"Speer Points" - How I can serve the residents of Menlo Park

By David Speer

The major political issues confronting Menlo Park residents now and for the foreseeable future relate to land use and the consequences of land-use decisions--traffic, congestion, lack of parking, air pollution, noise. I am a real estate development professional who will apply my land-use expertise to maintain the small-town charm of Menlo Park. As your city council member, I will use my knowledge and skills to protect you.

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT AND GOVERNMENT SKILLS

I earned an economics degree from Stanford University and an MBA from UC Berkeley. I have been responsible for large real estate projects in both the private and public sector for the past 14 years. During this period I worked for a commercial office developer, and have been working for Alameda County since 1991. In short, I know how both development and government work and how development can affect our quality of life...for better or worse.

FINANCIAL EXPERIENCE

My business career includes a major corporation, consulting and development. This enables me to determine both the short- and long-term costs and benefits of specific decisions. I am used to working with all stakeholders--residents, businesses, and government staff members--to formulate spending priorities and to implement them effectively. I am particularly interested in enhancing recreational facilities and services for our children, families, and seniors and in rezoning to help retain existing businesses and attract additional revenue-producing and community-serving companies to our downtown, commercial, and industrial districts.

From my experience in government, I understand the financial impact of complex decisions. I know how to identify and secure external funding to augment Menlo Park's limited funds. I am able to negotiate tough, lasting protections for Menlo Park's residents and businesses when major projects are proposed within our city or in neighboring communities. I am prepared to question the rationale of outside governmental agencies or other groups that want to force density and congestion upon us in the name of progress without the parallel contractual protections for the environment, air and water quality, urban growth limits, resource use and recycling.

COMMITMENT TO RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT

I am dedicated to streamlining governmental processes so that they are more responsive to residents and local businesses. I believe it is possible to nurture a vital economy that works for us, not against us.

COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT ISSUES

As a Willows neighborhood resident, I will fight excessive commercial developments that choke our streets with traffic and crowd tax-paying, local businesses and affordable housing out of town. I will continue to support constraints on residential projects that intrude on the privacy of neighboring homes and threaten to destroy the distinctive character of our neighborhoods.