San Leandro Bytes

Meet City Council Candidates Prola and Reed at Zocalo on May 13, 2008

The San Leandro Community Action Network (SLCAN) is offering interested voters an opportunity to have coffee with San Leandro City Council candidates Jim Prola and Ursula Reed on May 13, 2008, from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. The group recently endorsed Prola in District 6 and Reed in District 2 for the June 3, 2008, election.

Prola was appointed in February 2007 to replace Tony Santos. Reed has been a member of the Library-Historical Commission since February 2006.

The free event will be held at Zocalo Coffeehouse, located at 645 Bancroft Avenue in San Leandro. Complimentary coffee and food will be available.

Sierra Club Endores Prola for San Leandro City Council

According to the latest edition of the Sierra Club Yodeler, Jim Prola is the only candidate for San Leandro City Council to earn the group's endorsement. In its endorsement, the Sierra Club called Prola "perhaps the greenest councilmember San Leandro has ever seen."

The only other local race in which the Sierra Club endorsed candidates was Alameda County Superior Court Judge, in which the group made a dual endorsement of Dennis Hayashi and Victoria Kolakowski.

City Council Candidates on Their Vision for San Leandro

On April 4, 2008, the San Leandro Community Action Network (SLCAN) held a candidate forum at McKinley Elementary with all of the candidates for the San Leandro City Council in the June 3, 2008, election. Over the next few days, San Leandro Bytes will post videos of the candidates answering questions at that forum. The first of those questions: "Please summarize your vision for San Leandro, how you can contribute to that vision, and your top three to five priorities."

You can see their reponses by clicking on the links, which will take you to YouTube:

District 2:

Charles Gilcrest
Ursula Reed
Linda Perry

District 4:

Joyce Starosciak
Lou Filipovich

District 6:

Hermy Almonte
Mark Tichy
Jim Prola
Wafaa Aborashed
Estelle Clemons

PACE Endorses Reed, Starosciak, and Clemons for San Leandro City Council

Last week, the Political Action Committee for Excellence (PACE) made its endorsements for San Leandro City Council: Ursula Reed in District 2, Joyce Starosciak in District 4, and Estelle Clemons in District 6. PACE also endorsed Victoria Kolakowski for Alameda County Superior Court Judge. In addition to her endorsement by PACE, Starosciak is also a member of the group.

As noted in a previous story, PACE membership is entirely female and has only contributed to female candidates for local office. [Editor: This story has been edited to correct inaccurate information about the group's bylaws.] The purpose of the group is to get more women elected and involved in civic activities.

In District 4, Starosciak is the only woman running and Kolakowski is the only woman candidate for Superior Court Judge. However, just because there is one woman candidate doesn't guarantee a PACE endorsement. In the 2006 campaign for the District 3 City Council seat, PACE did not endorse the only female candidate, Diana Souza, who went on to win.

The endorsement comes with a financial contribution of $999 to each of the candidate's campaigns.

As of December 31, 2007, PACE had $7,124 in its account. Members of PACE were determined from reviewing its financial disclosures and are listed below. Note that membership may have changed since the most recent financial disclosure in December 2007.

• Anna Brannan, San Leandro Planning Commissioner
• Esther Collier, San Leandro Planning Commissioner and former San Leandro School Board Trustee
• Peggy Combs, Recreation and Parks Commissioner, Development Director for Building Futures with Women and Children
• Deborah Cox, President of Estudillo Estates Homeowner Assocation, Human Services Commissioner, and Co-Chair of Citizens for San Leandro Schools
• Isobel Dvorsky, Chabot-Las Positas Community College District Trustee
• Harriet Engberg, retired
• Heidi Finberg, former CEO of the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce and Planning Commissioner
• Katherine Frates, Director of Clinical Services at San Leandro Surgery Center
• Faith Frazier, Former City Councilmember
• Surlene Grant, San Leandro City Councilmember
• Dale Gregory, Director of Broadmoor Preschool and Board Member of Drowning Darryl's
• Rose Johnson, Executive Director of the Davis Street Family Resource Center and President of the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce
• Denise Bownds Kaplan, San Leandro Library Historical Commissioner
• Susan Kleebauer, attorney and former San Leandro Planning Commissioner
• Alexandra Matteucci-Perkins, Executive Director of the Joseph Matteucci Foundation for Youth Non-Violence
• Janet Plankenhorn, Former San Leandro School Board Trustee
• Isabel Polvorosa, computer operator and San Lorenzo School Board Trustee
• Nancy Pretto, Retired
• Catherine Ralph, a field work consultant and lecturer at UC Berkeley
• Pat Raposo, former owner of Broadmoor Electric
• Diana Souza, San Leandro City Councilmember
• Joyce Starosciak, San Leandro City Councilmember and former San Leandro School Board Trustee
• Marie Underwood
• Dawn Valadez, Development Director for Davis Street Family Resource Center
• Shelia Young, former San Leandro Mayor

SLCAN Endorses Reed in District 2 and Prola in District 6

The San Leandro Community Action Network (SLCAN) announced late last night that it is endorsing Ursula Reed for San Leandro City Council District 2 and Jim Prola for District 6. In District 4, SLCAN stated that it recommended, but did not endorse, Joyce Starosciak.

The endorsement of Prola was expected as SLCAN endorsed Prola for the District 6 appointment in February 2007 and Prola was a big supporter of the living wage ordinance and affordable housing, which SLCAN also supports.

SLCAN passed over more experienced candidates Charles Gilcrest and Linda Perry to endorse Reed, who has served on the Library-Historical Commission since February 2006. In its endorsement, SLCAN said that "Reed shares our progressive ideals" and described her as "passionate."

In District 4, with Paul Gonzales having pulled out and Lou Filipovich not taken seriously as a candidate, incumbent Starosciak is the only real option. SLCAN expressed concerns about Starosciak's judgment in recommending rather than endorsing her.

City Council Candidates on What to do About the Marina

At the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce Candidate forum on April 10, 2008, the City Council candidates were asked what they would do about the marina. Here are their responses.

