Candidate for
Council Member; City of Orinda

I have been honored to serve as your Mayor and Councilmember these past 4 years.

When I ran for City Council in 2004, I said my goal would be to bring a fresh perspective to the work of the city. I urged a greater focus on our declining infrastructure, better relations with the School District, improvements in our planning and design review process, increased transparency in government decision-making, and enhanced attention to public safety and emergency preparedness.

We have made progress on many of these issues. At the same time, there is more work to be done + especially when it comes to improving road conditions.

It is truly embarrassing that Orinda's roads rank as the worst in the 100 cities in the Bay Area. We have been cutting the city budget and placing more resources into road repairs. We also have prioritized fixing the most heavily traveled roads, such as Moraga Way, along with a few residential streets where there are serious safety concerns. It is still not nearly enough.

We pay the price for this situation every day with high auto repair bills; safety problems for walkers, cyclists and drivers; and reduced home values. The longer we wait the higher the cost of the eventual repair. My goal in the coming years is to work with residents and the Council to craft a fair and successful road improvement measure.

Orinda is our quaint town and it has been a precious gift to serve her and you. Many Thanks!