Odd Year Elections: They Cost More Money, But...

Emeryville's Odd Year Elections: They Cost More Money But They Drive Down Voter Participation

Opinion
Emeryville just finished another election and once again, the taxpayers paid a lot more for the election than they could have, at least $10,000 more according to the City Clerk.  But hey, it's all for the good because only 26% of registered voters cast a ballot and that's less than half the Bay Area average.

That talk sounds kind of kooky, doesn't it?  But it's not kooky; it's calculated, in fact the low turnout worked out exactly as intended.

Elections cost cities money and here in Emeryville, we routinely pay a lot more money for a much lower voter turnout than our neighbors in Oakland, Berkeley and elsewhere around the Bay Area.  Why is this and who's responsible you might ask?  It's cynical public policy, foisted upon the people of Emeryville by council member Nora Davis and the Chamber of Commerce; policy designed to benefit their pro-business agenda at our expense.

Many newcomers to Emeryville express surprise at the strange off year elections here.  They often ask, why not hold the city council and school board elections on even years, at the same time as presidential, senate and congressional elections?
It's a good question, especially since doing so could save so much money.  On top of that, holding elections when everyone else does would have the added benefit of driving up voter participation, most likely doubling it.
The problem is Ms Davis and the Chamber of Commerce and conservatives in general benefit from a low voter turn out.  It has to do with the fact that conservative voters have greater resources and can be counted on to show up at the polls even if disincentives to voting are thrown up.
Odd year elections around the nation have been shown to be much more likely to elect conservatives and conservative causes than even year elections.  It's one of the well documented tools in the Republican Party's vote suppression toolbox.

Here in Emeryville, Ms Davis has jealously guarded the odd year vote, acknowledging the value of the low turnouts to her political agenda and resisting all efforts to change, regardless of the cost savings.  It's not for lack of trying it should be pointed out, councilwoman Davis has fought off numerous citizen lead attempts at election reform over the decades.

As House Majority leader John Boehner says however, elections have consequences and so with the November 8th election of Jac Asher and her new brand of resident friendly politics, we may now finally have enough non-ideological votes on the Emeryville city council to override Nora Davis and the Chamber of Commerce.

We say it's time to say NO to Republican style vote suppression tactics.  It's time to move now to increase the franchise in Emeryville and cast aside the cynical Machiavellian election maneuvering by Emeryville's right wing.  We should move our elections to even years just like the rest of the Bay Area.

Democracy Not Something The School District Is Comfortable With

Another Uncontested Election:

Missing At Emery School District: Democracy

Opinion

Appointed School Board member Pat Hooper has resigned and now Emeryville's got a new School Board member!   Quick, who is it?

Too bad no one knows or even seems to care.  Yes, another election comes and goes here in Emeryville with nary a school board candidate in sight.  We must say, this is not a healthy way to run a school district; indeed, it's inviting disaster.

Not that any of this is news. Given the sorry history of School Board selection in our town, unfortunately it would be considered newsworthy if there were an election.  Emeryville has a long history of appointments and top down selection of School Board members.  It hasn't worked out well for education of children.

Non-elections are the norm but several years ago, we did have a real election for the School Board; it came only in response to the former Board unanimously hiring the criminal previous chief of Compton Unified School District, JL Handy, to serve as new Superintendent.  Older residents will remember how Dr Handy emptied our coffers and split town, leaving the school district broke and in shambles, the District Attorney in hot pursuit. It was only after the JL Handy fiasco, after the State of California took over control of the School District, was there a real election for School Board members. Unfortunately, after that consequential shake up and ousting of those responsible, again Emeryville has settled back into the old pattern; the lack of elections is once more standard operating procedure.

One other minor hiccup in this culture was two years ago when two parents had the temerity to run for school board without the sanction of the Powers That Be at the School District and City Hall.  The status quo at the School Board out-spent the two presumptuous interlopers by more than 100-to-one on slick city-wide campaign mailers, proving once again the corrupting power of money in ruining elections by effectively quashing dissent.

After last Tuesday's non-election, it would appear the School District is now free to spend hundreds of millions of dollars of the taxpayers money for a new school all with unchallenged incumbents, appointed and top down selected decision makers.