District 2:

District 4:

District 6:

Democrats Endorse Linda Perry for San Leandro City Council District 2

A second try was what Linda Perry needed to secure the endorsement of the Democratic Party over the weekend. At an earlier meeting, the Democrats had been unable to decide on which of the three candidates to endorse. Perry, Charles Gilcrest, and Ursula Reed are all Democrats, but Perry has been on the Alameda County Democratic Party Central Committee, Assembly District 18, since 1980. The Central Committee is the group that decides on which candidates to endorse in local races.

City Council Candidates Answer a Question at the Chamber Forum

Here are the San Leandro City Council candidates responding to a question at the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce Candidate forum on April 10, 2008. The question was: Name some specific issues on which the voters may base their decisions to vote for you versus your opponents.

District 2:

District 4:

District 6:

Opening Statements of District 6 City Council Candidates at San Leandro Chamber Forum

District 6 San Leandro City Council candidates Estelle Clemons, Wafaa Aborashed, Mark Tichy, and Jim Prola were on hand for a forum at the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce's monthly luncheon on April 10, 2008. Hermy Almonte was not present at the forum.

These are the opening statements of the District 6 City Council candidates:

Opening Statements of District 4 City Council Candidates at San Leandro Chamber Forum

District 4 San Leandro City Council candidates Joyce Starosciak and Lou Filipovich were on hand for a forum at the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce's monthly luncheon on April 10, 2008.

These are the opening statements of the District 4 City Council candidates:

Opening Statements of District 2 Candidates at San Leandro Chamber Forum

Less than a week after the candidates for San Leandro City Council appeared at a forum sponsored by the San Leandro Community Action Network, nine of the candidates were on hand for a forum at the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce's monthly luncheon on April 10, 2008.

These are the opening statements of the District 2 City Council candidates:

Sentinels Endorse Gilcrest, Starosciak, and Prola for 2008 City Council

The Sentinels have endorsed Joyce Starosciak for the San Leandro City Council District 4 seat, Charles Gilcrest for District 2, and Jim Prola for District 6. The endorsement of Gilcrest is no surprise since he has been a member of The Sentinels since 2001. More surprising is the endorsement of Prola, who has also been endorsed by the Alameda County Central Labor Council and has been quite active in unions. Philip Daly also received the group's endorsement for District 9 Alameda County Superior Court Judge. The endorsements come with a $1,000 contribution to each of the endorsed candidates.

The Sentinels are a local group of mostly business people that meet on a regular basis and contribute money to candidates that they decide to support. For more information, see Who are The Sentinels?

Only three of the candidates for the District 6 City Council race were interviewed at the group's meeting on April 9, 2008: Jim Prola, Hermy Almonte, and Estelle Clemons. When asked about her absence from the meeting, Wafaa Aborashed said that she had not been invited. Philip Daly, a candidate for Alameda County judge was also interviewed at the same meeting. District 2 City Council candidates Linda Perry, Ursula Reed, and Charles Gilcrest and District 4 City Council candidate Joyce Starosciak were interviewed at an earlier meeting in March 2008.

Democrats Endorse Prola and Starosciak

The Democratic Party endorsed San Leandro City Council candidates Joyce Starosciak (District 4) and Jim Prola (District 6) at its meeting on April 2, 2008. According to the Alameda County Democratic Party web site, the endorsements are "an effort to encourage and support good local candidates." Although the City Council is non-partisan, former City Councilmembers such as Johan Klehs and Ellen Corbett have subsequently been elected to the California State Assembly and Senate.

As with the Alameda County Central Labor Council, there was no endorsement in the District 2 City Council race, where Linda Perry, Ursula Reed, and Charlie Gilcrest are competing. Perry is a member of the Alameda County Democratic Party Central Committee for the 18th Assembly District, which makes the endorsements under authority granted by the by the California Democratic Party. The Democrats will meet again and attempt to reach an agreement on an endorsement in the Distict 2 City Council race.

In 2004, the Democratic Party endorsed Surlene Grant in District 2, Joyce Starosciak in District 4, and Tony Santos in District 6.

City Council Candidate Forum on Friday, April 4, 2008

On June 3, 2008, San Leandro will elect City Councilmembers for District 2, District 4, and District 6. The San Leandro Community Action Network (SLCAN) will hold a candidate forum on April 4, 2008, featuring all 10 candidates vying for the three City Council seats. The forum is being held with the support of the Hayward Democratic Club.

Questions from audience members for the candidates will be asked by a moderator. There will be note cards on which audience members can submit questions or they can be emailed in advance to elist@slcan.org.

Surlene Grant, the current District 2 City Councilmember is being termed out after serving two consecutive terms. Current District 4 City Councilmember Joyce Starosciak is running for re-election, as is District 6 City Councilmember Jim Prola, who was appointed to replace Tony Santos in February 2007.
All of the candidates, except for Wafaa Aborashed, have answered a list of 29 questions prepared by SLCAN and the answers are posted on the SLCAN web site:

District 2
Charles Gilcrest
Linda Perry
Ursula Reed

District 4
Lou Filipovich
Joyce Starosciak

District 6
Wafaa Aborashed
Hermy Almonte
Estelle Clemons
Jim Prola
Mark Tichy

The forum will be held in the multi-purpose room of McKinley Elementary School from 6:30 to 9:30pm on April 4, 2008. McKinley Elementary is located at 2150 E. 14th Street in San Leandro.

Nardine Not the Only Appointee With Problematic Attendance

As detailed previously, Marcene Nardine was removed from the San Leandro Planning Commission on March 3, 2008. According to City Spokeswoman Jane McCrea in the Daily Review, Nardine was removed because she had missed five of the 12 Planning Commission meetings since she was appointed by Mayor Tony Santos in March 2007.

According to the section on Boards and Commissions in the City Council Handbook, commissioners are required to attend not less than 75% of all regular meetings. Nardine's attendance record was 58%.

In her defense, Nardine stated that she knew that other commissioners have missed meetings as well. But during the same time period, no other Planning Commissioner missed more than three meetings, which is equivalent to an attendance rate of 75%.

