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Five to compete for District 5 race

Judith Scherr
Tuesday September 12, 2000

 

When two-term Councilmember Diane Woolley decided not to run for another term on the City Council, a crush of five council hopefuls emerged to try for the District 5 seat. The district sits in the lower north hills area, roughly between Spruce Street on the east and the line formed by Neilson and Acton streets on the west and between Kensignton-Albany on the north and Vine Street on the south. To find if you live in District 5, call the city clerk’s office at 644-6840. 

The area, which includes Live Oak Park and King Middle School, has a population that is wealthier than the average Berkeley household. The approximate median household income (averaged between the five census tracts that are in the district, but spill out of it as well) in 1989 was about $53,000 well above the city’s median income of $29,000 at the time. The median home price was about $316,000, compared to the citywide median of $256,500 at the time. 

Mark Fowler 

Although Mark Fowler has no experience in government, he understands some of the nuts and bolts that make the city’s operations work. Among other occupations, the 56 year-old candidate for the District 5 council seat has worked as a welder/mechanic for the Public Works Department in Richmond. 

A frequent caller to a nighttime KGO radio talk show, where he has honed his oratory skills, Fowler has volunteered his time at Free Radio Berkeley, the local low-powered pirate radio station and for the Berkeley Black Repertory Theater.  

Fowler is running for office on the principle of “accountability.” Projects should be completed by a date certain, he said.  

Moreover, the city pays too much in compensation for employee accidents. The problems that cause the accidents should be cured, he said. 

Employees should be encouraged to share their ideas on accident prevention – $100 a month could be awarded to the worker who has the best safety idea.  

And, people should be encouraged to do their work in fewer hours, then go home. The last part of the day is the time that employees have the most accidents, Fowler said. 

The traffic problem could be solved by offering free bus passes, he said. 

As for rent control, Fowler said in the beginning, he thought it was a good idea. But landlords have withdrawn units from the marketplace because of it, he said.  

Students should have subsidized housing, but they should have to pay back the subsidy when they are working , he said. 

Public participation in city government could be expanded with better use of the community cable TV station. For example, before the council meetings, someone could go through the items that are coming up and explain them. 

As for the 170-foot communications tower next to the Public Safety Building, Fowler said, “leave it to Stephen Dunifer (of Free Radio Berkeley) and the others to use.” 

Fowler said he didn’t know exactly how much he’ll be spending on his campaign. “Not very much,” he said. 

His campaign can be reached at 841-8520.ability.” Projects should be completed by a date certain, he said.  

Moreover, the city pays too much in compensation for employee accidents.  

The problems that cause the accidents should be cured, he said. 

Employees should be encouraged to share their ideas on accident prevention – $100 a month could be awarded to the worker who has the best safety idea.  

And, people should be encouraged to do their work in fewer hours, then go home.  

The last part of the day is the time that employees have the most accidents, Fowler said. 

The traffic problem could be solved by offering free bus passes, he said. 

As for rent control, Fowler said in the beginning, he thought it was a good idea. But landlords have withdrawn units from the marketplace because of it, he said. Students should have subsidized housing, but they should have to pay back the subsidy when they are working , he said. 

Public participation in city government could be expanded with better use of the community cable TV station.  

For example, before the council meetings, someone could go through the items that are coming up and explain them. 

As for the 170-foot communications tower next to the Public Safety Building, Fowler said, “leave it to Stephen Dunifer (of Free Radio Berkeley) and the others to use.” 

Fowler said he didn’t know exactly how much he’ll be spending on his campaign. “Not very much,” he said. 

His campaign can be reached at 841-8520.ability.” Projects should be completed by a date certain, he said.  

Moreover, the city pays too much in compensation for employee accidents.  

The problems that cause the accidents should be cured, he said. 

Employees should be encouraged to share their ideas on accident prevention – $100 a month could be awarded to the worker who has the best safety idea.  

And, people should be encouraged to do their work in fewer hours, then go home.  

The last part of the day is the time that employees have the most accidents, Fowler said. 

The traffic problem could be solved by offering free bus passes, he said. 

As for rent control, Fowler said in the beginning, he thought it was a good idea. But landlords have withdrawn units from the marketplace because of it, he said. Students should have subsidized housing, but they should have to pay back the subsidy when they are working , he said. 