This school district has seen more than 30 years of appointments and top down selections of our School Board.  The results have been devastating for the educational prospects for the children.  It pains us to see this terrible tradition continue on.  There's nothing like the cleansing effect of real democracy in action to cast out corrupting influences and ensure good public policy.  The anti-democratic impulse here may help the Power Elite but it's anathema for establishing a culture of educational excellence at our schools.   To use a cliche; our children deserve better than this.

.               .               .               .

The new School Board Member is one Joy Kent, who ran unopposed on Tuesday and didn't appear on the ballots.  Ms Kent will help sheperd the taxpayer's school bond money to build a new school.

Final Election Results

Election 2011:

Nora Davis Drops To Last Place

Emeryville council member Nora Davis has dropped from second to last place in the final unofficial tally from the Alameda County Registrar of Voters for the 2011 city council election.  The County showed council member Ruth Atkin trailing Ms Davis in all earlier published results from the November 8th plebiscite.  The Registrar says this final tabulation will move forward to be certified and made official.

Here are the final results from the 2011 city council election:

1. Jacqueline Asher        924          27.80%
2. Ruth Atkin                 839          25.24%
3. Nora Davis                 822          24.73%

          Ken Bukowski            408          12.27%
          Michael Webber         331           9.96%

Who Cares About Emeryville?

Q: How Many People Care 
     About Emeryville?


A: 1374

How many of us care enough about our town that they're willing to turn off the TV for ten minutes and actually vote?  These would be the heroes of our town, by the way.

Here's the sad tale:
(Info from the Alameda County Registrar of Voters except as noted)

Emeryville Population:       10,080 (2010)*
Registered Voters:                5279
Voted On Tuesday:               1374 (26% of registered voters)


Compared to our neighbors:

Oakland Registered Voters:  203,469
Voted (Nov 2010):               124,557 (61%)

Berkeley Registered Voters:  78,631
Voted (Nov 2010):                 49,640 (63%)


* US Census

Tribune Reports On Election

Re-Printed from the Oakland Tribune:

Election delivers newcomer to  Emeryville City Council By Angela Woodall Oakland Tribune Posted: 11/09/2011 02:47:53 PM PST Updated: 11/09/2011 02:47:55 PM PST EMERYVILE -- The balance and tenor of the Emeryville City Council shifted  Tuesday night with the election of newcomer Jacqueline Asher and the  defeat of 24-year member Ken Bukowski. Asher is a UC Berkeley lecturer in the Department of Gender and Women's  Studies, a mother of two and a political newcomer who moved to Emeryville  four years ago. She decided to run for one of three open at-large City Council  seats after the city considered turning over management of its municipally-run  daycare, the Emeryville Child Development Center, which Asher's daughter  attended. She lobbied against the decision and helped find budget solutions  that allowed Emeryville to keep the center public. Bukowski is a veteran council member whose tenure ended Tuesday night,  overshadowed by charges of improprieties and drug use. He helped transform Emeryville into a big-box retail destination and magnet  for firms such as Pixar Studios. Asher's platform, in contrast, leaned heavily  on making Emeryville more family friendly and other quality of life issues,  such as providing before and after school care for children in the district. Incumbents Nora Davis, a council member for 24 years, and Ruth Atkin, a  council member since 1999, defended their seats for another four-year  term. Emeryville council members are paid $10,134 per year for their  part-time service. Asher's fellow first-time candidate Michael Webber lost his bid for a council seat. The Council will have to grapple with an ongoing recession. "Budget issues are going to be tough," Atkin said by telephone shortly after the  polls closed at 8 p.m. Turnout -- projected to be about 30 percent in Alameda County -- was low  but not unexpected for a local election in an odd year.

YES On F

YES On Measure F

Opinion
Measure F asks voters if they want to eliminate the City Attorney position here in Emeryville and instead sub-contract out our legal services to outside law firms.  It is common for a city the size of Emeryville to do this in the Bay Area.

Council member opponents of Measure F seem to be basing their objections on the fact that the Measure was authored by their colleague, council member Ken Bukowski and they say he has a personal beef with our City Attorney, Mike Biddle.  It's just retribution against Mr Biddle by a vindictive Ken Bukowski, they say.  Another argument seems just as likely; the city bureaucracy is trying to protect one of its own with their fight against Measure F.