On the Board of Zoning Adjustments, Melody Marr, who represents District 2, has missed nine out of 21 meetings held since January 2007, or an attendance rate of 52%, well below the 75% attendance rate required of commissioners and board members. However, attendance records are reviewed annually by the City Council in June for the previous 12 months from June 1 to May 31, and during this time from 2006 to 2007, Marr's attendance rate was 81%. When asked about Marr's subsequent attendance rate, District 2 Councilmember Surlene Grant said that she did make a previous attempt to replace Marr, but the applicant for the position withdrew, so Grant reappointed Marr, and no one else has applied for the position.

Fellow BZA member Amanda Goldt, who represents District 6, missed three meetings in a row from March to May 2007. The City Council Handbook states, "Failure by a member to attend three consecutive regular meetings of a board or commission will be cause for Council declaring the member’s position vacant." However that wasn't done, likely in part to Councilmember Jim Prola having just been appointed to the City Council in February 2007. When asked about Goldt's attendance, Prola said that he wasn't familiar with the attendance policy at the time, but noted that Goldt has had a good attendance record since then.

Each Councilmember and the Mayor can appoint one person each to the Board of Zoning Adjustments and the Planning Commission. These commissioners and board members serve at the pleasure of the Councilmembers and Mayor and can be removed, in theory, at any time. Whether or not a commissioner or board member is removed depends on a number of factors, including whether the Councilmember or Mayor is vigilant and whether there are applicants that could replace the commissioner or board member.

Councilmembers frequently complain about the lack of applicants for these appointments, which is partly why some commissioners have served for more than 20 years. If you are interested in serving the City of San Leandro, descriptions of these boards and commissions and an application to be appointed to them are available here.

City Council Incumbents Have Campaign Cash Lead for 2008 Election

The first of two semi-annual campaign finance disclosures for candidates running in the June 3, 2008, election for San Leandro City Council were due on March 24, 2008. District 6 incumbent Jim Prola was the top fundraiser with $7,849 and the top spender at $5,698.37 for the filing period, which covers from January 1, 2008, to March 17, 2008. Incumbents Prola and Joyce Starosciak had the largest campaign accounts with $12,214.25 and $10,876, respectively, at the end of the filing period.

Inexperience reveals itself in some of the campaign filings, with District 6 candidate Hermy Almonte failing to include his identification number (1305198) on any of his paperwork. Almonte and District 2 candidate Ursula Reed also listed the name, address, and employment information for people who contributed less than $100, despite no requirement to do so. Contributors to political campaigns frequently give less than $100 in order to avoid disclosure of their name and political preferences.

District 2

During the filing period, Charles Gilcrest spent $2,569, including expenditures of $1,200 for his ballot statement, $924 for an advertisement in the San Leandro Times, and $162 to AT&T for campaign phones. Gilcrest raised $7,274, including contributions of $1,000 from Eden Realty and $500 from Galvan & Associates. Gilcrest loaned his campaign $5,000 and James Christopher Gray, the Chief of Staff for Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty, loaned Gilcrest's campaign $250. As of March 17, 2008, Gilcrest had $4,705 in his campaign account.

Gilcrest's Campaign Statement for January 1 to March 17, 2008.

Linda Perry spent $1,200 during the filing period for her ballot statement. Perry raised $1,350, including a loan of $1,200 from herself to her campaign and a contribution of $100 from San Leandro School Board Trustee Ray Davis. As of March 17, 2008, Perry had $150 in her campaign account.

Perry's Campaign Statement for January 1 to March 17, 2008.

Ursula Reed reported no expenditures during the filing period, despite the $1,200 required for her ballot statement. Candidates are permitted to use their personal funds to pay for a ballot statement. Reed raised a total of $5,230, including a loan of $3,000 from her fiance Terrell Santiago and contributions of $500 each from Rodney Reed and Vernell Reed, and $200 from David Lozada. Former San Leandro Unified School District Assistant Superintendent of Business Leon Glaster (now at Oakland Unified) and District 6 candidate Estelle Clemons also contributed to Reed's campaign. As of March 17, 2008, Reed had $5,230 in her campaign account.

Reed's Campaign Statement for January 1 to March 17, 2008.

District 4

Incumbent Joyce Starosciak spent $1,625 during the filing period, including $1,200 for her ballot statement, $200 to CITIPAC, a political action committee of the League of California Cities, $150 to UnityPAC for a fundraising event, $100 to the Lighthouse Community Center for a fundraising event, and a $100 civic donation to the Bancroft PTA. Starosciak raised a total of $300, including $250 from Eden Realty. As of March 17, 2008, Starosciak had $10,876 in her campaign account.

Starosciak's Campaign Statement for January 1 to March 17, 2008.

Starosciak's sole opponent, Lou Filipovich does not plan to spend or raise any money for his campaign. Filipovich is also running as the sole Republican for the State Assembly.

Paul Gonzales notified the San Leandro City Clerk on March 24, 2008, of his desire to withdraw from the race, but it's unclear whether he will be able to remove his name from the ballot.

District 6

Wafaa Aborashed didn't spend or raise any money during the filing period. Aborashed had $2,043.56 in her campaign account as of March 17, 2008.

Aborashed's Campaign Statement for January 1 to March 17, 2008.

Hermy Almonte spent $1,200 during the filing period for his ballot statement. Almonte raised a total of $1,455, including a loan of $1,300 from Paraluman Almonte and contributions from Annette Herce and Ireneo Sy Su. As of March 17, 2008, Almonte had $255 in his campaign account.

Almonte's Campaign Statement for January 1 to March 17, 2008.

Estelle Clemons spent $1,200 during the filing period for her ballot statement. Clemons raised a total of $4,750, including a loan of $4,000 from herself to her campaign and contributions of $500 from Jessica Bartholow and $250 from Gilda Gonzales. As of March 17, 2008, Clemons had $3,550 in her campaign account.

Clemons' Campaign Statement for January 1 to March 17, 2008.

