Will It Be an Incumbent Sweep? - The Spectrum Magazine

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Incumbents Poised to Win Four Seats up for Grabs — All in Favor of Local Ballot Tax Increases The Nov. 8 election has five candidates — incumbents Alicia Aguirre, Ian Bain, Rosanne Foust and Barbara Pierce and political newcomer Paul McCarthy — vying for four Redwood City City Council seats. The Spectrum gave the opportunity to each candidate to answer a few important questions that are of immediate concern to our community and voters. All answers in this article are printed exactly as they were answered by the candidates to The Spectrum. We appreciate all candidates for taking the time to answer the questions and give more information to the voters who need it. Candidate name: Alicia Aguirre Immediate family members: Husband Pete Liebengood, sons Pablo and Eric Zatarain-Aguirre Occupation: Professor at Cañada College, vice mayor of Redwood City Community involvement (groups or organizations): Sequoia Awards, Service League of San Mateo, Redwood City International, Redwood City Chamber Leadership Program chair, Latino Leadership Council of Redwood City Key endorsements: Hon. Anna Eshoo, Hon. Jackie Speier, Hon. Joe Simitian www.aliciaaguirre.com Candidate name: Ian Bain Immediate family members: Children Zach and Veronica Occupation: Corporate communications Community involvement (groups or organizations): www.SpectrumMagazine.net I’ve served nine years on the City Council, including a partial term in 1998. I currently serve on the San Mateo County Emergency Services Council, CCAG’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, the city’s Revenue and Finance Committee, the Bayfront Canal Drainage Committee and the Energy and Environment Committee. Previously, I served on the Airport Roundtable and chaired the council’s Traffic Committee. Prior to serving on the council, I served as chair of Redwood City’s Housing and Human Concerns Committee, as well as several nonprofit boards, including the Sequoia Awards, Redwood City Friends of Literacy, Community Association for Rehabilitation (CAR) and Peninsula Habitat for Humanity. Key endorsements: State Sen. Joe Simitian; Assembly Members Jerry Hill and Rich Gordon; Supervisors Don Horsley, Carole Groom, Dave Pine and Adrienne Tissier; former Mayors Bob Bury, Dick Claire, Dani Gasparini, Georgi LaBerge and Diane Howard www.ianbain.com Candidate name: Rosanne Foust Immediate family members: Daughters Julia and Lydia, husband Jim Occupation: President & CEO, San Mateo County Economic Development Association (SAMCEDA) Community involvement (groups or organizations): Chair, San Mateo County Transportation Authority; deputy chair of the Redwood City–San Mateo County Chamber of Commerce; past chair of the board, trustee, Bay Area Council Economic Institute; board member, San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority; board member, Sequoia Awards (20-year-old scholarship program for high school students based on community volunteerism that awarded $140,000 in 2011), board member, Casa de Redwood (147-unit, low-income senior housing development in Redwood City supporting social and educational programs for the senior community); board member, PenTV; member of Redwood City Rotary Key endorsements: William H. (Bill) Royer, former mayor, board supervisor and U.S. congressman; John (Jack) Greenalch, former mayor; S. Joseph Simitian, California State Senate; Rich Gordon, California State Assembly; Jerry Hill, California State Assembly; Carole Groom, president, San Mateo County Board of Supervisors; Adrienne Tissier, San Mateo County Board of Supervisors; San Mateo County Building & Construction Trades Council; Redwood City Police Sergeants Association www.rosannefoust.com Candidate name: Paul McCarthy Immediate family members: Wife Catherine G. McCarthy, employed in the tech industry; daughter Elizabeth A. McCarthy, fifth-grade student at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Redwood City; son Aidan C. McCarthy, second-grade student at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Occupation: State law enforcement supervisor Community involvement (groups or organizations): Our Lady of Mount Carmel Men’s Club Executive Committee, Redwood City Elks Club, Sequoia Yacht Club, Marines Memorial Club, Single Handed Sailing Society Key endorsements: John Sheldon, construction industry; Superintendent Rick Dalton; Fred Ganjei, founding member and former president of the Redwood City Downtown Business Group, business owner, Mayers Jewelers; Simon Johnson, general manager, Fish Market Restaurant, San Mateo; Maj. Albert G. Morales, USAR, U.S. Army Special Operations Command; Sgt. Ronald D. Howard, California Highway Patrol (retired); Capt. Gerardo Gonzalez, USAF, director of public affairs, 17th Air Force; Officer Barry Van Otten, training officer, California Highway Patrol; Dave Peck, business owner, Interactive, PR; Tom Raffetto, senior principal project manager, Symantec; Roman M. Sochan, vice president, director of information technology, Fuller &
Challenger McCarthy tells incumbents NO Measure I ‘not a tax that contributes to growth, but rather demonstrates political expediency.’ Measure M ‘is imposed on a small constituency who create jobs and provide the services that make Redwood City a vibrant community.’ Thaler Asset Management Inc.; Mary Ellen Greene, occupational therapist; Lt. John Munsey profiles.google.com/102467701881001384622#10 2467701881001384622/about Candidate name: Barbara Pierce Immediate family members: Husband Jerry Pierce, daughters Andrea Koenig and Amanda Flores, mom Claire Apffel, sons-in-law Martin Koenig and Marty Flores Occupation: Community volunteer, retired social worker/rehabilitation counselor Community involvement (groups or organizations): Redwood City Education Foundation, Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Business Group Key endorsements: All current Redwood City council members; Sen. Joe Simitian; Assemblyman Jerry Hill; Redwood City School District school board members Shelly Masur, Alisa MacAvoy, Dennis McBride; Sequoia Union High School District board members Don Gibson, Olivia Martinez, Lorraine Rumley; former Redwood City Mayors Brent Britschgi, Dick Claire, Diane Howard, Georgi LaBerge; community members Paula Uccelli, Dani Gasparini and Alyn Beals, Gino Gasparini, Cheryl Angeles, Alan Bygdnes, Warren Dale, Rev. Harold Draeger, Dee and Richard Eva, Hector