38 percent of the budget goes directly to “instructional activities.” In fact, the SMCCCD has over 160 employees who make more than $100,000 a year and approximately 135 employees making $90,000 or more per year. No one has suggested any type of across-the-board pay cuts, and that is not responsible considering the cuts are being directed at the ones who will be hurt the most: students. I have spoken with many voters who have told me they feel enough has been given to the district and point to all the new buildings at the campuses and subsidized housing for staff as examples. Unfortunately for the organizers of this measure, they have not done their job before asking for more. This measure will fail. If you have not voted already, do so on Tuesday, June 8. It is so important for the future of our community. As I was saying… .… James P. Fox Biography – (Continued from page 18) James P. Fox was first elected district attorney of San Mateo County in June 1982, assumed office Jan. 3, 1983, and has been re-elected every four years since without opposition. He received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of San Francisco in 1966 and his law degree from the University of San Francisco in 1969. He first joined the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office in January 1970. In January 1974, Fox left the District Attorney’s Office for private practice. In addition to a general practice of law, he served as the city attorney of Half Moon Bay from January 1974 to January 1983. During his private practice, Fox served as a member of the private defender panel of the San Mateo County Bar Association, which, by contract, provides indigent defense services for the County of San Mateo. Fox served as a member of the California Bar Association’s Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation from January 1980 to March 1982. He has also served as a member of several state Judicial Council advisory committees, including the Criminal Law Advisory Committee from 1994 to the present, the Court Profiles Committee from 1990 to 2000 and the Ad Hoc Advisory Committee on Cameras in the Courtroom in 1995–96. Fox has been active in both the California District Attorneys Association and the National District Attorneys Association. He is a past president of CDAA and has served as chairman of the Legislative Committee of that organization since 1990. He is also a past vice president of NDAA and current co-chairman of the Legislative Committee of NDAA. Fox was twice appointed as a member of the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, serving as chairman from 1993 to 1994 and for the first six months of 1995. He has also been active in civic affairs, including serving as a member of the board of directors of Mercy High School (Burlingame) 1984–90, Notre Dame High School (Belmont) 1991–97 and Junipero Serra High School (San Mateo) 2005 to present. He also served as a member of the San Mateo County Children and Families First Commission (now named First 5) from 1999 to 2003. www.SpectrumMagazine.net
Insurance Tips: Child Auto Safety Is Vital By Russ Castle, Special to The Spectrum Fox Dream Presents Mo’ Music (Continued from page 25) Many of us have struggled to install a car seat for our children or grandchildren. Latches, straps and bulky plastic combined with cramped quarters make it hard to install. But almost two-thirds of all automobile deaths of children under age 15 are due to improper restraints. Here are some key points for the installation of car seats and other child auto safety devices that could help make your family safer: • Select a car seat with the highest weight limit (usually 35 pounds) to keep the little one in the seat as long as possible. • Pick a car seat with a five-point safety harness. • For rear-facing seats, make sure that a maximum 45-degree lean angle is observed. • Keep the chest clip at the armpit level, not too high on the neck or too low on the stomach. • Make sure all straps fit snugly. Also, follow these general rules to maximize safety for older children in your car: • Children have a much higher rate of survival during an automobile crash when they are in the back seat. This is always true for kids 12 and younger. • Front-facing seating systems should ideally be used until a child is at least 8 years old or 4 feet 9 inches tall. More information and detailed steps can be reviewed online at www.car-safety.org. All of us here at Castle Insurance Agency wish you continued health and safety. Editor’s note: This article was written by Russ Castle of Castle Insurance Agency, a licensed and experienced auto