Incumbent Jim Prola spent a total $5,698.37 during the filing period, including $1,750 to Alliance Campaign Strategies for campaign consulting, $1,644 to Golden Gate Litho for campaign literature, $1,200 for a ballot statement, $671.62 to Wedges for a campaign fundraiser, and $282.75 to In & Out Printing for campaign literature. Prola raised $7,849, including contributions of $1,000 each from AC Transit AFSCME Local 3916 and the Teamsters, $500 each from the Amalgamated Transit Union, Electrical Workers Local 595 PAC, and former San Leandro City Councilmember Laython "Judge" Landis, $350 from Local 342 PAC, and $250 each from Peter Hendley, East Bay Automotive Machinists Local 1546, Tom Silva of Eden Realty, John Manuel, and Harry Walters III. As of March 17, 2008, Prola had $12,214.25 in his campaign account.

Prola's Campaign Statement for January 1 to March 17, 2008.

Mark Tichy has requested a waiver of the estimated $1,200 cost for the ballot statement and he is not expected to raise or spend or any money for his campaign.

Paul Gonzales Withdraws from Race for District 4 City Council Seat

Paul Gonzales, a candidate for the District 4 City Council seat, formally withdrew from the race on Monday, March 24, 2008. Gonzales expressed disappointment about withdrawing from the race, citing possible issues with the Hatch Act, which regulates the political activities of government employees. Gonzales is a Human Resources Staffing Director at the General Services Adminstration, a federal agency.

With Gonzales out, that leaves incumbent Joyce Starosciak to face perennial candidate Lou Filipovich in the June 3, 2008, election. In 2004, Starosciak prevailed against Filipovich and challenger Mike Mahoney, with Filipovich earning 12.3 percent of the vote.

San Leandro City Council Candidate Web Sites for June 2008

Seven of the candidates for San Leandro City Council in 2008 have registered domain names for their campaign web sites. However, only Jim Prola, Joyce Starosciak, and Estelle Clemons have any content so far, so if you want more information about most of the candidates, you'll have to wait.

District 2:

• Linda Perry - http://www.lindaperry4council.com/


• Ursula Reed - http://www.reedforsanleandro.com/


• Charles Gilcrest - http://www.gilcrestforcouncil.com/

District 4:

• Joyce Starosciak - http://www.electjoyce.org/

District 6:

• Jim Prola - http://www.jimprola.com/
• Wafaa Aborashed - http://www.wafaa4sanleandro.us/
• Hermy Almonte - http://www.friendsofhermy.net
• Estelle Clemons - http://electestelleclemons.com/

Ballot Statements for District 4 Candidates June 2008

San Leandro City Council candidates for District 4 Paul Gonzales and Joyce Starosciak submitted statements that will appear in printed material for the June 3, 2008, election. Lou Filipovich did not submit a candidate statement. San Leandro Bytes scanned in copies obtained from the San Leandro City Clerk. Any typographical errors in the statements are likely from optical character recognition used to convert the statements to text.

See below for the complete statements for each candidate.

Paul Gonzales

My education and qualifications are: I received my Army Commission in 1981 and served on Active Duty until 2005, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. I returned to San Leandro in 2000 and noticed many changes, some good, some bad. My neighbors are concerned about the declining education of our School Districts and the rising crime. Citizens want to keep out the influx of juvenile delinquents in our community. Let's insist that developing parts of San Leandro follow through with demolitions to eliminate urban blight and make a decision on dredging the Marina, then make it happen. Our senior citizens want and deserve a safe and friendly environment and our young families deserve great schools and recreational activities that keep them here in San Leandro. I was on the Board of Directors for the First San Leandro Charter School and am on the Board of Directors for A.C.T. for Mental Health, San Jose. I have a BA in Political Science and a Masters in Public Administration. I will get results, bring fiscal responsibility and common sense decision making to the City Council. I am married and have 3 grown children and 1 Grandson. I would appreciate your vote and support on Election Day. Thank You.

---------------------------

Joyce Starosciak

My education and qualifications are: Graduation from San Leandro High School at the top of my class. I hold a BS in engineering with Honors from Harvey Mudd College and a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Georgia Tech. I've done my homework and am honored to serve you as the City of San Leandro District 4 Councilmember. In my time on the Council, the City has fully recovered from a $3M budget deficit, returning 8 police officer positions, Sunday Library hours, the Cherry Festival, and a fully funded reserve account.

In District 4, the City saw the opening of the Manor Branch Library and the San Leandro Family Aquatics Center at Washington Manor Park. Through my personal efforts, the Manor Branch Library received over $12,000 in private donations to fill the shelves with new books.

Over my term I have worked to improve communication in District 4 with an email news update, an annual Security Summit, and the revitalization of the Washington Manor Homeowners Association.

My vision for San Leandro includes a revitalized Marina Shoreline, improving public safety, attracting more business, and creating safe destinations for youth, seniors, residents and guests. Please cast your vote for Joyce Rutledge Starosciak, District 4 City Councilmember.

Ballot Statements for District 2 Candidates June 2008

San Leandro City Council candidates for District 2 Charles Gilcrest, Linda Perry, and Ursula Reed all submitted statements that will appear in printed material for the June 3, 2008, election. San Leandro Bytes scanned in copies obtained from the San Leandro City Clerk. Any typographical errors in the statements are likely from errors in optical character recognition used to convert the statements to text.

See below for the complete statements for each candidate.

Charles Gilcrest

I am seeking the opportunity to work for you to help create a better future for San Leandro. I was born and raised here, and deeply care about our city. We need to fix our roads. Too often neighborhood streets are ignored, while pavements continue to deteriorate. Together we can create a safer community. More Neighborhood Watch, but also better and interactive crime updates, more community policing, enhanced real-time communication with neighboring forces, and comparable staffing ratios. Downtown BART parking should be increased, not decreased, as we build the Transit Oriented Development. We need to complete the Senior Center and Aquatics Center, and expand Transit to reduce traffic. We need to attract and support new and local business, create a stable and self-sustaining Shoreline and Marina, and Partner with the Schools, improving both Education and Recreational Opportunities. My service on the Halcyon-Foothill Neighborhood Association Board, San Leandro's Board of Zoning Adjustments and Redevelopment Advisory Committee, SLUSD Bond Oversight Committee, Chamber Board, Davis Street Volunteer, and formerly Human Services Commissioner prepared me to serve as your Councilmember, so I can help make our City a better home for us all. Please vote Charles Gilcrest for City Council District 2. Thank You.