The problem with the opponent's argument is Mr Bukowski's motives for bringing the Measure are really not material to voter's interests. Voters want effective and frugal government and they don't really care about the infighting among the council members.   Charges of Mr Bukowski's impure motives don't answer to the fact that Emeryville pays way too much for our legal service and Mr Biddle's work here has been sub-par on occasion.  Voters should remember Mr Biddle's role in the wrongful termination lawsuit brought by former city employee Leslie Pollard.  Mike Biddle was the man in charge when the city lost that $4.6 million lawsuit.  Further, voters would be well advised to consider Mr Bukowski's well documented accounting that Mr Biddle has been a self-appointed and unelected change agent at City Hall, engaging in lawmaking that circumscribes the auspices of the elected city council.

But Mr Bukowski, his colleagues, their childish infighting, or even Mr Biddle himself really isn't what Measure J is about. It's about Emeryville residents getting the most effective and responsive government for their money, all the hoopla aside. Voters headed to the polls Tuesday should keep in mind the absudity of what the Measure F opponents are alleging:  They're saying that if we were to eliminate the City Attorney position, it would not save money but actually end up costing Emeryville MORE money, 71% more they've figured.  We've got to ask them how does this comport with the recent survey of California cities, reported in the Emeryville Voters Guide, that incontrovertibly found cities, large and small, that outsource their legal services enjoyed substantial savings over those that maintained in-house legal council?  How is it that only Emeryville, of all those cities, would lose money?  They've not answered this question.

The city council opponents of Measure F are fond of telling us that they're the ones who should decide about Mr Biddle's employment contract, not the rabble.  But we've got to ask them, what are they waiting for?  We think this is simply a case of bureaucratic inertia and its well documented self survival mechanism at play here.  Perhaps the esteemed council members need a nudge from the electorate.

NO To Nora Davis

City Council Election 2011:

 'NO' To Nora Davis

Residents Should Vote In Their Own Interests

Opinion
Emeryville city council member Nora Davis lately is giving voters the impression that she has changed over the 24 years she's been in power.  Whereas she used to openly tell voters that business is the business of Emeryville, council member Davis now tells us it's livability for the residents that's the business of Emeryville.
It's a 180 degree turn and yet council member Davis has not changed how she directs public policy at City Hall one whit.  Big business is still king here with council member Nora Davis at the helm and Nora Davis is Emeryville's king maker, regardless of all the recent faddish pro-resident bombast.

We've watched with dismay over the years as Ms Davis has granted millions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies to favored developers in town, the same developers that have given generously to empower her re-election campaigns and bolster her political currency.
We have watched as Ms Davis has lead an extraordinary drive to quash dissenting voices in town and granted political favors to her cabal of sycophants in the form of plum appointments at City Hall.

But council member Davis can feel the winds of change; residents are increasingly insisting on development that's directly beneficial to the communities.  And Ms Davis is telling us she's changing right along with the residents; but unfortunately it's all smoke and mirrors.

Families?   Really?
It's all bad, but what we find particularly galling is Ms Davis' specific re-branding of herself now as a champion for families in Emeryville.   This year's city commissioned Goldman Housing Report put it succinctly; it is the city council that is responsible for the appallingly bad family housing policy in Emeryville.  The developer friends of Ms Davis have made it clear; they don't make as much profit by building family friendly housing as they do building one bedroom lofts and condos....so that's all Ms Davis needs to hear.
Nora Davis would have voters believe she's an advocate for families and family friendly housing but the facts, her actual record and her behind the scenes politicking are damning; it is Nora Davis, who's more responsible than any other council member for our abysmal stock of family housing.  It is also Nora Davis who's responsible for the historic hostility to family housing at the Housing Committee since she is chiefly responsible for the appointments there.

She Doesn't Trust Us
And then there is Ms Davis' conspiracy along with her colleague Kurt Brinkman, to disenfranchise Emeryville voters by the infamous hijacking of a citizen lead drive to eliminate Emeryville's unprecedented Business Tax Cap.  For all her talk of fiscal prudence, council member Davis has turned out to be nothing but a pro-business ideologue, in this case, even at the expense of Emeryville's public coffers.  Before you vote for Nora Davis, ask yourself if this is the kind of behavior that should be rewarded with your vote.

