Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for Nov. 7, 2022

Connolly’s experience makes him strong choice

It is time to vote. What do we expect from our representative? As a former mayor of Belvedere, my thoughts include an Assembly member who knows our needs and is familiar with the issues throughout District 12. Damon Connolly is familiar with the issues presented by the Sonoma-Marin Area Regional Transit train, Highway 37, the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, the narrows on Highway 101, flooding, wildfire prevention, redevelopment of public housing in Marin City, the state housing mandates and homelessness, to name a few.

As a former San Rafael City Council member and current Marin County supervisor, he is not a newcomer. He knows how to bring people together to solve problems. When these issues come to the table in Sacramento, Connolly has a head start and will be able to represent us readily.

With his 18 years of experience, Connolly will be of great value to us as an Assembly member in Sacramento. Please join me in voting for Damon Connolly.

— Ken Johnson, Belvedere

Sara Aminzadeh is right candidate for Assembly

I spent my career supervising teams in the Marin County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Department. I know how effective programs can be to reduce homelessness and drug use. Those programs make our neighborhoods safer. I am writing to offer my strong support for Sara Aminzadeh in the race for a seat in the Assembly. She is the best candidate to serve our district in Sacramento and address some of Marin’s biggest problems.

Homelessness has become prevalent and complicated. Connecting homeless people to compassionate, culturally competent and evidence-based services focused on mental health and housing is vitally important. Aminzadeh has made these solutions a priority and she has the capacity to lead change in Sacramento.

Drug addiction and opioid abuse challenge our county. The COVID-19 pandemic has only made matters worse. Aminzadeh understands that these problems are best dealt with by expanding mental health services and providing affordable health care for all. The California Nurses Association endorsed Aminzadeh for these reasons, and so do I.

Our county teams had funding and support from Sacramento for establishing intensive case-management services. We coordinated our services with the police department and the U.S. Department of Justice to provide wraparound supports that made our neighborhoods safer and helped people provide for their own families.

We need to continue the focus on effective mental health services and affordable health care in Sacramento. I have heard many politicians give “lip service” to these initiatives. Aminzadeh has a proven record of delivering on her priorities.

Sara Aminzadeh has the compassion, intelligence and energy that we need.

— Kathy Chestnut, San Rafael

Former Novato Council member supports Eklund

I voted for Pat Eklund in past elections. I proudly served with her on the Novato City Council. Anyone who knows Eklund knows she is hardworking, honest and dedicated to the people.

In running for reelection, she brings together her lifelong interest in practical government (getting the potholes fixed) and her intimate knowledge of the art of governing — working together to craft creative and workable solutions with the least impact on the environment.

Eklund has supporters as distinct and different as the Sierra Club, the North Bay Labor Council and the Marin Association of Realtors.

Eklund will see that our tax dollars stretch as far as is humanly possible, making City Hall work for us. That means all of us: students, tradespeople, waiters, doctors, nurses, cashiers, teachers, accountants, CEOs, childcare workers, retirees, small business owners and more.

Eklund already has a great track record on the council, carrying out the duties of her office with insight and acumen. She understands the difficult problems we face in dealing with crime, inflation and the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic. Eklund always makes the time to discuss a constituent’s concern. She will continue to strive to be the voice of our neighborhoods on the council.

Look around you in Novato at the clean streets and livable communities. Eklund has had a hand in delivering those things for a good long time and she will continue to deliver them for you.

Join her many supporters in voting for Pat Eklund for the District 4 seat on the Novato City Council on Tuesday.

— Pam Drew, Novato

Challenger Kullaway good for San Anselmo Council

Every few election cycles, an exceptional San Anselmo Town Council candidate comes along that exemplifies the best qualities and characteristics of our community. Tarrell Kullaway is one of those candidates. She is smart and energetic with a positive and friendly can-do personality. Her resume speaks for itself.

Unfortunately, it is hard for newcomers to the political scene to be heard, because of an “old guard” establishment that consistently attempts to block change. The qualifications and enthusiasm of new candidates are often dismissed, as if only those who have been part of the established power structure are able to represent the community. That is a shame. The result is stale leadership. We all lose.

I strongly suggest the voters of San Anselmo rally behind Tarrell Kullaway. She’s more than qualified and will certainly excel as a Town Council member. Go vote.

— Matt Storms, San Anselmo

Matured Greene deserves vote in San Anselmo race

I am endorsing Ford Greene for San Anselmo Town Council. I am a former mayor and four-term member of the council. During the time Greene has been on our Town Council, I’ve seen him grow in his ability to work with the community. He does his homework, has strong environmental concerns, supports everyone’s right to free speech and is often ahead of other council members in understanding the issues.

For example, Greene was the primary council member working hard on the successful 2015 voter initiative to save Memorial Park and the town’s community built and beloved Dinosaur Playground from becoming a flood basin. He also opposed the 2019 tax measure, which would have cost more than $9 million in public funds, to completely demolish and rebuild Memorial Park and Dinosaur Playground, yet again. The voters of San Anselmo overwhelmingly voted with Greene to save the park and playground from destruction. The town is now doing repairs to the park and playground within the town budget and with the help of volunteers. By his efforts, Greene has saved the taxpayers of San Anselmo millions of dollars.

Over the years, Ford Greene has matured and has become a leader of our community. He deserves another term on our Town Council.

— Jeff Kroot, San Anselmo

Li DelPan for seat on Marin Board of Education

As a parent of two children and the president of the Credo High School Board of Directors in Rohnert Park, as well as a principal at Novato’s Waterford Associates real estate acquisition and development company, I have known Marin Board of Education candidate Li DelPan for many years. I trust her judgment and her ability to see the whole picture.

Balancing very different perspectives is a critical quality that will enable her to be inclusive to the entire community. Her personal and professional background will serve the board and the children of Marin County. She is smart and capable and will certainly be an asset to the board.

— Ben Smith, Sonoma

Shaw, Swift best for Fairfax Town Council

I think the Marin IJ editorial board missed the mark with recent endorsements for two seats on the Fairfax Town Council. Cindy Swift and Lynnette Shaw will get my votes. Fairfax needs Town Council members who have deep knowledge and experience of the town and proven leadership capability. Swift and Shaw have that on many issues and levels.

Shift shows up when she commits herself and gets the work done, especially on the Planning Commission. When Swift says you can trust her, that is the truth about who she is. She is incredibly hardworking and is very active as a coordinator of Community Emergency Response Team training. She also has volunteer roles helping the Fairfax Library and the Cascade Canyon FireWise group. She is a longtime member of the Fairfax Planning Commission and understands the current housing element.

While Swift may be shy, she is very involved and works tirelessly to make Fairfax a better town.

Shaw is a powerhouse in her own right, from her social justice involvement to her wins to protect the environment. She is a strong independent thinker and will not back down from protecting our little town.

Shaw has been an important businessperson for many years in Fairfax and understands the ongoing struggles of the business community. She supports the needs of reasonable affordable housing, preparing for fire safety and financial responsibility for a small town. Shaw is known to be open to new ideas. She is a problem-solver and can be trusted.

Vote for Lynnette Shaw and Cindy Swift.

— Pamela Meigs, Fairfax