Linda Perry

My education and qualifications are: involvement, experience, leadership and vision. I know the job. I was Councilmember and Vice-Mayor from 1988-1996, representing San Leandro on numerous local and regional committees. I have been involved in improving San Leandro for 39 years, appointed to the first San Leandro Youth Advisory Committee at age 16.

As a graduate of San Leandro High and California State University, Hayward, I value education. First elected in 1996, I currently serve on the San Leandro Unified School Board and Alameda County School Boards Association. I see first-hand the diverse needs of our young families and children not being addressed by the City.

As Halcyon-Foothill Neighborhood Association President, I am a vocal advocate for my neighborhood. I served on the South Area Corridor and Downtown Plan Committees. Upcoming District issues include Bayfair Center expansion; BART Transit-Oriented Development; Senior Center; San Leandro Hospital's future; 9th Grade Campus; 580 soundwalls. I will demand neighborhood input.

My priorities are economic development and jobs; working closely with schools; expanding public safety; affordable housing; neighborhood vitality; quality of life: childcare, available healthcare, senior needs, green space, recreation opportunities; transportation; fixing infrastructure; and government responsiveness. Visit lindaperry4council.com/.

Together we can make a better San Leandro. I ask for your support.

Ursula Reed

My education and qualifications are:

I will bring a fresh voice to the San Leandro City Council. I respectfully ask for your vote because I believe in the future of our city and I've worked hard to achieve the qualifications, knowledge and abilities to make San Leandro better.

As an educator and former school principal, I know how to work with people to accomplish mutual goals. I listen. I bring diverse points of view together to achieve consensus and solve problems. I know how to bring out the best in people.

I do not have a hidden or political agenda. I am running for the City Council because I want to make our city a better place to live for my young son, my family and our neighbors.

I plan to focus on helping our police department prevent and fight crime, keeping fees and taxes low, working for community-oriented economic development, providing increased services for youth and seniors, and helping improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods.

Your vote for me will add a fresh and new voice to our civic deliberations.

I pledge to serve with honesty, integrity and a commitment to quality public service.

I would be honored to have your support.

www.ReedforSanLeandro.com

Financial Disclosure for 2008 City Council Candidates

At the end of the filing period on March 7, 2008, there were 11 candidates for three City Council seats: Three each in Districts 2 and 4, and five in District 6. Each of these candidates submitted a Statement of Economic Interests, which lists their personal economic interests. This form is required so that elected officials can disqualify themselves from making decisions that may affect their own economic interests.

Here are the Statement of Economic Interests for each of the 2008 City Council candidates:

• Charles Gilcrest, District 2 candidate
• Linda Perry, District 2 candidate
• Ursula Reed, District 2 candidate
• Lou Filipovich, District 4 candidate
• Paul Gonzales, District 4 candidate
• Joyce Starosciak, District 4 candidate
• Wafaa Aborashed, District 6 candidate
• Hermy Almonte, District 6 candidate
• Estelle Clemons, District 6 candidate
• Jim Prola, District 6 candidate
• Mark Tichy, District 6 candidate

The only item of note seems to be Tichy's failure to list his business, the Chicago Blues Cafe, as a business entity or trust on Schedule A-2, as Starosciak did for her business, Starotech.

Labor Endorses Starosciak and Prola for San Leandro City Council

On March 4, 2008, the Alameda Labor Council announced that it endorses Joyce Starosciak and Jim Prola for San Leandro City Council in the June 3, 2008, election. Starosciak is the incumbent running in District 4 and Prola is the incumbent running in District 6. No endorsement was made for District 2, where Charles Gilcrest, Linda Perry and Ursula Reed are competing for the City Council seat held by Surlene Grant, who will be termed out this year.

Starosciak was the first to officially qualify as a candidate on February 28, 2008. As of March 4, 2008, District 6 candidate Hermy Almonte was the only other candidate to qualify as a candidate. The deadline for filing nomination papers is March 7, 2008.

Tichy Brings District 6 City Council Race to Five

The field for the San Leandro District 6 City Council seat appears to have grown by one as perennial candidate Mark Tichy pulled papers for the seat on February 25, 2008.

Tichy was one of 12 applicants for the appointment to the District 6 City Council seat when Tony Santos was elected Mayor in November 2006. Despite Tichy's assertion at the February 5, 2007, City Council meeting that he was "here to claim this seat as is my right," he was not one of the six finalists interviewed by the City Council. Tichy ran for the seat unsuccessfully in 1996, 2000, and 2004. Tichy also lost his run for Mayor of San Leandro and a seat on the San Leandro School Board in 2002.

Other candidates who aspire to represent District 6 on the City Council include incumbent Jim Prola, Wafaa Aborashed, Estelle Clemons, and Hermy Almonte.

Prola was appointed to the District 6 City Council seat in February 2007 after Tony Santos cut short his term as Councilmember to become Mayor of San Leandro.

The filing period for candidates ends on March 7, 2008.

District 4 Race Gets Two Challengers

On February 21, 2008, Paul Gonzales pulled papers to run for the District 4 City Council seat currently held by Joyce Starosciak. The following day, perennial candidate Lou Filipovich also pulled papers for the District 4 seat. Filipovich has been a candidate for this seat in every election since 1992 and also runs for Mayor, the San Lorenzo School, the Oro Loma Sanitary District, and even the California State Senate. In 2006, Filipovich edged out Laura Riffle to become the Republican nominee for the California State Senate, which he lost to former San Leandro Mayor Ellen Corbett.

Starociak was elected in 2005 after a run-off with Mike Mahoney and is running for re-election.

The filing period for candidates ends on March 7, 2008.

2008 City Council Race Update

On the first day of the filing period, February 11, 2008, incumbent Jim Prola and challenger Estelle Clemons pulled papers for the District 6 City Council seat. In District 2, San Leandro School Board Trustee Linda Perry and Library-Historical Commissioner Ursula Reed pulled papers.

District 4 incumbent Joyce Starosciak, District 6 challengers Wafaa Aborashed and Hermy Almonte, and District 2 challenger Charles Gilcrest pulled papers on February 13, 2008.

