Fifteen candidates are left in the running for the Alamo Town Council, if Measure A passes to incorporate. Here they speak to you through their own words, excerpted from their candidate statements for the sample ballot. (Brad Stribling is not longer running although his name is on the ballot.)
For more information on each candidate, see the Danville Weekly issue of Jan. 9, 2009, at www.danvilleweekly.com/toc.php?i=193
Diane Barley
Alamo is such a unique little town that my husband and I loved it 33 years ago when we moved here from the East. Over the years it has changed, but slowly, and it still retains the friendly semi-rural atmosphere.
That is why I am running for council. I want to keep it that way. Little change and no new taxes. I appreciate what Alamo is through my years of involvement in the community. It started years ago when our two sons went to Stone Valley and Monte Vista High School.
I have also been President of Alamo Rotary Club. I have been on Zone 36 committee, P5, an officer and President of AIA and am presently on P2B.
Bob Connelly
My wife and I have lived in Alamo for 19 years. We feel Alamo is a very special place. I have the experience and leadership skills necessary to help the Town of Alamo get off to a good start. My banking career spans 33 years including five years as a Chief Operating Officer and three years as Chief Executive Officer.
Currently, I am President of the Alamo Oaks Homeowners Association. I also work on our local precinct election board.
I strongly believe in dealing openly, honestly and fairly with all people and I know the importance of proper fiscal planning.
I strongly believe that I can help ensure that Alamo continues to be a special place.
Dennis Johnson
I care about the quality of life in Alamo. I strongly support protecting the existing semi-rural character of the city. I will ensure that Alamo remains one of the safest cities in the region. I will help keep Alamo ranking among the best places to raise children.
As Town Council member I will recommend we establish a citizen’s committee to advise the Council on budget matters. I support a mandatory annual budget surplus ordinance, with surplus funds to be held in a reserve account in order to ultimately reduce our tax burden.
I have served for years on the budget advisory committee of a small town, and as a business owner I understand the importance of operating the Town as a low-overhead, fiscally conservative, entity.
Vicki Koc
I am honored to run for Town Council and defend Alamo’s exceptional quality of life. Alamo needs regional representation of its interests and a local voice overseeing the use of our funds. This will protect our beautiful community and preserve Alamo’s small-town character.
As President of the Alamo Incorporation Movement, I’m uniquely qualified: founding the organization, gathering volunteers, learning the process, meeting nearby city, public safety and county officials. From petition drives to hearings, hundreds of steps were analyzed, planned and accomplished.
This knowledge and my leadership on incorporation will help create a solid foundation for our future town.
Drawing upon all my experiences volunteering in the community where I have lived for 28 years, I will continue to exercise diligence, commitment, accountability and carefully review all funding to get the most for citizens.
Karen McPherson
If Alamo is to be successful as a Town we will need leaders who will be financially conservative. My strengths lie in communicating and building consensus among the community. My hope is to ensure Alamo maintains the quality that drew us to this community. We need to maintain our level of police protection as well as improve the appearance of our community by street sweeping on a regular basis. We need to work with Caltrans to make our freeway exits attractive. The Town of Alamo needs a council member who is interested in making all decisions with full community participation.
Steve Mick
As a member of the Alamo Town Council I will be an agent of minimal change. Alamo has a unique semi-rural character which I will strive to preserve. I believe that Alamo’s commercial area is currently well suited to serve the local community. Future residential growth needs to be measured. Additional development and lot splits must be carefully studied and new construction or remodels must reasonably conform to the existing ambiance of their neighborhood.
Vishwas “Vish” More
I am running for City Council in order to ensure that Alamo preserves its character and continues to thrive. As council member, I will bring my prior public/private sector experience to move Alamo in a positive direction. I have over 30 years experience at SLAC (Stanford), LBL (Berkeley) and as past president of the California Community Colleges. This background gives me unique management, financial and engineering qualifications which will allow me to serve as an effective councilmember from day one.
I am proud of my involvement in community activities. I have served on the boards of the Wheelchair Foundation, CSU East Bay and am presently serving as the Treasurer of the Rotary Club of Alamo.
John Morrow
(No candidate statement was available, what follows is an excerpt from the Danville Weekly profile.)