Ms Davis represents the worst kind of public servant: one who has a hidden agenda that's counter to all her public proclamations.  She's pro-business, but not because she believes it's the best way to make positive change for the residents; in the long distant past, one could argue that kind of pro-business voting record, letting business have their way with us, could help us craft the kind of town people would want to live in.  Unfortunately, Ms Davis is not even that kind of pro-business council member; no, council member Davis has shown us time and time again by her votes that she's simply a pro-business ideologue.  Ms Davis is not looking out for us, the residents.  It's the business community who's back she's got.

Emeryville citizens would be wise to follow the advise of the right-wing Washington think tank, the Heritage Foundation: we, the Emeryville residents should vote in our own interests.  If we do that, Ms Davis will finally retire and permit us move on to the critical next stage of re-making our town.

Letter To The Tattler: Andre Carpiaux

The following letter is from long-time north Emeryville resident, Andre Carpiaux.  Mr Carpiaux is running for city council as a write-in candidate.
.                .               .               .

This election may not bring any change, however, it is an opening window to transmit communication with the dynamics of the election process.

I have unwittingly been drawn into the Emeryville politic by the forces of time and I have witnessed many unpleasant, revolting actions. To analyze all of them on this occasion all would re-open the wounds of the drama, some of them with tragic consequences.

This is from my point of view: the eye of the beholder.

If it's different from the main-stream it's because of different upbringing, different social culture and background in education and profession.

Change is what we (this town) in Emeryville needs.

We need to change our election process with term limits, because

elected officials become professional politicians earning a living wage by being in politics, it matters little the amount of compensation.

As such they hone their trade by accumulating credit in their favor

to lay as personal accomplishments, ordinary things that may have

been works and/or the credit of others. This could be in the form of

public transportation advocacy from say [former mayor] Greg Harper and/or the bicycle challenge from [former city councilman] John Fricke.  Mr Fricke, it should be noted choose not to seek more than one term for a variety of reasons, most of which resulted in frustration in dealing with the formation of a majority of the council members who take advantage of their majority to impose or inflict on others questionable punishment, questionable

reward, benefits, glories and privileges such as unconditional immunity.

One of those privileges is the selection of mayor-ship  which should be on a rotating basis, not with the favorite council member added on (conveniently) chosen, elected amongst the council members themselves.

Here emerges the "villain" by ignoring the words "rotating basis"

which they (the majority) transform into naming themselves into the role of mayor-ship.

It is done with condescending arrogance that its revolting against democratic ideology, because of its bulling mentality.

It is calculated to coincide with major event such as this re-election

in which the antiquated Nora Davis maneuvered her imposing will to her majority of acolytes to be on the spot light for her re-election.

The flaw in this gang style process is that there is NO merit attached in the process and it implies the under current that a favor will be returned next turn years well advance (you own me that much).

This is hardly a "rotating basis", it is more shenanigans in cahoots with the other gang members and it lacks basic honesty to the process of adherence of "rotating basis".

It also lacks consideration to the pledge of other City Council members aspiring to be Mayor (for all it’s worth) to serve their voters and to seek an accomplishment specific to their input and or missions during their nominated term.  It deprives them of such an opportunity and also mainly the people who elected them (voted) to have their choice person to represent them as Mayor.  They cannot say “my Mayor” !

As such, the nomination of the mayor should be by a representation of people voter block on the number of City Council meetings as 21 on calendar year by 5 council members would be on four year term.

With a total of about 84 meetings divided amongst the 5 members

which would equal 17 meetings by each members minus one

The top vote getter of the 3 slate runner would get one (1) additional meeting, the second runner up would have 17 meeting and the third runner up would have16 meetings.

On the two slate runner, the top would have 17 meetings,the second16 meetings.

Everybody would have their turn at a mayor-ship during their 4 years tenure as City Council members.

Each candidate for City Council seat would have to agree and sign a pledge to conform with this agreement as to not disturb the divide of the mayor-ship duty once elected.

If we cannot have an honest division of mayor-ship from our elected officials then it is fair to expect that those who have taken advantage of the loophole in the past may not be honest in their City Council duties and that their pledge of allegiance has been crooked right at the start with the intent to pursue such as long as it is tolerated in cold blooded, ruthless backroom deals that has been worked out by the majority of its members comprising Ken Bukowski, Nora Davis and the late Ruth Atkin.

