Six vie for three seats on Menlo Park Council

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Oct 17, 2006 | by Neil Gonzales, STAFF WRITER

MENLO PARK -- In Menlo Park, projected budget shortfalls and controversial issues such as privatization of city services and adding sports fields to Bayfront Park have drawn out a contentious field of candidates split into two distinct camps.

In one corner, incumbents Lee Duboc and Mickie Winkler and city Transportation Commissioner John Boyle are campaigning as a team that wants the city to continue exploring contracting programs out to private companies and pursue fields at Bayfront Park.

At the other spectrum, Park and Recreation Commissioners Richard Cline and Heyward Robinson and software consultant Vincent Bressler have forged an alliance vowing to revitalize the local economy through new ideas and keep government an open public process.

The six are vying for three seats on the council. Mayor Nicholas Jellins decided not to run for reelection.

Jellins, Duboc and Winkler have formed a council majority the past four years, but with the mayor stepping down from public office, the November election could result in a dramatic shift of power.

Duboc, Winkler and Boyle maintain that a vote for the other side means reversing course on the progress that the city has established.

They cite several projects the city is moving ahead with, including the planned Stanford University hotel complex at Interstate 280 and Sand Hill Road, that should help increase revenue and dispel the perception that Menlo Park is not receptive to new business.

"Our legacy is that we're business toxic," Winkler said. "But we've embarked on zoning and streamlining plans that enable people to do business better in Menlo Park."

In seeking ways to tackle a projected ongoing $2.2 million budget deficit, the city has been eyeing privatization and has already contracted its aquatic program out to a private operator.

But privatization has become a polarizing topic in town the past year as some city leaders and residents believe turning to a private company would not significantly save money and could disrupt an already-effective service.

The city was considering proposals to privatize its child-care services before a private bidder recently backed out under community pressure.

If re-elected, Duboc and Winkler said they would seek to reopen the bid process for the child-care program.

Cline credited the city for asking bids for child-care services and agreed privatization should be considered as an option. But he blasted the council majority for not having an open-bid process for the aquatic program earlier.

"There was no competitive bid at all," Cline said. "It was a one- to-one deal without the public knowing this was happening."

Bressler said that is an example of how the council majority has kept the public in the dark.

Below the six candidates express their views on the city's issues and future.

John Boyle

Age: 48

Occupation: Businessman

Family: Married with three children

Length of time lived in city: 22 years

Endorsements: Former San Jose Police Chief Joseph McNamara; Carol Fields, former co-president of the Menlo Park Atherton Education Foundation; and Rick Ciardella, former board chair of the Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce

Experience: Current city transportation commissioner and served on the Budget Advisory and Child Care Request-for-Proposals committees

Education level: Master's degree in business administration from Stanford University and bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University

Favorite city location: Hanging out at my kids' schools and watching sports and other school events

Person living or dead you most admire: My dad. He was the grandson of an immigrant, growing up in a typical American family of that era, struggling through the Depression and then serving our country in World War II.

Q: What is the biggest issue facing the city?

Ensuring long-term financial stability for our city. The challenge is how we do that without raising taxes and destroying the quality of life that we have. We have to look for ways to improve efficiency, consider open competitive bidding and encourage appropriate business development.

Q: What's the first thing you'll do if elected?

I will try to figure out ways to reach out to as many residents as possible. Is it through e-mail or a Web site? It's about making myself accessible and listening to people.

Q: What one decision by the council made in the past year would you overturn?

I think the council could've more aggressively pursued outside bids for taking over the city-run child-care program. I didn't think the council took enough of a stand to make outside agencies see we are serious about this.

Q: How would you handle the projected ongoing budget deficit of $2.2 million?

We need to improve business development and pursue urban housing in which people can walk to businesses downtown.

Q: What's your stance on the advisory ballot Measure J to gauge voter support for sports fields at Bayfront Park?

I'm strongly in favor of the initiative. It doesn't mean we're going to build fields. We still have work to do to flesh it out -- the environmental, safety and regulatory issues, but it's viable.