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It’s final. The deadline passed at 5 p.m. today and 16 people are running for the town council in Alamo – which will come into being only if residents of the census-designated area vote to incorporate. The election is March 3.
The candidates and their listed occupations are as follows:
• Karl K. Niyati, retired hospital administrator
• Joseph “Joe” A. Rubay, businessman
• Dennis Johnson, business owner
• Vishwas (Vish) More, retired chief engineer
• Steve Mick, retired university administrator
• Vicki Koc, community volunteer
• Randy Nahas, engineer/property manager
• Karen McPherson, manager, telecommunications
• Diane M. Barley, banker
• Brad Waite, CEO mortgage banker
• Kevin G. Morrow, insurance professional
• Roger Smith, business/property owner
• Grace Schmidt, retired administrator
• Bob Connelly, retired commercial banker
• Brad Stribling, retired electronics executive
• John W. Morrow, retired/engineer/manager
In the March election, if incorporation passes, the two candidates with the most votes will serve four-year council terms; the three candidates with the next most votes will serve two-year terms. The council members will choose among themselves for the first mayor, which will be a rotating position.
The deadline to file papers to run for the position is 5 p.m. Dec. 5, then Dec. 6-15 is the public review period for the candidates’ statements of qualifications. On Dec. 11 the Secretary of State will conduct a drawing of the letters of the alphabet to determine the order in which candidates will appear on the ballot.
Write-in candidates can take out papers from Jan. 5-Feb. 17. Absentee voting will begin Feb. 2.
By Dolores Fox Ciardelli
Dear neighbors (taken from region e-exchanges)
The Diablo Vista region ad hoc candidates committee wishes to thank the following council candidates for their willingness to continue inclusion and outreach for our region’s neighborhoods:
• Karen McPherson, manager, telecommunications
• Diane M. Barley, banker
• Brad Waite, CEO mortgage banker
• Roger Smith, business/property owner
• Grace Schmidt, retired administrator
We wish to say “no thank you” to the following candidates:
• Joseph “Joe” A. Rubay, businessman
• Steve Mick, retired university administrator
• Vicki Koc, community volunteer
• Randy Nahas, engineer/property manager
• Bob Connelly, retired commercial banker
Candidates’ profiles have been circulated with counsel’s definition of the current incorporation proposal for your voting consideration.
Karen Sexton
Ad hoc candidates committee
Diablo Vista region neighborhoods
Lets see.
The concerns of a few people that Alamo would be taken over by Alamo Incorporation Movement people seems turns out not to have been very credible, after all. Of the 11 people on the AIM Committee, only three of them are running for Alamo Town Council: Vicki Koc, Steve Mick and Randy Nahas. That’s less than 30 percent.
This also means that out of 16 people running, only three of them are AIM folks. That’s less than 20 percent.
How can this be considered the “exclusion of a majority of residents by AIM from the incorporation process?”
Welcome back, Ron, (shared with regional e-exchanges)
Your percentages make your Alamoron, as a uniquely Alamo oxymoron, so much more self-cancelling in it phrasology, if I might quote “The Music Man”.
“a few people..Alamo Incorporation Movement people..less than 30 percent..less than 20 percent..exclusion of a majority of residents by AIM from the incorporation process..” are all so well unsaid.
Thank you for your humor,
Marcellus Washburn
River City Iowa 94507-1078
Well, what can I say to that? I’m dumbfounded. The only response I can make is to quote from yet another motion picture:
“Not only was it authentic frontier gibberish, but it expressed a courage that is little seen in this day and age.”
Olson Johnson,
Town of Rock Ridge,
Blazing Saddles
Thanks for further humor.
-Ron
Ah, Dear Ron, exceptional reference,
But what about the issues of a defined, representative government and those willing to deliver. Specifics beyond references, definition beyond oxymoron, would be contributive. You have been more specific and invitational in the past.
Let’s start such focus. We know that in the past 20 months AIM has avoided any definition of government and the establishment of citizens’ participation and oversight. That is documented in omissions and absence of contribution. What is the potential campaign of AIM and Contra Costa politically-connected candidates in a majority voter environment that demands such specification.
Let’s keep the focus moving forward,
Hal
Dear Editor, (taken from regional e-exchanges)
As a result of discussion groups today, Diablo Vista region neighbors intend invitations to all council candidates to provide presentation of their approach to government. Each candidate will be contacted by neighborhood representatives for a public meeting that will include invitation to the media to participate. The resulting dialog will be shared with e-exchanges within our regions.
Such invitation will occur in January to allow all candidates to establish their campaign focus.
Joyous holidays to all,
Karen Sexton
Dear Diablo Vista region neighbors, (as received by regional e-exchanges)
Many supporters of incorporation, like you, have created our own on-line community to share our hopes for the future of our community. We welcome all neighbors’ invitation to draw our council candidates into discussions of our future and how we will define our government to our community’s future. We join you in outreach as all in our community find our way together to a government of our own.
We do not see you as challengers and appreciate your willingness to join is public discussion with all candidates. In the peace of the season we can move many steps forward in our future together.
Happy Holidays,
Dan
Dear Dolores,
I have read Dan’s comments several times just to enjoy the brilliance of his outreach message. But there are more!
Today, a Livorna West neighbor walked the trail to my neighborhood to discuss his opposition to incorporation and what would remedy opposition. There is outreach coming from all perspectives on incorporation and it seems the spirit of the holidays is causing consideration of “what happens after the election?” All perspectives seem to be focusing on our collective future.