Please do not re-elect those incumbents, they are sinners against

this pledge of allegiance to have an equitable honest government.

Sincerely Yours

Andre' Carpiaux

Write - In candidate.

P.S.

I am the only candidate willing to challenge the incumbents on the

subject of basic honesty and the abolition of qualified unconditional immunity from crime, which is in the same line of though as the conniving selection of the mayor-ship (to get away with it).

Candidates Debates

The official Emeryville city council candidates debate was sponsored by the League of Woman Voters and was recently held at City Hall.  The televised full debate can be seen by clicking the hyperlink below.  Emeryville voters, please inform yourselves and make sure you vote on Tuesday, November 8th.

To watch the debate, please click here:
Emeryville Candidates Debate

Incumbents Rewrite History

Promises, promises, promises....

So here's the

Emeryville City Council Incumbent Accountability Moment

Essay

Come election time, people expect a lot of political hyperbole from candidates for political office however here in Emeryville, especially with its high number of transient voters, the hyperbole seems to be more effective and political advantage always is enjoyed by incumbents.  Another way to look at this formula is that incumbents have an actual record, not always a very good one, and information dissemination can change that formula.  Looking at it this way, the two challengers, Jacqueline Asher and Michael Webber, may become more attractive to voters.

There's always plenty of overheated talk at election time of empowering the citizens and fighting for their interests and other such clap trap.  People expect politicians to accentuate their positives and avoid their negatives however in this election cycle in Emeryville there seems to be an expectation of total naivete on the part of the voters by the incumbents.

Indeed, if one goes by the campaign literature, it's hard for those not paying attention otherwise to see substantive difference between the candidates; it's virtually wall to wall pro-family, pro-schools, pro-transparency with a smattering of pro-bike and pro-park sentiments.

Nora Davis comes right out and says we should judge her on her past performance, not on campaign promises.  Where Ms Davis may see advantage in the fact that most residents are not paying attention as she makes such proclamations, we hereby accept her challenge.

So at council member Davis' request, here's some of the incumbent city council campaign promises and proclamations made in their new campaign literature, versus their actual some might say inconvenient records:

Ruth Atkin Says:

Ruth Atkin's campaign literature is all abuzz with her good deeds for Emeryville's schools.  She promises to build lots of family friendly housing to support the schools.  She says shopping mall development creates a bankrupt consumer culture and she stresses the necessity of building real community.   Ruth says she's all about livability for Emeryville residents and transparency at City Hall.  She calls herself an advocate for Emeryville's children.

Ruth Atkin's Record:

• Voted to kill the infant program at the Child Development Center in 2005, saying we can "no longer afford it" 
• Voted numerous times to grant the Bay Street mall developer free exclusive rights to expand the mall, refusing to allow other developers to make alternate, more resident friendly proposals 
• Ruth, having sat on the council for 12 years, has rubber stamped countless one bedroom loft and condo projects, failing to deliver family friendly housing making Emeryville notorious for what the Goldman Public Policy School calls its "exceedingly low" stock of family friendly housing
• Ruth has used her council position to encourage developers to deliver new "drive-in drive-out" lofts and condos, with guaranteed free parking, encouraging driving and clogging our streets with traffic  

Ken Bukowski Says:

Ken has remade himself this election cycle claiming he's an outsider.  Ken says he's going to empower Emeryville residents with a new program of citizen inclusion.  He says he's going to root out corruption at City Hall and he says the Chamber of Commerce is a tool for the largest corporations.

Ken Bukowski's Record:

• Voted numerous times to grant the Bay Street mall developer free exclusive rights to expand the mall, refusing to allow other developers to make alternate, more resident friendly proposals
• Accepted the Chamber of Commerce's endorsement many election cycles and Ken has been a reliable pro-chamber vote on the council
• Worked against Measure C, the 'living wage for hotel workers' ordinance
• Voted to overturn the brand new General Plan at the last minute and against the resident's wishes after countless hours of volunteer citizen involvement and millions of dollars spent in its development all to give one developer, John Nady, rights to build any development proposal he may wish to 'unlimited hight'
• Ken has used his council position to encourage developers to deliver new "drive-in drive-out" lofts and condos, with guaranteed free parking, encouraging driving and clogging our streets with traffic  

Nora Davis Says:

Nora says she's interested in improving the quality of life for families and she wants to provide family friendly housing.  She says she wants to keep the city's revenue flow "strong".  Nora says she will uphold her commitment to education.  Nora calls herself a green candidate, stressing her anti-global warming bone fides.  She likes people to think she supports bicycle improvements.