Public participation in city government could be expanded with better use of the community cable TV station.  

For example, before the council meetings, someone could go through the items that are coming up and explain them. 

As for the 170-foot communications tower next to the Public Safety Building, Fowler said, “leave it to Stephen Dunifer (of Free Radio Berkeley) and the others to use.” 

Fowler said he didn’t know exactly how much he’ll be spending on his campaign. “Not very much,” he said. 

His campaign can be reached at 841-8520.ability.” Projects should be completed by a date certain, he said.  

Moreover, the city pays too much in compensation for employee accidents.  

The problems that cause the accidents should be cured, he said. 

Employees should be encouraged to share their ideas on accident prevention – $100 a month could be awarded to the worker who has the best safety idea.  

And, people should be encouraged to do their work in fewer hours, then go home.  

The last part of the day is the time that employees have the most accidents, Fowler said. 

The traffic problem could be solved by offering free bus passes, he said. 

As for rent control, Fowler said in the beginning, he thought it was a good idea. But landlords have withdrawn units from the marketplace because of it, he said. Students should have subsidized housing, but they should have to pay back the subsidy when they are working , he said. 

Public participation in city government could be expanded with better use of the community cable TV station.  

For example, before the council meetings, someone could go through the items that are coming up and explain them. 

As for the 170-foot communications tower next to the Public Safety Building, Fowler said, “leave it to Stephen Dunifer (of Free Radio Berkeley) and the others to use.” 

Fowler said he didn’t know exactly how much he’ll be spending on his campaign. “Not very much,” he said. 

His campaign can be reached at 841-8520.ability.” Projects should be completed by a date certain, he said.  

Moreover, the city pays too much in compensation for employee accidents.  

The problems that cause the accidents should be cured, he said. 

Employees should be encouraged to share their ideas on accident prevention – $100 a month could be awarded to the worker who has the best safety idea.  

And, people should be encouraged to do their work in fewer hours, then go home.  

The last part of the day is the time that employees have the most accidents, Fowler said. 

The traffic problem could be solved by offering free bus passes, he said. 

As for rent control, Fowler said in the beginning, he thought it was a good idea. But landlords have withdrawn units from the marketplace because of it, he said. Students should have subsidized housing, but they should have to pay back the subsidy when they are working , he said. 

Public participation in city government could be expanded with better use of the community cable TV station.  

For example, before the council meetings, someone could go through the items that are coming up and explain them. 

As for the 170-foot communications tower next to the Public Safety Building, Fowler said, “leave it to Stephen Dunifer (of Free Radio Berkeley) and the others to use.” 

Fowler said he didn’t know exactly how much he’ll be spending on his campaign. “Not very much,” he said. 

His campaign can be reached at 841-8520.ability.” Projects should be completed by a date certain, he said.  

Moreover, the city pays too much in compensation for employee accidents.  

The problems that cause the accidents should be cured, he said. 

Employees should be encouraged to share their ideas on accident prevention – $100 a month could be awarded to the worker who has the best safety idea.  

And, people should be encouraged to do their work in fewer hours, then go home.  

The last part of the day is the time that employees have the most accidents, Fowler said. 

The traffic problem could be solved by offering free bus passes, he said. 

As for rent control, Fowler said in the beginning, he thought it was a good idea. But landlords have withdrawn units from the marketplace because of it, he said. Students should have subsidized housing, but they should have to pay back the subsidy when they are working , he said. 

Public participation in city government could be expanded with better use of the community cable TV station.  

For example, before the council meetings, someone could go through the items that are coming up and explain them. 

As for the 170-foot communications tower next to the Public Safety Building, Fowler said, “leave it to Stephen Dunifer (of Free Radio Berkeley) and the others to use.” 

Fowler said he didn’t know exactly how much he’ll be spending on his campaign. “Not very much,” he said. 

His campaign can be reached at 841-8520. 

Miriam Hawley 

backed by the mayor, who is part of the council’s moderate faction, but says she “has a lot of respect and affection for everyone on the council.” 

Hawley said the problems of items languishing on the council agenda for months could be solved, in part, by the issues going to staff for their review early in the process. “That would help the discussion,” she said. 