Flamenco, Keith Kadera, Lilia Ledesma, Nancy Radcliffe, Arnoldo Arreola, Ken Rolandelli, Vince Truscelli, Connie Guerrero, Janet Borgens (partial listing) www.barbarapierce.org Why are you running for a seat on the Redwood City City Council? Alicia Aguirre: I am running because I believe that the work that we do for the residents of Redwood City is very important. I am passionate about our community and I would like to continue to work on the accomplishments and challenges that our city is facing. I’m seeking re-election to continue working hard to protect and enhance our neighborhoods, carefully manage growth, protect the environment, maintain fiscal stability and improve local schools. Ian Bain: I get a great sense of satisfaction serving the community and have a few projects I want to see to completion. I want the best for our children and our community — a clean, safe city with a strong economy, good parks and libraries, and a downtown rich in nightlife and culture. I want another term to continue to make this happen. Rosanne Foust: I believe in Redwood City and I want to continue our collective efforts in making it the best place to live, work and raise a family. It’s great to see the community gathered at Courthouse Square, enjoying branch libraries and staying healthy at our parks and playing fields. With my business background, I understand how to balance budgets, attract new businesses, create jobs and ensure fiscal stability while maintaining the quality of life we all expect. Paul McCarthy: I am currently running for a seat on the Redwood City City Council because I want to assist in the growth and development of our revitalized downtown. I have never sought public office and I am not accepting contributions to my campaign. The Redwood City business community is a critical component of our local economy and I want to ensure that their concerns are addressed. I believe that we have one of the greatest communities on the Peninsula and I want to make a positive contribution to the future of our magnificent city. Barbara Pierce: I wish to continue to lead Redwood City in the positive direction that it has been going and make sure that the efforts I’ve supported are implemented. These include: continued community building that involves residents in decision-making; ensuring that Downtown is a lively destination with new restaurants, retail and businesses and that we have a balanced budget; and sustainability plans. What do you feel are the (two) top issues facing the Redwood City community? Alicia Aguirre: Fiscal stability and economic development. Ian Bain: Keeping our city’s finances healthy is our top priority as it affects everything else we do. We have to keep a close eye on spending while we work to attract businesses. The other top issue is carefully managing growth and development. I expect we will see several proposals come to us in the next few years, and we’ll have to make sure that any potential development does not negatively impact existing neighborhoods. Rosanne Foust: Finding the right balance between preserving and protecting the hometown, small community feel of Redwood City and embracing the possibilities of new industries, new housing, new modes of transit and new ways of delivering city services. Deciding what services the city can and cannot provide and identifying partnerships to meet the needs of our community as we continue aligning revenue and resources. Paul McCarthy: Public safety, both downtown and within the residential community. Growth and development of our city with a vision for a sustainable future. Barbara Pierce: To maintain and improve the quality of life in Redwood City we need to focus on creating a vibrant economy and continue to support both the services that ensure our safety and basic health of the community but also the activities that make our community special to us. To create a vibrant economy we must attract and retain businesses, build new housing following the downtown precise plan and general plan and increase transportation options. Naturally safety services and infrastructure need to be maintained, but the activities that make Redwood City special and serve to attract business and new residents to Redwood City are services to our youth, families and seniors, libraries, parks and cultural events. Do you support the two tax increases on the ballot: Measure I, the transient occupancy tax (or hotel tax), and Measure M, the business license tax? Alicia Aguirre: Yes. Ian Bain: Yes. Rosanne Foust: Yes. Both the TOT and BLT will bring new revenue to the city’s general fund, allowing us to maintain city services at levels residents have come to expect. Before placing either measure on the ballot, we reached out to the hotel operators and business community to engage them in discussions and explain what the city had been doing (and continues to do) to align revenue and resources prior to asking for tax increases. Paul McCarthy: I do not support Measure I because it imposes a tax on a nonrepresented constituency. This is not a tax that contributes to growth, but rather demonstrates political expediency. It is essentially painless to tax a group that has no voice on the imposition of the tax. I do not support Measure M because it creates an additional barrier to entry for new businesses. This tax is imposed on a small constituency who create jobs and provide the services that make Redwood City a vibrant community. Barbara Pierce: Yes. I support both measures. (continues on page 21) The Spectrum 19
Page 1 and 2: Will It Be an Incumbent Sweep? LeMo
Page 3 and 4: The Spectrum.OCT.2011 Table of Cont
Page 5 and 6: RCSD Corner: News From the Redwood
Page 7 and 8: Nonprofits in the News Rotary Car R
Page 9 and 10: LeMo: Creating a Dream-Come-True Wo
Page 11 and 12: Upsize your LIFE Great retirement l
Page 13 and 14: P.S. The People Speak: Letters to t
Page 15 and 16: Community Interest San Mateo Credit
Page 17: Events Around Town Rosanne Foust
Page 21 and 22: Candidates answer Spectrum question
Page 23 and 24: Insurance Tips: Bundling Home and A
Page 25 and 26: Candidates sound off (Continued fro
Page 27 and 28: The Spectrum 27
Page 29 and 30: Real Estate: Michelle Glaubert at C
Page 31 and 32: Cherokees Primed for Another Champi
Page 33 and 34: LeMo: Creating a Dream-Come-True Wo
Page 35 and 36: CASINO NIGHT VINTAGE VEGAS A fundra

Will It Be an Incumbent Sweep? - The Spectrum Magazine

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