Nora Davis' Record:

• Nora twice voted to overturn the Bike Committee's recommendation to limit cars on the Horton Street Bike Boulevard, the last viable quiet north/south route in the city 
• Nora, having sat on the council for 24 years, has rubber stamped countless one bedroom loft and condo projects, failing to deliver family friendly housing making Emeryville notorious for what the Goldman Public Policy School calls its "exceedingly low" stock of family friendly housing
• She stopped a citizen drive to eliminate the regressive business tax cap for Emeryville's largest corporations, granting them a much lower rate than our small businesses and locked out much needed revenue for the city
•  Voted numerous times to grant the Bay Street mall developer free exclusive rights to expand the mall, refusing to allow other developers to make alternate, more resident friendly proposals
• Worked against Measure C, the 'living wage for hotel workers' ordinance
• Voted to overturn the brand new General Plan at the last minute and against resident's wishes after countless hours of volunteer citizen involvement and millions of dollars spent in its development all to give one developer, John Nady, rights to build any development proposal he may wish to 'unlimited hight'
• Nora has used her council position to encourage developers to deliver new "drive-in drive-out" lofts and condos, with guaranteed free parking, encouraging driving and clogging our streets with traffic  
• Voted to kill the infant program at the Child Development Center, saying we can "no longer afford it" 

Pat O'Keeffe Endorses Nora Davis?

More Election Shenanigans From Nora Davis:

Nora Davis Claims Pat O'Keefe As An Endorser

Opinion
City employees are barred from endorsing any specific candidates for city council.  It's clearly inappropriate since the employees serve at the pleasure of the city council itself.  This is especially true of City Manager Patrick O'Keeffe, the man that's accountable for the entire workings of City Hall.
If however Pat O'Keeffe were to endorse a candidate for council, with his high profile and high respectability, just imagine the positive effect it could have on that candidate's chances for election.  But alas, it can't happen because it would be unethical.

And yet Mayor Nora Davis' latest re-election campaign mailer lists Patrick O'Keefe as an endorser of her re-election.  What's going on here?

Is this the guy?

The majority of voters will no doubt simply think the City Manager must support the re-election of Nora Davis.  Most probably think that gives Nora's candidacy an extra level of gravitas, an extra reason to vote for Nora Davis.  This is what Mayor Davis wants voters to think obviously.

What our mayor is not telling us though is that in this case Pat O'Keefe is not the City Manager but instead an Emeryville resident, coincidentally, with the same name as the City Manager.  Sharp eyed readers might note the one 'f' in the resident Pat O'Keefe.
Ms Davis could have easily noted in her mailer that the Pat O'Keefe listed as an endorser is not the same Pat O'Keeffe that works as our City Manager, but the Mayor didn't.

This is not the first time Nora Davis has pulled this.  Last election, four years ago, she listed the same Patrick O'Keefe as an endorser of her re-election.  After the City Manager received complaints, Ms Davis was notified that she should make sure voters understand the City Manager is not an endorser.
So now Nora Davis does it again four years later.  Perhaps it slipped her mind.  Maybe it was a "senior moment" for the Mayor.  If Nora Davis is re-elected, are there to be ever increasing senior moments like this?

This is the second endorser list slip-up, if it is that, for Nora Davis this campaign cycle.  Ms Davis also erroneously listed former Emeryville mayor Greg Harper as an endorser.  We call on Nora Davis to stop this amateurish campaigning and play fair.

Nora Davis' False Endorsement List

Former Mayor Harper Cries Foul:

Nora Davis Falsely Claims Former Mayor's Endorsement

Former Emeryville Mayor and continuing Emerville resident, Greg Harper has announced the Nora Davis city council re-election campaign is falsely using his name as an endorser.
After a city-wide mailer was released from the Davis campaign, listing Greg Harper as an endorser, Mr Harper drafted a letter to neighbors in response stating, "Yesterday you voters may have received a campaign piece from Nora Davis listing me as a supporter. I do not support her, and she has no reason to think otherwise."  
Mr Harper declined to further elaborate and Ms Davis could not be reached for comment.  The campaign mailer was sent out to registered voters across town.