Maybe best said today was, “Hal, By February 8, most voters will have voted absentee and the election will have already been decided. Two months is all neighbors have to really decide!”
There are changes in perspective happening. Candidates have less than 45 days to make a difference to the absentee voters. In my life in marketing, this time of year is the very best time to reach the person deep within prospects and enjoy very human consideration.
Let the spirit of this season keep the outreach going!
Joyous wishes at Christmas,
Hal
Dear Neighbors (taken from regional e-exchanges)
Hal’s posted comments to Dolores, as editor, might be better understood if all residents understood why so many chose not to run. The 16 running for council are all familiar names among the community groups and few represent the majority of neighbors and their neighborhoods.
Why did eleven neighbors withdraw from applying as candidates and why are the current candidates running?
There has to be understanding before outreach.
Ted in downtown neighborhoods
Notice to all Alamo Town Council Candidates (to be a mailed notice to candidates with attachements)
In the next 60 days a majority of voters will be determining their vote on incorporation and council candidates for their mail-in ballots. Already seven days have elapsed since your candidacy was announced and a majority of voters are waiting for your definition of government and commitment to inclusion of citizens in government. Your neighbors wish to trust that incorporation provides the best future for our region and need your definition and citizens’ inclusion to trust the current incorporation proposal.
Happy holidays,
Rachel Wells
ad hoc committees
Diablo Vista region neighborhoods
Dear Dolores,
This morning, CDSI Researchers gathered a detailed analysis of incorporation during the state and county fiscal crisis. Within the confidential document were explanations why cities are likely to be better able to respond to strong shortfalls in revenue and rapidly-increasing costs from primary contract-services such as public safety and public works.
One key factor is well-disciplined fiscal management by very experienced council members and expert city management. Cities led by individuals with commercial financial expertise can use corporate fiscal practices to rapidly change budgets, delay projects and expand economic development for revenues. Cities are not burdened, for the most part, by major government unions and the lack of flexibility in immediate staffing and budget actions.
This fiscal crisis is an exceptional impact on voters’ consideration of council candidates’ financial qualification as well as Alamo incorporation itself. Revenues and costs have strongly shifted from expressions in the LAFCO CFA and any council, like a board of directors, will have an imbalanced revenue/costs issue as an immediate task for enrolled town management.
It will be difficult, but a well-managed budget with significantly reduced revenues and higher costs could still be our lowest-cost option for our regional residents. And, Dolores, that is newsworthy!
Best wishes,
Hal/CDSI
I am brand new to the area. I am trying to make an informed decision regarding council canidates. On December 6th a post from Karen Sexton stated:
We wish to say “no thank you” to the following candidates:
• Joseph “Joe” A. Rubay, businessman
• Steve Mick, retired university administrator
• Vicki Koc, Community Volunteer
• Randy Nahas, engineer/property manager
• Bob Connelly, retired commercial banker
Could you please explain why? Thanks
A minor clarification regarding Alamo Rons comments Dec. 6. Only 3 candidates are AIM members but 5 others are AIA associates and the two organizations are inextricably entwined. This makes a total of 8/16 or 50% of the candidates with a possible common agenda. (note the AIA is a self appointed group with no legislative authority and no experience requirements for membership)
Also, you may want to check out my neighbor who is running, Dennis Johnson. A relative newcomer to town but very experienced.(see johnson4council.blogspot.com)
Vicki Koc appears to be the only candidate, of the 16 running, that lists no actual work experiences or gainful employment. In Vicki’s bio she lists “President and founder of the incorporation proponents.” In my mind, that makes her a key player in this process and in this election. Also, when asked about her career, I get no response. Her bio states that she is married. Maybe the husband that has provided her support and may therefore have a career, should be running? Any election becomes a matter of weighing résumés. Lets see, we have 1 candidate with no gainful work experience and we have 15 very qualified candidates with prestigious careers:
1. A Mortgage Banking president, 2. A retired electronics executive with an MBA from Stanford. 3. A finance and management business owner, 4. A staff employee for public officials, including field representative in the 10th Congressional District and for supervisors in Marin and Santa Clara counties with an master’s in community organization and social planning, 5. A real estate appraiser and former CPA, 6.A retired Kaiser Hospital financial administrator, former UC instructor, and restaurant owner 7. An insurance agent 8. A US Naval Academy at Annapolis grad who served in 2 wars and worked for U.S. Steel, Standard Oil of Ohio and British Petroleum, and owned two small businesses 9. A retired engineer/manager at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory and at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, and was president and financial budget chairman of the Board of Governors of California Community Colleges 10. A retired computer specialist from Livermore Laboratory 11. A National Zoning Manager in Telecommunications 12. A commercial developer 13. A retired commercial banker 14. A personal banker 15. A property manager, general contractor, real estate broker and realtor.
What makes her qualified to govern us and determine laws, which may affect every aspect of our lives when she has so little life experience?
Experience never exists in isolation; it is always a factor that coexists with temperament, training, background, gainful work and a host of other factors.
If Vicki has no experience of business do I want her cutting her teeth with my tax dollars. At the end of the day, a volunteer has no real accountability or responsibility, especially fiduciary responsibility. As a result the taxpayer is going to pay for training courses in “marketing and business” for Vicki.
Come on Vicki. Answer my question. Have you ever been gainfully employed outside the home? Seems like a reasonable question! Will the REAL Vicki Koc please stand up?