Political Philosophy for Barbara Hickman

Candidate for
Mayor; City of Livermore

I'm running for Mayor of Livermore for three basic reasons. The first is that I believe we deserve a choice when we go into the voting booth. In the past three elections our mayor has run unopposed. I have a background that includes 35 years in Livermore and a MA in Speech Communication. I know I can do the job. This election voters will have a choice; I'm the voter's choice!

The second reason I'm running is that I believe that we deserve effective communication. People often tell me there's no point going to Council with problems because they don't listen. With my training and experience, I know that I can improve that communication.

Reason number three is that I'm convinced we deserve a change. Cathie Brown has been involved in local politics for a long time and we've seen the effects of those years influence her decisions. There's plenty of evidence that she no longer considers the residents a priority. When that happens, it's time for a change.

A fourth reason is that I'd like to see Cathie Brown move up to a higher political level. She has tremendous enthusiasm for Livermore, well-honed political skills, and valuable contacts outside Livermore. She would be a valuable asset to the city as a member of the State Assembly, using her skills and contacts to gain money for a BART extension, which she's been working on. I would like to see her move on, upward.

Some of the projects I'd like to promote as mayor include the first three items mentioned on the main page of this site, with further information on them to be found on my web site, http://members.aol.com/BH4Mayor. In addition to those, I also would like to create a "living" environmental program, what I call a "Millennium Trees" project. I'm still working on details but the gist is to encourage plalnting X number of trees per car per household, in an effort to offset the pollution caused by cars with the pollution-aiding efforts of trees. It won't clear the air, certainly, but it's one way we can each help counteract the negative effects we cause to the environment.

Another project I'd like to promote is term limits for Council members, including the mayor. Normally a politician can be voted out of office when the time comes. In the case of Livermore's mayor, however, she has run unopposed in three elections so there has been no way to vote her out! She was automatically re-elected! Without an opponent term limits is the only way to replace a politician. The President of the U.S. has a term limit, the Governor of our state has a term limit, even the many committees, boards, and commissions of the City of Livermore have term limits, so I think the Council members of Livermore can have term limits as well. Since the term limits of the others is eight years, that seems a logical limit for Council members as well, that is two four-year terms for Council members and four two-year terms for mayor.

I'd also like to promote youth public service with projects such as Bookleggers (a literacy program working through the library in cooperation with the schools), teens helping with after-school programs, teens serving as mentors and tutors for younger children, etc. Again, more information can be found on me web site.

In short, I'm a concerned citizen who sees the need for change and is willing to do something about it.