Candidates must file their completed papers by March 7, 2008.

District 6 Race Grows to Four Possible Candidates

Estelle Clemons took the first step towards running for the District 6 City Council seat currently held by Jim Prola by filing a Candidate Intention Statement today. The Candidate Intention Statement is needed before Clemons can begin fundraising or paying candidate-related expenses. A quick phone call confirmed that Clemons is throwing her hat in the ring.

Clemons manages the Community Action Agency with the City of Oakland and competed against Prola in early 2007 for the appointment to the District 6 seat vacated when Tony Santos was elected Mayor. In that process, Clemons was one of six candidates interviewed for the appointment and she was one of the final four candidates. All six candidates who were interviewed said that they would run for the District 6 City Council seat in a contested election. So far, only three of those have taken steps towards becoming candidates.

Clemons joins incumbent Jim Prola, Hermy Almonte, and Wafaa Aborashed as the list of potential candidates for the District 6 City Council seat grows. The filing period begins on February 11, 2008 and closes on March 7, 2008. The election will be held on June 3, 2008.

Councilmember Starosciak Top Fundraiser in Second Half of 2007

The latest campaign finance disclosures were filed yesterday by candidates for the period from July 1 to December 31, 2007. Councilmember Joyce Starosciak was the top fundraiser with $14,405, followed by Councilmember Jim Prola with $10,100, and Mayor Tony Santos with $5,341. Starosciak is running for re-election to the District 2 City Council seat and Prola is running for the District 6 City Council seat to which he was appointed in February 2007. Santos is still paying off debt from his 2006 Mayoral campaign.

Prola had $10,063 in campaign funds as of December 31, 2007. Prola raised $10,100 and spent $36 during the reporting period. Significant contributions included $8,000 in loans to himself, $1,000 from the Northern California Carpenters Regional Council and $500 each from the International Union Painters and Allied Trades and the District Council of Iron Workers. Click here to see Prola's complete campaign finance disclosures for this period.

Wafaa Aborashed, a candidate for the District 6 City Council seat, had $2,043 in campaign funds at the end of 2007. Aborashed reported no contributions or expenses for the reporting period. Click here to see Aborashed's complete campaign finance disclosures for this period.

Starosciak had $12,201 in campaign funds as of December 31, 2007. Starosciak raised $14,405 and spent $3,027 during the reporting period. Significant contributions included $500 each from Laython "Judge" Landis, JB East Bay Development Corporation, Vasona Management, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 595, Galvan & Associates, Sprinkler Fitters Local 483, United Food & Commercial Workers Local 5, Tom Dlugosh, Deputy Sheriffs Association, the Teamster DRIVE Committee, and the California Real Estate Political Action Committee. Significant expenses included $1,532 to the Hilton Garden Inn for a fundraising event and $375 to Project Literacy for the Trivia Bee. Click here to see Starosciak's complete campaign finance disclosures for this period.

Santos reported $4,815 in campaign funds at the end of 2007. Santos raised $5,341 and spent $3,460 during the reporting period. Santos received contributions of $500 each from The Sentinels, Eden Realty, Gordon Galvan, Kent Myers, Bob Molinaro, and the Teamsters Campaign Committee. Expenditures included $2,100 for campaign consulting and $400 for a fundraising event to Charles Gilcrest, and $200 each to the Alameda County Labour Council for a candidate dinner and the United Democratic Election Committee for a dinner. Click here to see Santos' complete campaign finance disclosures for this period.

District 1 Councilmember Michael Gregory reported $1,613 in campaign funds as of December 31, 2007. Gregory reported no contributions and $50 in expenses for the reporting period. Click here to see Gregory's complete campaign finance disclosures for this period.

Bill Stephens, who is serving his last term as Councilmember for District 5, had $3,302 in his campaign account as of December 31, 2007, and received no contributions during the reporting period. Stephens spent $1,600 on "candidate" travel, $1,500 of which was to the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce for a visit to Yangchun, China. Click here to see Stephens' complete campaign finance disclosures for this period.

Surlene Grant, who will be termed out of her District 2 City Council seat this year, had $2,329 in campaign funds at the end of 2007. Grant reported no contributions and $41 in expenses for the reporting period. Click here to see Grant's complete campaign finance disclosures for this period.

Former Mayor Shelia Young had $11,174 in campaign funds as of December 31, 2007. Young reported no contributions and $715 in expenses during the reporting period. Expenses included contributions of $200 to Meals on Meals and $125 to the Chabot College Foundation and $140 to J&P Video Productions for photographic services. Click here to see Young's complete campaign finance disclosures for this period.

Ursula Reed Enters the Race for the District 2 City Council Seat

On January 24, 2008, Ursula Reed submitted paperwork to the San Leandro City Clerk indicating her intention to run for the District 2 City Council seat currently held by Surlene Grant. Grant is being termed out after nearly 10 years in office.

Although the filing period doesn't open until February 11, 2008, the Candidate Intention Statement (FPPC Form 501) is needed before a candidate can begin fundraising.

Reed has been a member of the San Leandro Library-Historical Commission since February 2006 and works for the Oakland Unified School District as the Coordinator of the Truancy Attendance Program. Reed has also been a teacher and a principal at Markham Elementary in Hayward.

Other possible candidates include Board of Zoning Adjustments member Charles Gilcrest, who is already seeking endorsements, and San Leandro School Board Trustee, Linda Perry, who hasn't decided yet whether to enter the race.

Reed, Gilcrest, and Perry all attended a recent event for candidates, which seems to indicate there will be at least a three-way race for the District 2 City Council seat.

Want to Run for City Council?

At its January 22, 2008, meeting, the San Leandro City Council will vote on whether to hold the next election for City Council districts 2, 4, and 6 on June 3, 2008.

Since the item is on the Consent Calendar, it is considered routine, and will likely be passed and the election will be held on June 3, 2008. If you're considering whether to run, this is what you need to know. First, take a look at these maps and see if you live in District 2, District 4, or District 6. Not knowing which district you reside in is a mistake made by one of the candidates in the 2006 election.

