Candidate for
Member, City Council; City of Ukiah

Whether we grew up in Ukiah or moved here for reasons of employment, family or retirement, most of us value the sense of community and small town quality of life that we still enjoy. Some of you may have been students of my mother, Virginia McCowen, who taught English at Pomolita School. Others may have been represented by or appeared before my father, Hale "Bob" McCowen, a local attorney who later served as judge. When I was a kid, it seemed like I couldn't go anywhere without people asking "Are you Bob and Virginia's son?" As I grew up I came to value the weaving together of family and community relationships. New residents to our community soon become part of the weave.

My family came to California by wagon train in 1856 and settled in Potter Valley the next year. They moved into Ukiah in 1880. As a fifth generation resident of Ukiah, I care deeplly about the future of our community.

Increased pressure for growth and devlopment now threaten the small town quality of life which we presently enjoy. We will have growth. That is not the question. The question is whether we plan for it or just let it happen and fall victim to the same type of sprawl, congestion and crime that plagues other areas.

During nearly nine years of service on the City and County Planning Commissions, I have participated in hundreds of land use decisions, including use permits, subdivisions, general plan amendments and more.

During the past two years on the City Council, I have been a leader in stopping poorly thought out development proposals and encouraging the City and County to work together on planning and other issues. It is critical that we have a comprehensive planning process that considers the needs of the community before growth takes place. We must plan for mitigations and for the infrastructure (including parks and recreation facilities) that will be needed to support new development, and we must insure that the developers pay their fair share.