Transit, naturally, is among the issues Hawley said she would be able to address on the council. She was among those who got the “class pass” instituted at UC Berkeley. All students pay a transit fee with their student fees. Those who want to take advantage of “free” unlimited bus rides, get the “class pass” to use for a semester.  

Hawley would like to institute a similar pass for other Berkeley residents. 

She wants to set up a study on how it would work. It could be funded by employers or groups of commuters, she said. 

Parking, Hawley said, is another big issue. Creating satellite lots may be one answer.  

One of the big issues the council will address after the elections is the choice of a new city manager. “Weldon Rucker is well-accepted,” she said, referring to the interim city manager. “But I think he doesn’t want to do this forever.” 

The person selected would have to be able to work with both council factions, she said. 

Addressing the city’s housing needs, “We need to pursue a regional approach,” working with nearby cities, Hawley said. “We need to work together.” 

Hawley said she is in favor of zoning for “some higher buildings,” but not higher that 10-stories and not a concentration of them on one block. And they should not surround the library, which “needs space to be admired.” 

“They need to be spread through downtown,” she said. 

What is important, she said, is building a “walkable, bikeable” area. 

As for Beth El, the synagogue-school proposed near Live Oak Park, Hawley said it would not be appropriate for her to take “a firm, irrevocable position.” 

The issue needs mediation between the neighbors and those representing the synagogue, she said, noting that she moderated a meeting between the two sides on behalf of the League of Women Voters.  

Despite the fact that she doesn’t like the lack of clarity in Measure Y, restrictions on landlord move-in evictions, Hawley said she will support it. 

“I’d like to see it be a stop-gap measure,” she said. “I would work for some amendments.” 

The health disparities between the hills Caucasians and flatlands African Americans “came as a shock to everyone,” she said.  

“We may need to work with the city of Berkeley’s health department to beef up services,” she said, arguing that it is a question of outreach and education and bringing people into the system. “People don’t know what services are available,” she said. 

Hawley said she hopes to raise $7-$10,000 for her race. If she’s elected she plans to be a full-time councilmember. 

Hawley can be reached at 527-7727 or mrhawley@att.net. 

Tom Kelly 

“I’ll work with issues and not worry about (political) relationships,” he said. 

Kelly, who works for the State Department of Health to get funding for researchers investigating the environmental causes of non-infectious disease, said he’s financing his own campaign and plans to keep expenses to around $2,000, although he has supporters who are volunteering their skills for his campaign. 

The candidate is a graduate of the City University of New York Law School, which encourages graduates to avoid litigation and use alternative dispute resolution practices. He has some ideas about improving the climate on the council.  

Changing the city manager – Interim City Manager Weldon Rucker took over the city last month when the former city manager left his post – will “change the chemistry” of the council meetings, he said. The council and department heads should get together in a workshop, where they will develop communication skills with one another, he said.  

The bottom line is that all the councilmembers are “nice, smart well-intentioned people,” he said. 

The housing problem is regional, Kelly said, but the city still needs to take responsibility for providing more housing.  

Medium-to-high density housing, both affordable and market rate, should be constructed, he said. Buildings of three-to-five stories fit nicely into neighborhoods, he said, adding that low and medium income people should be able to purchase their own units. 

If they are built near where people work and shop, that would help remedy the traffic problem, he said. 

Another way to get people out of their cars is for the city to promote a program such as the state is doing and allow people to purchase BART cards with pre-tax dollars. 

Beth El is a difficult issue, Kelly said, addressing the land-use issue that will likely come before the council in the coming months.  

“The charge of NIMBYISM undermines an attempt to find a solution,” he said, adding that he can understand the points of view of both the synagogue which needs a larger building and the neighbors who feel the project is too big for the site. 

Kelly supports Measure Y. “Housing is not a commodity that should be subject to the vagaries to of the market place,” he said. “People should feel safe and secure in their living situations.” 

Kelly’s website is www.electtomkelly.org and he can be reached at jandtkelly@igc.org. 