John Morrow, who worked for U.S. Steel, Standard Oil of Ohio and British Petroleum, and owned two small businesses, wants to bring his knowledge to the table to help run the new town of Alamo. He believes no one should make a dishonest gain in government, and he would like to help prevent this. He says he could hold the line on spending in Alamo with the expertise he gained from the years he spent doing competitive bidding.
He says he “is not in great favor of incorporation” but he respects those who are. He likes having no sidewalks and no streetlights in Alamo.
Kevin G. Morrow
Alamo is a great place to live. I know this because I have called this place home for the past 29 years. I’ve grown up here, gone to school here, graduated from high school here and after college continued to call this place home. I have a vested interest in this community.
I am an insurance agent, licensed by the State of California and the Department of Insurance. I work with a local agency, managing sales and accounts, purchasing and accounting. I understand the need to stay within any budget, and especially during these difficult economic times.
I am not a lifetime politician. I am a responsible member of the community and if elected, I will do my best to keep spending down, costs down, and taxes down.
Randy Nahas
In my 28 years living in Alamo and raising four sons, I have been committed to maintaining Alamo as a rural community. My wife Jan and I are Project Leaders of the Tassajara 4-H. We have raised market animals and are currently boarding horses on our property.
I run my own property management business and as a licensed real estate broker and general contractor I am conversant with budgets and saving for future emergencies and community improvements.
As a 25-year Urban Land Institute member and Project Manager I have a firm grasp on General Plan and land planning issues.
I look forward to continuing to serve my community in its blossoming infancy.
Karl Niyati
As a 25-year resident, I have seen many changes in Alamo and am deeply invested in its future. I credit this community and its people for much of my success and I feel that it’s time to give back.
I have proven ability to recruit qualified staff, experience to negotiate the best services for residents, and background to plan solutions for the future challenges of Alamo. I am highly motivated to utilize my unique business management and entrepreneurial skills to make a positive impact in Alamo’s new direction. I will bring stability by drawing upon my financial planning and real life leadership experience.
Joseph Rubay
I am running for the office of Alamo Town Councilmember to preserve the small town feel of Alamo while bringing a high level of fiscal responsibility and leadership to the new council. My roots in Alamo are deep. I am a graduate of Monte Vista High School and California State University East Bay.
I am a former CPA who for the last 19 years has been a partner in my families Real Estate Appraisal business. Running a small business, I have found it is best to under budget future income and overbudget future expenses. I believe these real world skills will be an asset I will bring to the new Town Council.
Grace Schmidt
I want Alamo to retain its character, its two-lane roads, its trees, its minimum half-acre zoning and its local businesses that serve Alamo needs. From my experience in opposing an expansion of the Danville Boulevard/Stone Valley Road intersection that would invite new freeway traffic into Alamo, I believe Alamo needs representatives on its Town Council and on regional planning bodies who will resist outside pressure to support road expansion projects.
I believe in open, inclusive, fiscally responsible local government and I will use my local and national government experience to work with residents, other elected officials and regional stakeholders toward preserving Alamo the way Alamo citizens want it.
Roger Smith
Alamo residents have a rich history of volunteering their valuable time to organizations such as the Alamo Improvement Association, Alamo Merchants and Professionals Association, R7A, P5 and P2B and many others.
These valuable organizations need to be encouraged to continue their involvement in our community and to have a role within any newly incorporated city structure so all of us can benefit from their experience, knowledge and hard work.
Overall, the small town ambiance of Alamo needs to be preserved.
To do so, we need to have a balanced approach to our community’s development, one with common sense and awareness of protecting the values of our community.
I would like to be of service to Alamo in finding solutions that work for our community.
Brad Waite
As a 17-year resident and as a long time Alamo Improvement Association Board member, I have heard from residents who don’t want Alamo to change. I agree and for this reason, I am running for Town Council.
If no change is necessary, then why incorporate? Because we need to take control and make our own decisions on local issues. Land use issues and Danville Boulevard issues that affect the quality of our lives should be made by Alamo residents. Alamo tax revenue should stay in Alamo and not continue to be spread across the county. We need local accountability.
My agenda has been clear: “Keep Alamo a low density, semi-rural community.” I will work hard and I will listen to residents with ideas or opinions on Alamo issues.