Second, if the election is held on June 3, 2008, the filing period begins on February 11, 2008, and ends on March 7, 2008. If an eligible incumbent fails to file nomination papers by the end of the filing period, the nomination period will be extended by five days until March 14, 2008. For District 2, there is no eligible incumbent, so the nomination period cannot be extended.

Third, any candidate who wants to run for the City Council must have been residing in the district for 30 days prior to filing their nomination papers. The candidate must also submit the signatures of 20 registered voters who reside in the district. Most candidates submit more than 20 signatures, because some are invalidated upon review by the City Clerk and Alameda County Registrar of Voters.

Each of the candidates will also be permitted an optional candidate statement, probably about 200 words long. In 2006, the filing fee was $900 for City Council candidates.

Until instant runoff voting (IRV) becomes a reality, City Council candidates face the possibility of run-off elections when no candidate receives greater than 50% of the votes. This occurred most recently in 2006, when Mayoral candidates Tony Santos and Orval "OB" Badger faced a runoff election.

Lastly, remember that although City Council candidates must reside in a specific district, the entire City of San Leandro votes for a candidate from each district.

Update: On January 22, 2008, the City Council decided to hold the election on June 3, 2008, and a runoff election, if needed, will be held on November 4, 2008.

Jim Prola Files to Run For District 6 Council Seat

District 6 City Councilmember Jim Prola filed his Candidate Intention Statement on November 15, 2007, with the San Leandro City Clerk. Last month, Hermy Almonte filed his Candidate Intention Statement to run for District 6 City Council. Filing of the Candidate Intention Statement is required before raising or spending any money for an election.

Prola was appointed to the City Council in February 2007 after Tony Santos was elected as Mayor of San Leandro in November 2006. Prola was selected from a field of 12 applicants, half of whom were interviewed for the position. Prola's application can be seen here.

Election day is June 8, 2008, just seven and a half months away. Expect more of these filings in the upcoming months.

Hermy Almonte Enters Race for District 6 Council Seat

Hermy Almonte has taken the first step to compete for the San Leandro City Council District 6 seat currently held by Jim Prola. Almonte recently filed a Candidate Intention Statement (Form 501) with the San Leandro City Clerk, which is required before raising or spending any money for the election.

Almonte previously submitted an application in January 2007 seeking the appointment to the District 6 seat. During that process, twelve people applied for the appointment and Almonte was not among the six candidates selected to be interviewed by the City Council.

Elizabeth Edwards to visit San Leandro's George Mark Children's House

Elizabeth Edwards, the wife of Democratic Presidential candidate John Edwards, will be the featured speaker at the Fourth Annual Autumn Celebration at George Mark Children's House on September 29, 2007. Edwards lost her son when was 16 years old.

The celebration features a cocktail reception, tours of the House, a three-course meal from Napa’s Melissa Teaff, and a silent auction.

According to its website, George Mark Children's House is the "First children's hospice house in the US providing medical, emotional and practical support to families with children that have life-threatening and terminal illnesses."

The Fourth Annual Autumn Celebration will be held from 5pm to 9pm on September 29, 2007. George Mark Children's House is located at 2121 George Mark Lane in San Leandro.

The Race for 2008 City Council Begins

In the latest campaign finance disclosures by local candidates, Councilmember Joyce Starosciak appears to be gearing up for a re-election campaign in 2008. Starosciak has raised more than $4,000, nearly a year before the June 2008 election. Former Mayor Shelia Young's expenditures seem to indicate she's going to run again in 2008 as well. Young was termed out of office in 2006 and ran unsuccessfully for Alameda County Supervisor. The current Councilmember for Young's district, Surlene Grant, will be termed out and cannot run for re-election in 2008. Councilmember Jim Prola, who was appointed in February 2007, is expected to seek re-election.

During the first six months of 2007, Starosciak spent $636, including expenditures of $120 to CITIPAC, a political action committee of the League of California Cities, and $100 to the California List, a political fundraising network to elect pro-choice women to California state government. Starosciak also raised $4,430, including contributions of $1,000 from the Northern California Carpenters Regional Council and $500 each from Madison Marquette (owner of Bayfair Center), Eden Realty, Quadric Group, and United Association Local Union 342. As of June 30, 2007, Starosciak had $4,617 in her campaign account.

Starosciak's Campaign Statement for January 1 to June 30, 2007.

Mayor Tony Santos spent $7,469 during the first six months of 2007, including expenditures of $6,500 to Charles Gilcrest and $270 to the Central Labor Council for its annual dinner. Santos also raised $8,856, including contributions of $1,000 from the Rental Housing Owners Association and $500 each from Tom Silva of Eden Realty, Applied Fusion, Eden Realty, Madison Marquette, Quadric Group, The Sentinels, and Sheet Metal Workers Local 104. As of June 30, 2007, Santos had $3,934 in his campaign account and more than $25,000 in outstanding campaign debt.

Santos' Campaign Statement for January 1 to June 30, 2007.

Councilmember Bill Stephens spent $795 during the first six months of 2007, including expenditures of $200 to the San Leandro Boys and Girls Club, $150 to the San Leandro Scholarship Foundation, and $150 to the California State University East Bay Education Foundation. Despite not raising any money so far this year, Stephens still has $4,977 in his campaign account. Stephens' current term expires in 2010 and he cannot run for re-election because of term limits.

Stephens' Campaign Statement for January 1 to June 30, 2007.

Councilmember Surlene Grant spent $175 on postage for a Business Association of South San Leandro mailing but didn't raise any money during the first six months of 2007. As of June 30, 2007, Grant had $2,370 in her campaign account. Grant's current term expires in 2008 and she cannot run for re-election because of term limits.

Grant's Campaign Statement for January 1 to June 30, 2007.

Councilmember Michael Gregory didn't spend or raise any money during the first six months of 2007. Gregory had $1,663 in his campaign account and $7,222 in outstanding campaign debt.

Gregory's Campaign Statement for January 1 to June 30, 2007.

Councilmember Diana Souza spent $388 during the first six months of 2007, including an expenditure of $104 to the Washington Manor Swim Team. Souza didn't raise any money and terminated her campaign account as of July 10, 2007, with almost $8,500 in outstanding campaign debt.