Carrie Olson 

Carrie Olson has lived in Berkeley all her 47 years. She’s an active member of the Landmarks Commission, appointed by City Councilmember Linda Maio, volunteered in the schools for ten years before that and has been a member of the AC Transit Citizen’s Advisory Committee.  

Olson, a business woman who works for moveon.org, decries the division she sees on the council, which, she said, continues to the commission level. Commissions are made up of council appointees. Olson said she doesn’t plan to become part of either council faction, but would accept the endorsement of either. 

New blood on the council may be able to heal some of the division, Olson said. “We need to be able to speak to each other.” 

Olson said she has been watching the General Plan process and working with Students for a Livable Southside, who have pushed for alternatives to the Southside Plan. 

“I support more housing built in Berkeley,” Olson said. “But you don’t have to build high-rises.” 

Instead, build infill that is “contextually sensitive,” she said, pointing to large homes that have been transformed into comfortable apartments. 

There should be incentives for developers to build carfree housing near campus. More affordable housing should be built in order to help maintain the city’s diversity, she said. 

Students need affordable housing as well, which does not mean stuffing three to four students into an apartment. “I’m not a fan of the Gaia Building,” Olson said, referring to developer Patrick Kennedy’s building going up on Allston Way. “It will become a rabbit warren for students.” 

She said there are Kennedy buildings that are of more appropriate scale, such as the four-story building at University Avenue and Grant Street. 

Building apartments over retail is good, to a degree, she said. But the city needs to recognize that as some point, an excess of retail could be developed, she said. 

Addressing the traffic problem, Olson said putting in light rail that goes from the MacArthur BART Station to the campus would help a lot. Olson said, however, she recognizes that some people have a need for their cars. 

As for the question of building the Beth El Synagogue and school on property near Live Oak Park, Olson said she was among the Landmarks Commissioners who said that the Draft Environmental Impact Report showed an “inadequate analysis of historical resources.”  

Moreover, she said, the document does not reveal the size and bulk of the building that is proposed. 

At the same time, Olson said she understood Beth El’s need for a new synagogue.  

If elected, Olson said she would serve the whole community, not just her district. But at the same time, she said she will be an advocate for the nuts and bolts things the district needs, such as sewers and street repairs. 

Olson said, in general, she’s not supportive of increased taxes. With the increasing cost of housing and taxes tied to that, “the city has a windfall it will receive in the next few years,” she said.  

Those funds should be used for city needs rather than raising more taxes, she said. At the same time, she said she supports some of the taxes on the November ballot such as the retrofit of the branch libraries and funding for parks. 

“I’m not quick to jump up and say we need a lot of money spent on schools,” she said, questioning where past school facilities’ money has gone. “I’d rather see teachers paid more,” she said. 

While Olson said she is supportive of the idea of protecting disabled and older renters, she questions Measure Y, the restrictions for owner move-in on the ballot, which goes beyond the protection of those two classes of people. 

Olson said she will be spending “as little as possible,” on her campaign. She’s working with a “core-group” of supporters, including two women volunteers, whom she declined to name, who are “experts” in the field.  

Her website is at www.carrieolson.com. 

 

 

Carrie Olson has lived in Berkeley all her 47 years. She’s an active member of the Landmarks Commission, appointed by City Councilmember Linda Maio, volunteered in the schools for ten years before that and has been a member of the AC Transit Citizen’s Advisory Committee.  

Olson, a business woman who works for moveon.org, decries the division she sees on the council, which, she said, continues to the commission level. Commissions are made up of council appointees. Olson said she doesn’t plan to become part of either council faction, but would accept the endorsement of either. 

New blood on the council may be able to heal some of the division, Olson said. “We need to be able to speak to each other.” 

Olson said she has been watching the General Plan process and working with Students for a Livable Southside, who have pushed for alternatives to the Southside Plan. 

“I support more housing built in Berkeley,” Olson said. “But you don’t have to build high-rises.” 

Instead, build infill that is “contextually sensitive,” she said, pointing to large homes that have been transformed into comfortable apartments. 

There should be incentives for developers to build carfree housing near campus. More affordable housing should be built in order to help maintain the city’s diversity, she said. 

Students need affordable housing as well, which does not mean stuffing three to four students into an apartment. “I’m not a fan of the Gaia Building,” Olson said, referring to developer Patrick Kennedy’s building going up on Allston Way. “It will become a rabbit warren for students.” 