Meet The Candidates

City Council Election:

Decision 2011

The following city council candidates interview, a joint project between the Tattler and The Secret News, is provided as a public service for Emeryville voters.  Prospective council members answered 14 questions, most on urgent matters facing the city now and looming in the future.

Three council seats are up for election and there are five candidates.  The following candidates participated in the interview: Jacqueline (Jac) Asher, Ruth Atkin, Ken Bukowski and Michael Webber.  Candidate Nora Davis didn't respond to repeated calls to participate.

Meet the Candidates 2011

October 26, 2011

By Ruth Major

Meet Jac Asher, Candidate For Emeryville City Council
The information below is based on personal interviews with the candidates and is either quoted directly or paraphrased (in the first person), with the exception of information in parentheses.


Who
Jacqueline (Jac) Asher, 40 married with two children (one enrolled in the Emeryville Child Development Center and one attending Anna Yates Elementary School). Educator PhD, UC Berkeley. She has lived four years in Emeryville.

Where
jacasher.com

What

• Development:

Cites Doyle/Hollis park as successful land use development but Oakwalk “could have been better”. Oakwalk suffers from a “lack of family friendly common space, the stairs are problematic and in general it doesn’t .....

      (click here to continue to The Secret News)

Analysis: Special Election or Appointment

Will voters get shortchanged?

By Brian Donahue

Ken Bukowski, a councilman for almost 25 years, may soon resign or be forced from office, according to rumors swirling around Emeryville.



Emeryville police called to the dilapidated Bukowski compound while responding to a domestic violence incident on the property, in this 2009 file photo.


While the Tattler is busy ferreting out the fact and fiction, a nearly as pressing question also deserves an answer: How would a successor emerge? According to the city charter, which governs such things, a special election may be held or the city council can simply appoint a replacement.

Perhaps best known as a political weather vane, Mr. Bukowski has shifted his leanings from populist champion to Chamber of Commerce lap dog and back throughout his career. Lately though repeated scandals have emerged, tarnishing Mr. Bukowski's reputation and turning a man once sought after to break tied votes into a political pariah.

Mr. Bukowski has also run into serious financial problems. According to sources, all of the buildings in his infamous Doyle Street compound are in various stages of foreclosure. If this is indeed the case, it will be revealed publicly soon.

Mr. Bukowski's last re-election effort relied on the Chamber of Commerce's considerable financial resources. A good investment if dollars can be measured in votes. Since his re-election in 2007 he has voted in lock step both with the wishes of the Chamber and with deep pocketed developers.

But now Mr. Bukowski is an embarrassment to the Chamber. Their association with him has harmed the chamber's reputation and may prove an impediment to its future political clout as Emeryville's lead power broker.

Realizing the danger of allowing Mr. Bukowski to run in November 2011 and fearing an upset win by another pro-resident candidate, the chamber is in a tough spot. From a Machiavellian worldview the chamber would benefit greatly from orchestrating the appointment of a replacement of Mr. Bukowski with a pro-chamber successor with a less sullied record. This person could then run as an incumbent in 2011. Sitting council members enjoy a large electoral advantage, a fact not lost on the chamber.

Precedent for this undemocratic transition occurred in 1996 when then council member Bob Savage resigned due to illness. The council, with the chamber's blessing, opted to forgo a special election and replaced Savage with the appointment of Gary Caffey. Mr. Caffey proved the most pro-chamber council member Emeryville has ever seen. Mr. Caffey was repeatedly re-elected until he declined to run for re-election in 2003.

It would not serve the interests of the Chamber of Commerce or the 'Nora Davis faction' on the council, to allow the democratic process of a special election to replace Mr Bukowski. They would not allow a council seat to be placed at risk if they don't have to. Emeryville citizens should prepare themselves for an undemocratic bloodless coup if Mr Bukowski goes down. The Chamber may decide to wait until close to the election to remove council member Bukowski to make it seem more reasonable to appoint a successor rather than hold a 'costly' special election. Then of course there is the possibility that Ken Bukowski may rebuff any resignation overtures from the Chamber of Commerce and their developer proxies and run for re-election as a 'wildcatter' with no support from anyone promising a hugely contested 2011 election.