insurance resource center fully prepared to help you navigate through the process of changing or gaining a policy. If you need insurance help, call him at 650-364-3664. not just for the benefit to himself and his operating partners, but mainly for the residents, business owners, workers, patrons and visitors to Redwood City. “I love this city and this community,” said Lochtefeld. “I think Redwood City has the most potential than any other city on the Peninsula. I really believe in the potential here and I believe that the Fox venue is the centerpiece of the city. I want to encourage and provide some leadership and concentrate on what the community really wants, which is a highly performing live entertainment venue that the entire community and the outreaching areas can be really proud of and enjoy. I’ve got all of the skills to bring to the table, and I am confident that this is going to go well and everything will fall into place.” In the interim, Lochtefeld is having a good time getting to know the city he is about to serve and is certainly looking forward to hearing from you personally. “I would love for people to stop by the Fox and tell me what kind of music they like,” said Lochtefeld. “It is important for me to understand what the community wants and supports. I really want everyone to be happy and just have a lot of fun.” So get ready for some poppin’ beats this summer, because the Fox Dream team is in the house and they are about to bring us mo’ music!’ Senior Activities The Veterans Memorial Senior Center, 1455 Madison Ave., Redwood City, is providing the following activities that are open to the public during the month of June. Friday Movies for Everyone Every Friday, 1:15 p.m. (unless otherwise announced) Come to the Veterans Memorial Senior Center in June for a free feature movie in our state-of-theart movie theater! June 4: “Crazy Heart” June 11: “It’s Complicated” June 18: “Invictus” June 25: “Tenderness” Diabetes Prevention and Management Dialogue Wednesday, June 9, 1–2 p.m. Sunset Room Free A Ravenswood Family Health Center representative will discuss how to manage diabetes and various preventative measures that can be taken when there is a family history of the disease. Chevys Second Annual Fundraiser Thursday, June 24, all day Chevys in Redwood City Enjoy a delicious meal at Chevys in Redwood City while helping the Veterans Memorial Senior Center! Chevys will donate 25 percent of the proceeds from your meal to the VMSC. You must bring a special flier on this day to participate in the fundraiser. Fliers can be obtained by visiting the VMSC, calling 650-780-7270 or e-mailing SDouglas@redwoodcity.org. SAVE THE DATE: VMSC Patriotic BBQ Thursday, July 1, 12–2 p.m. $8 Bring your lawn chairs, flags and dogs for this patriotic outdoor celebration. Games will be played and a hot dog/hamburger BBQ will be served on the grass of the VMSC. This will be a pet-friendly celebration, so bring those pooches. Optional indoor dining will also be provided; however, dogs cannot be accommodated within the Senior Center. There will be a special demonstration by the Redwood City Police K-9 Unit. To learn more about the Veterans Memorial Senior Center, call 650-780-7270. Redwood City Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department provides recreational facilities and activities for all ages and interests, and supplies building and custodial services for city buildings. Redwood City Parks also operates the Veterans Memorial Senior Center and the Fair Oaks Community Center, providing social, educational and cultural activities, as well as information, referral and counseling services to persons living in Redwood City and neighboring communities. Redwood City Parks is more than you think! Its website is located at www. redwoodcity.org/parks. Advertise with The Spectrum Call Us Today 650.368.2434 The Spectrum 29
Page 1 and 2: JAMES FOX Retiring BUT STILL READY
Page 3 and 4: The Spectrum.JUN.2010 Steve Penna O
Page 5 and 6: RCSD Corner: News From the Redwood
Page 7 and 8: CITY OF REDWOOD CITY HOME IMPROVEME
Page 9 and 10: Cultural Events Sequoia Students Im
Page 11 and 12: P.S. The People Speak: Letters to t
Page 13 and 14: The Spectrum Mag AD 4/2/08 4:23 PM
Page 15 and 16: Events Around Town Kiwanis Bike Rod
Page 17 and 18: “I kind of have mixed feelings, b
Page 19 and 20: TIP C -A- P THURSDAY, JUNE 10 th 5:
Page 21 and 22: Shop Local! - Shop Redwood City! Ch
Page 23 and 24: Get the red carpet treatment Everyt
Page 25 and 26: Fox Dream Presents Mo’ Music It
Page 27: Community Interest Civilian to Head
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