Elections

Two applicants for two open seats on MCC

Written by Darin Boville
Wednesday, 03 September 2008 16:29
There are two applicants for the two vacant Midcoast Community Council seats, according to Supervisor Rich Gordon's office: Ric Lohman and Sabrina Brennan. Ric Lohman is a former member of the MCC and served as its chair. He has been active in local politics for many years and lives in Miramar. Sabrina Brennan is a new face to coastal politics and was appointed this past month to be the MCC’s representative to Midcost Park Lands, a non-profit which oversees El Granada’s Quarry Park. Sabrina lives in Moss Beach. Applicants will be interviewed on September 10 at the regular MCC meeting. Supervisor Rich Gordon will make the final decision on appointments after reviewing the MCC’s recommendations.

Democratic Debate: Assembly Candidates Hill, Holober, and Papan

Written by Darin Boville
Tuesday, 06 May 2008 22:46
This might be your only chance to see the three candidates for the seat of Gene Mullin who is vacating the 19th District seat in the California State Assembly. (Yes, the same Gene Mullin who is heading up the charge for AB 1991--Gene is leaving due to term limits, not to voter perplexity over his choice of swan song.) Candidates Jerry Hill, Richard Holober, and Gina Papan go over their well worn answers to many of the expected questions, give us their positions on AB 1991 (we can’t escape it), and in general do a good job at communicating political passion even though this must be their umteenth debate. The candidate forum was sponsored by the hard work of our local Coastside Democrats Club and was moderated by the League of Women Voters. Not sure where the boundries to the 19th District are? Neither was I. Here is a good map. Video by Darin Boville

Montara Water and Sanitary District Debate

Written by Darin Boville
Tuesday, 23 October 2007 17:42
The Montara Water and Sanitary race has turned into the roughest, down and dirty debate on the Coastside this year. One candidate, framing himself and his campaign around issues of wise financial management was discovered (via anonymous tipster) not to have paid his taxes--including the portion that goes to MWSD!--for two and a half years. Then, in apparent payback, a rival candidate was found (via anonymous tipster) to be a few weeks late on taxes on her second primary residence. I still don't know what "second primary residence" means but it is legal, it seems. (Note to campaign manager and/or tipsters: When your candidate takes a blow like the one above you attack the rival on a different topic lest you keep the embarrassing issue about your candidate alive longer than need be. Your candidate is suffering disproportionately. Have you not heard the mantra, "Stay on message"?) But wait! That's all about the horse race and nothing about the course. That's what the old, traditional news sources do--put the excitement of campaigning up front and center and sort of forget to cover the very issues that are motivating people to fight so hard over a seemingly boring topic such as water. Here we present each of the three candidates at the recent debate, hosted by the Midcoast Community Council. You'll notice it is all about issues and nothing about scandal. That's a good thing. Opening Statements Quicktime Flash AppleTV Question #1 We have now owned our water sanitary district for over four years. We do not have more water, more water storage, better taste, or better quality. What will you do to remedy this in the next one year? Quicktime Flash AppleTV Question #2 In November, 2003, at the community meeting, the water district stated, “a water deficiency of 400,000 gallons per day.” What would you do to solve this? Quicktime Flash AppleTV Question #3 Do you strongly support sewer authority’s midcoast recycling program? Why or why not? Quicktime Flash AppleTV Question #4 Would you commit yourself that, if elected, you will do everything within your ability to relieve the water moratorium within the next four years? Would you please consider the Alta-Vista well and county permits for wells in your response? Quicktime Flash AppleTV Closing Statements Quicktime Flash AppleTV {mos_fb_discuss:3} Videos by Darin Boville

Midcoast Community Council Debate

Written by Darin Boville
Thursday, 18 October 2007 13:54
The Midcoast Community Council (MCC) Election is the most competitive election on the coast this year with five candidates vying for three seats. This is an important election for the non-incorporated portions of the coast since the MCC is a sort of local manifestation of the County Board of Supervisors, our true masters. Many people, including a majority if not all of the candidates, feel that the MCC has diminished in relevance and effectiveness of late. Perhaps this election will mark a reinvention of the MCC. Opening Statements Quicktime Flash AppleTV Question #1 The MCC does not have authority to make laws or ordinances, et cetera. It is advisory. How will you be effective or useful in the next four years? Quicktime Flash AppleTV Question #2 How many of the Midcoast Council meetings have you attended, and the committee meetings, in the last two years? Do you think members should be required to attend a certain number of meetings in a year? Should there be alternatives--should alternatives [ed. Alternates] be elected for Midcoast Council representatives to attend when the elected representative cannot attend? Quicktime Flash AppleTV Question #3 The next question concerns the Local Coastside Program [ed. Local Coastal Program, LCP] for this area that was developed by the Midcoast Council in conjunction with the San Mateo County Planning Division. Do you support this program? Do you support the changes that were made by the Board of Supervisors? If you are elected what would you do to jump-start the approval process? Quicktime Flash AppleTV Question #4 Explain your position on growth versus no-growth. Quicktime Flash AppleTV Question #5 Should the Midcoast Community Council have review of projects for neighbors to be able to voice their concerns--and would that include tree-cutting permits? Should there be reviews prior to permits being issued by the county? Quicktime Flash AppleTV Closing Statements Quicktime Flash AppleTV {mos_fb_discuss:3} Videos by Darin Boville

Meet the Candidates: Montara Water and Sanitary District

Written by Darin Boville
Wednesday, 17 October 2007 12:23
Many people see the Montara Water and Sanitary District (know as "MWSD") as a bulwark against rampant development in Montara and Moss Beach. That sentence alone will help you understand the excited posts on the Half Moon Bay Review's online message board, TalkAbout, concerning this or that candidate. Other people see the MWSD as serving the needs of one political faction of the community rather than the community itself. Both caricatures are, of course, just that. I look around my home in Montara and I see many new houses going up. So if the MWSD is a bulwark it is one with a large door in the middle of it. And if it is only serving the interests of small part of the community then the community is confused--the community keeps electing the incumbents year after year for well over a decade now. In these videos each of the three candidates for MWSD introduce themselves to voters and share their own views of who they are, what the problems facing the community might be, and what they plan to do if elected. Each candidate was given five minutes of screen time and their choice of location. Put aside the caricatures and listen to the candidates in their own words. Scott Boyd Quicktime Flash AppleTV Richard Bulan Quicktime Flash AppleTV Kathryn Slater-Carter Quicktime Flash AppleTV {mos_fb_discuss:3} Videos by Darin Boville

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