She said there are Kennedy buildings that are of more appropriate scale, such as the four-story building at University Avenue and Grant Street. 

Building apartments over retail is good, to a degree, she said. But the city needs to recognize that as some point, an excess of retail could be developed, she said. 

Addressing the traffic problem, Olson said putting in light rail that goes from the MacArthur BART Station to the campus would help a lot. Olson said, however, she recognizes that some people have a need for their cars. 

As for the question of building the Beth El Synagogue and school on property near Live Oak Park, Olson said she was among the Landmarks Commissioners who said that the Draft Environmental Impact Report showed an “inadequate analysis of historical resources.”  

Moreover, she said, the document does not reveal the size and bulk of the building that is proposed. 

At the same time, Olson said she understood Beth El’s need for a new synagogue.  

If elected, Olson said she would serve the whole community, not just her district. But at the same time, she said she will be an advocate for the nuts and bolts things the district needs, such as sewers and street repairs. 

Olson said, in general, she’s not supportive of increased taxes. With the increasing cost of housing and taxes tied to that, “the city has a windfall it will receive in the next few years,” she said.  

Those funds should be used for city needs rather than raising more taxes, she said. At the same time, she said she supports some of the taxes on the November ballot such as the retrofit of the branch libraries and funding for parks. 

“I’m not quick to jump up and say we need a lot of money spent on schools,” she said, questioning where past school facilities’ money has gone. “I’d rather see teachers paid more,” she said. 

While Olson said she is supportive of the idea of protecting disabled and older renters, she questions Measure Y, the restrictions for owner move-in on the ballot, which goes beyond the protection of those two classes of people. 

Olson said she will be spending “as little as possible,” on her campaign. She’s working with a “core-group” of supporters, including two women volunteers, whom she declined to name, who are “experts” in the field.  

Her website is at www.carrieolson.com. 

 

 

Carrie Olson has lived in Berkeley all her 47 years. She’s an active member of the Landmarks Commission, appointed by City Councilmember Linda Maio, volunteered in the schools for ten years before that and has been a member of the AC Transit Citizen’s Advisory Committee.  

Olson, a business woman who works for moveon.org, decries the division she sees on the council, which, she said, continues to the commission level. Commissions are made up of council appointees. Olson said she doesn’t plan to become part of either council faction, but would accept the endorsement of either. 

New blood on the council may be able to heal some of the division, Olson said. “We need to be able to speak to each other.” 

Olson said she has been watching the General Plan process and working with Students for a Livable Southside, who have pushed for alternatives to the Southside Plan. 

“I support more housing built in Berkeley,” Olson said. “But you don’t have to build high-rises.” 

Instead, build infill that is “contextually sensitive,” she said, pointing to large homes that have been transformed into comfortable apartments. 

There should be incentives for developers to build carfree housing near campus. More affordable housing should be built in order to help maintain the city’s diversity, she said. 

Students need affordable housing as well, which does not mean stuffing three to four students into an apartment. “I’m not a fan of the Gaia Building,” Olson said, referring to developer Patrick Kennedy’s building going up on Allston Way. “It will become a rabbit warren for students.” 

She said there are Kennedy buildings that are of more appropriate scale, such as the four-story building at University Avenue and Grant Street. 

Building apartments over retail is good, to a degree, she said. But the city needs to recognize that as some point, an excess of retail could be developed, she said. 

Addressing the traffic problem, Olson said putting in light rail that goes from the MacArthur BART Station to the campus would help a lot. Olson said, however, she recognizes that some people have a need for their cars. 

As for the question of building the Beth El Synagogue and school on property near Live Oak Park, Olson said she was among the Landmarks Commissioners who said that the Draft Environmental Impact Report showed an “inadequate analysis of historical resources.”  

Moreover, she said, the document does not reveal the size and bulk of the building that is proposed. 

At the same time, Olson said she understood Beth El’s need for a new synagogue.  

If elected, Olson said she would serve the whole community, not just her district. But at the same time, she said she will be an advocate for the nuts and bolts things the district needs, such as sewers and street repairs. 

