Also in this issue: - The Spectrum Magazine

AS I
Publisher
Steve Penna
WAS SAYING...
Okay, so we all know that City Manager Ed Everett is retiring
this month, and soon after him is City Clerk Patricia Howe.
Both have served our community well and, in one way or
another, will be missed. My most memorable experience
with Howe was when she first began her position. I called her
to confirm the city was having an election night “counting
party.” You know, where everyone is there at City Hall and
watches the results for City Council. It was the night before
the event and I called to get all the details and thought I would
play one of my practical jokes on her. I asked her what time
the Sequoia High School Band would be performing. She
replied that she did not know they were going to be there.
That’s when I informed her that it had been a city tradition
to have them there — they had done so for the past 30 years
or so — and it was her responsibility to have them there.
Needless to say, I heard nothing but silence for about a
minute, then I could not hold back and broke out into laughter
and told her, “Gotcha.” Welcome to Redwood City, baby. She
has been a great sport ever since and a total professional.
The process for finding her replacement is being handled
in-house by the city’s Human Resources Department. The
new city clerk will be announced sometime in October.
Everett’s departure, on the other hand, has me reflecting
on so many things. He came on board about the same time
that I was getting involved in the political process here. I
have had so many different impressions, opinions and views
about him that I cannot easily express how I feel about
his departure. What sticks most in my mind about him is
his strong conviction that he is doing what is best for our
community. No matter what obstacles he has to face for those
beliefs, he will try and implement them. Whether I agree with
his approach is irrelevant; I respect him and his dedication to
improving the quality of our lives.
The process to replace him is in the works. Thirty
applicants were received and I am being told that none were
from within the city staff — the City Council met in closed
session on Aug. 22 to discuss the applicants. The list will be
shortened and his replacement will be announced toward the
end of September.
Now, besides those two, I am hearing that Fire Chief
Gerry Kohlmann will announce his retirement very soon
and will be moving on to work in the private sector for a
company in San Jose. I, like you, am hoping this is not true
as he is very respected and has brought a great working
environment to our firefighters. I tried to get confirmation
either way but could not by press time, so you will probably
hear an announcement soon after we are out on the streets.
But remember, you read it here first!
. . .
Election time is here — yahoo! And there is going to be a
City Council race! Unlike other districts, where members
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of the community do not run because there is so much apathy,
we have two challengers — Joneen Nielsen and Kevin
Bondonno — vying against four incumbents — Alicia
Aguirre, Ian Bain, Rosanne Foust and Barbara Pierce.
Although the signing of a candidate’s nomination papers
does not indicate an endorsement, viewing who signed whose
papers can be enlightening. Aguirre’s was signed by, among
others, colleagues Bain and Foust, Sequoia trustee Lorraine
Rumley, board or commission members Nancy Radcliffe,
Susan Swope, Alex and Cherlene Wright and Alpio
Barbara. Bain’s — Pierce, former Mayor Dani Gasparini,
Radcliffe, Swope, Maria Diaz-Slocum and Mary
Mortenson. Bondonno’s — Jeff Ira and Shawn White.
Foust’s — Ira, Paula Uccelli, Pete and Ginny Hughes,
Glenna Vaskelis, Bill Conklin and Barbara. Pierce’s
— Diane Howard, former Mayors Gasparini and Brent
Britschgi, Warren Dale, Radcliffe, Swope, Mortenson and
Keith and Nina Kadera. Nielsen’s had no current or former
council members or board or commission members. This will
be an interesting race.
Several debates are being planned, with no solid dates yet
except for the Chamber of Commerce Candidates Forum on
Wednesday, Sept. 26, at the Pacific Athletic Club. Call 650-
364-1722 for details and tickets.
By the way, you might be wondering what happened
to Nick James. He was one of the first people to take out
nomination papers. But he failed to qualify for the ballot
because he is not a registered voter in our community. Yes,
that is a requirement. Oh, I am so biting my lip right now and
don’t think I need to comment on that one.
. . .
Music to the following districts’ ears is being heard. They
will not have to hold elections this year because there are no
challengers to the incumbents. The money they will save is
staggering.
In the Redwood City Elementary School District race, two
incumbents — Shelly Masur and Dennis McBride — will
rejoin the board with newcomer Alisa MacAvoy. The district
budgeted about $50,000 for the election and will now be
able to use it elsewhere. This will be MacAvoy’s first elected
position. McBride is starting his second term on the board.
Masur was originally appointed to the board in 2005. She
succeeded in winning a two-year term later that year after her
only competition bowed out during a debate. This will be her
first four-year term with the board.
In the Sequoia Union High School District, all three
incumbent trustees will be returning to the board. President
Olivia Martinez, and trustees Don Gibson and Lorraine
Rumley were all first elected in 1999. The three, along with
colleagues Gordon Lewin and Sally Stewart, are faced
with figuring out how to come up with the $3.15 million
discrepancy between the total costs of remodeling projects
the school district started and the bond money it will receive
in upcoming years. An estimated savings of $120,000 to
$150,000 for the district because they will not hold an election
might help.
Sequoia has an estimated $54.3 million left from the two
bonds and is committed to $57.4 million in work. Voters have
approved bonds twice since 2001 for a total of $158 million.
But it seems they need more and are considering going back
to voters to approve another bond. I don’t know many that
would support another bond given the fact that many projects
have been considered luxuries for the district instead of
necessities. I mean, why does every campus need a top-notch
performing arts center? And so on.
Also, did you know that in the Sequoia district, out of the
1,915 students in the senior class, about 385 of them have yet
to pass at least one portion of the California High School Exit
Exam? More on that next month. I guess it is fortunate for the
incumbents running for re-election that these types of issues
will not be brought up during a campaign.
The San Mateo County Community College District had
budgeted to pay $383,000 — the bill for the 2005 race. All
three incumbents — Dave Mandelkern, Patricia Miljanich
and Karen Schwarz — will return for another four years.
It will be Mandelkern’s second term and the fourth term for
Miljanich and Schwarz.
Given the number of terms and years all these incumbents
have been around, I have to wonder if these people just die
on their boards? I commend them for their public service, but
come on now — isn’t it time to let others have the opportunity
to make a difference? We all know it is almost impossible
to beat an incumbent because voters are so uninformed and,
unless there is a major issue, just stay the course. No wonder
nobody runs against them.
After an impressive and very time-consuming appeal
process, the City Council approved the Costco expansion but
added some new conditions. I do not know if you attended
or watched the nearly six-hour meeting on the tube, but I
was so proud — even though I did not agree with them — of
the residents in that neighborhood who took a stand and
challenged the “process.” In doing so, they at least make
the corporate giant more accountable to our community.
There will be a 30-day statute of limitations on the council’s
decision, in case a lawsuit is filed within that time frame.
I doubt there will be, so here’s to cheaper gas and more
discounted selections.
But then again, do I really need 52 more rolls of toilet paper?
As I was saying…
. . .
. . .