Steven Spedowfski emailed me an announcement that he's running for the Livermore City Council. I know Steven Spedowfski, but I don't know much about Livermore.

Ten years ago when I was on the Board of Directors of Community TV, also known as TV30, a "commercial" for Wheels bus service featured Spedowfski spinning a basketball on his finger. TV30 didn't have many commercials, so that one was played over and over again.

Spedowfski was working for Wheels at the time. He told me "We shot it in San Ramon (central park) with a cordless mixer strapped to my arm so I could spin the ball. Think it was revealed at the end." Yes at the end he shows the basketball was attached to an electric egg beater and not balanced on his finger.

Spedowfski left Wheels about that time and was hired by the City of San Ramon. "We have met before," he wrote, "I think the last time I spoke with you was at the Larwin pump station emergency exercise but have not spoken recently."

The Larwin pump station is up the street from me and I remember the emergency exercise. I don't remember when it was held but it was a several years ago. Spedowfski is still working for San Ramon in the Engineering Department.

I asked who else is running since he is the first to announce. ". . . We have two open seats with an incumbent running. I have no clue who may or may not be running as well. I am announcing this early because I started talking to people about it several weeks ago and I really do not want it spreading by word of mouth before an official announcement. "

I asked Steven which incumbent isn't planning to run. "Doug Horner is terming out, creating the open seat. We have term limits for council members and planning commissioners here in Livermore. Two four year terms is the max."

Spedowfski serves on the Livermore Planning Commission, so I asked him if he's running because he is termed out from the PC.

"No, I am not termed out. I am running because I feel that the City is headed in the right direction and I would be honored to help continue that trend. I've been a local government nerd (best way I can describe it) since my days at Wheels. I have followed local politics and participated as staff for over 16 years, I think the time is right for me to step up and help at the council level."

Spedowfski's press release, which is written in the third person, goes on to say,

"Steven plans to run a campaign focused on core values that make Livermore a great place to live - preserving open space, maintaining the voter-approved urban limit line, expanding transportation services (including BART to Livermore along the freeway), encouraging business development and growth, and creating strategies for long-term financial stability. With more than 19 years of public service experience in fields such as urban planning, traffic control, and financial oversight of special districts, Steven has developed skills and abilities that will enable him to "hit the ground running" when elected to the City Council."

Steven asked me about my campaigns for the Dublin San Ramon Services District, "Would also like to talk about your experiences running for DSRSD. I have a decent understanding about the election process, but any tips and advice would be greatly appreciated!"

Since I lost both times I ran, my advice is probably not worth much. I did attend a Candidate Preparation meeting in Dublin the first time I ran and purchased a small book on how to run for office from Tom Ford, who ran for DSRSD three times before he won election to the Board. I'm happy to share these with Steven if I can find where I put them.

As I said at the beginning of this blog I don't know much about Livermore, but I know Steven Spedowfski and his experience and abilities would make him an excellent Councilman, whether in Livermore, Dublin, or San Ramon. However, since he lives in Livermore, that's where he should serve. As a member of San Ramon's City Staff, he will bring that experience and knowledge with him to the Livermore City Council.

I can't endorse Steven for Livermore City Council because, sing along with me, "I don't know much about Livermore," but Steven does and that's the important thing.

This year is the first even year election for Livermore. The last election for Mayor and City Council was held in 2011. In 2012 Livermore put a measure on the ballot to change from odd year elections to even years. This measure was very similar to the one San Ramon put on the ballot last year. Livermore's success in changing to even years presaged San Ramon's change. Now all Cities in the Tri-Valley hold elections in even years along with the State and Federal Governments.