Olson said, in general, she’s not supportive of increased taxes. With the increasing cost of housing and taxes tied to that, “the city has a windfall it will receive in the next few years,” she said.  

Those funds should be used for city needs rather than raising more taxes, she said. At the same time, she said she supports some of the taxes on the November ballot such as the retrofit of the branch libraries and funding for parks. 

“I’m not quick to jump up and say we need a lot of money spent on schools,” she said, questioning where past school facilities’ money has gone. “I’d rather see teachers paid more,” she said. 

While Olson said she is supportive of the idea of protecting disabled and older renters, she questions Measure Y, the restrictions for owner move-in on the ballot, which goes beyond the protection of those two classes of people. 

Olson said she will be spending “as little as possible,” on her campaign. She’s working with a “core-group” of supporters, including two women volunteers, whom she declined to name, who are “experts” in the field.  

Her website is at www.carrieolson.com. 

Benjamin Rodefer 

Benjamin Rodefer hasn’t much experience in city government, but the 37-year old candidate for District 5 has spent a number of years working in politics. 

He interned for former Rep. Ron Dellums when he was in high school and participated in student government when he was at Cornell University, working briefly for a U.S. Senator after his graduation. 

An art dealer – and a jazz musician, once part of the celebrated Berkeley High Jazz Band – Rodefer has worked with different committees planning public art at Aquatic Park and along the BART tracks. 

The father of a 17-month old baby knows Berkeley well, having gone through public school here. The values present in the city when he was younger, however “are in danger of being co-opted,” he said, underscoring the need for affordable housing to maintain the city’s diversity. 

Another issue that is high on Rodefer’s list of priorities is the environment. People should own green and hybrid vehicles, he said.  

“I love Berkeley. I want to still love it 10 years from now.” 

Rodefer is not aligned with either of the two council factions. “They’re all Democrats,” he said, “not ‘moderates’ or ‘progressives.’” 

On the other hand, Rodefer does take issue with the mayor. “I am concerned with Shirley Dean’s support for developers,” he said, pointing to Eddie Bauer’s as the kind of chain-store that the city does not need. 

“It’s not in the interest or character of Berkeley,” he said. 

Chain stores “take the money out of the city. That doesn’t benefit us.” 

There are better ways to revitalize the city, Rodefer said, through the creation of city loan pools. 

Someone needs to liaison between small businesses and the city,” he said. Sometimes the city makes plans for shopping areas and does not consult with the merchants. “There’s not enough communication.” 

As for the issue of Beth El, Rodefer said he has a concern with preserving the creek that runs through the property and the limited parking. “There are 600 families (who are members of Beth El) and only 35 parking places.” They will need 50 to 100 spaces at any one time, he said. 

Ideally, the city would purchase the property to expand Live Oak Park and Beth El would find a more suitable place to build. Though he hopes they would not leave the city. “They offer a lot of positive benefits,” he said. 

Housing is a concern and development needs to conform to “long-tem” community standards, he said. The council’s job would be to “make sure the concerns of the whole community are addressed.” 

One of the particular needs for District 5 is traffic control. Decisions about where barriers are placed were made long ago, Rodefer said. Existing conditions need to be examined, such as the amount of traffic that uses The Arlington. 

Overruns on capital projects is an issue that Rodefer would address if he gets on the council. “There has to be a way to cap (costs) in contracts,” he said. 

Health disparities between Caucasians lining in the hills and African Americans in the flatlands needs to be addressed, Rodefer said. One way would be to create a city health plan, whereby everybody would be covered by insurance. The Berkeley Free Clinic and outreach programs should be fully funded, he said. 

As for Measure Y, Rodefer said he is “100 percent” for protection of affordable housing for the elderly and handicapped. However, he said he was concerned about the amount of money the measure mandated for a landlord to pay a low-income person who has to leave in a low-income eviction. 

“I don’t support it although I support all the values it espouses,” he said. “It needs to be tightened” then go before the voters at a later date. 

Rodefer said he will seek the support of both the Berkeley Democratic Club and Berkeley Citizen’s Action. He said he’s probably more fically conservative than BCA. “I want to see the money spent, effectively,” he said. 

Rodefer, who will be running his own campaign, can be reached at 525-9263.