Souza's Campaign Statement for January 1 to June 30, 2007.

Julian Polvorosa, Souza's opponent in 2006, had no expenditures or contributions during the first six months of 2007 and as of June 30, 2007, had $17 in his campaign account. With this amount of money in his account, Polvorosa is likely to close his campaign account by the end of the year.

Polvorosa's Campaign Statement for January 1 to June 30, 2007.

Former Mayor Shelia Young spent $560 during the first six months of the year, including $300 to Patrick Tracy for photographic services and $120 to the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce for annual dues. As of June 30, 2007, Young had $11,889 in her campaign account.

Young's Campaign Statement for January 1 to June 30, 2007.

Financial disclosures for former City Councilmember Orval "OB" Badger weren't available but The Sentinels reported contributing $500 to his campaign during the first half of 2007.

Who are The Sentinels?

The oldest recipient committee (similar to a political action committee) in San Leandro is a group called The Sentinels (ID #782563) that most local residents know little or nothing about. The Sentinels are largely a group that exists to exert its influence on local politics by contributing financially to political campaigns.

While the name of the group may seem somewhat ominous, it was formed in October 1978 by former San Leandro Mayors Jack Maltester, John Faria (Faria Bros. ACE Hardware), and others as a way to be politically active and influential after Maltester was forced out of office by term limits.

It is just one of a number of similar groups that are focused on San Leandro politics. Other active groups include the Political Action Committee for Excellence (P.A.C.E.), San Leandro Teachers Advocating New Directions (S.T.A.N.D.), and Citizens for San Leandro Schools.

Until recently, The Sentinels were probably one of the most influential political groups in San Leandro. For example, after Gordon Galvan, a member of The Sentinels, resigned from the City Council in June 2001, the final choices to replace him were Orval 'OB' Badger and Dale Reed, both members of The Sentinels. OB Badger was appointed to replace Galvan by a vote of five to one. Although it remains one of the single largest sources of local campaign contributions, many of the candidates it endorsed in 2006 failed to win, including Shelia Young, OB Badger, Jill Buck, Julian Polvorosa, and Pete Lismer. Its $4,000 contribution to Julian Polvorosa's 2006 City Council campaign and $2,000 contribution to Pete Lismer's 2006 School Board campaign were the largest contributions to each campaign.

Pat Raposo of Broadmoor Electric appears to have been the first female member of The Sentinels in 1998, based on records reviewed at the Alameda County Registrar of Voters.

Those same records indicate that each member of The Sentinels contributes $125 per quarter or $500 per year to the group. All of the group's funds appear to come from member dues, although Pacific Union Ventures contributed $1,000 to the group on one occasion in 1998. Meetings are held at Vila Cereja restaurant (formerly Jake's Lion). Some of the group's meetings have included speakers such as Chronicle columnist Phil Matier, former Alameda County Sheriff Charles Plummer and Alameda County Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker.

Despite attending meetings of The Sentinels and being listed as a member in a City of San Leandro press release, former San Leandro Chamber of Commerce CEO Heidi Finberg hasn't been listed on the group's financial disclosures since 2001. Current CEO Diana Gentry does not appear in any of the group's financial disclosures.

During each election cycle, The Sentinels invite each candidate for contested local offices to a meeting where the members can ask questions and the candidate has an opportunity to make their case for The Sentinels' endorsement and financial support. During the June 6, 2006, election, The Sentinels contributed $2,500 to Sheila Young for District 3 County Supervisor, $2,000 each to Tony Santos and Orval "OB" Badger for San Leandro Mayor, and $1,500 to Michael Gregory for District 1 City Council. During the November 2006 election, The Sentinels contributed $4,000 to Julian Polvorosa for District 3 City Council, $2,000 to Jill Buck for the California State Assembly, $2,000 to Pete Lismer for San Leandro School Board, and $1,000 to Measure B, the school facilities bond. After the election, The Sentinels contributed $500 to help OB Badger and Tony Santos to pay down their campaign debts. As of June 30, 2007, The Sentinels had more than $26,000 in their account.

The members of The Sentinels consist of mainly former elected officials and business people. Approximately 75% of the members are San Leandro residents. Former mayoral candidate OB Badger was a member of The Sentinels until he was appointed to the City Council in 2001. Badger attended meetings as an honorary member while he was on the City Council. The most recent financial disclosures for the group are from October 1 to December 31, 2006 and January 1 to June 30, 2007. Members of the group were determined from these most recent financial disclosures and are listed below:

• Mike Betts, President of Betts Spring Co. and a member of the 2006 Board of the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce.
• George Bischalaney, CEO of Eden Medical Center
• Burt F. Boltuch, a lawyer who serves as VP of Legal Compliance for the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce.
• Robert Brannan, General Manager of Marina Mediavision, President of the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce, and a San Leandro Recreation and Parks Commissioner since 2005. Marina Mediavision is owned by Anthony Batarse.
• Charles Bray, a consultant
• David D. Davini, a CPA and treasurer for The Sentinels
• Henry P. Deadrich, owner of Deadrich Realty.
• Tom Dlugosh, owner of Dlugosh Cabinet. Dlugosh has also served on the San Leandro Planning Commission since 2005.
• John Faria, former San Leandro Mayor and former owner of Faria Bros. Ace Hardware. He ran unsuccessfully for the Board of the Oro Loma Sanitary District in 2006.
• Joe Flynn served on the Human Services Commission from 2001 until early 2007 and served as campaign manager for OB Badger's 2006 mayoral campaign.
• Gordon Galvan, President of San Leandro Transportation Management Organization and former San Leandro councilmember. Galvan has also worked as a lobbyist for Eastshore Energy a subsidiary of Tierra Energy, a Texas-based energy company that has been trying to site a power plant in Hayward.
• Charles Gilcrest, campaign consultant. Gilcrest is on the San Leandro Board of Zoning Adjustments and served on the Human Services Commission from 2002 until 2006. He is also a director for the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce and was Tony Santos' campaign manager.
• Dan Gray, co-owner of developer Gray & Reynolds
• William Howard, owner of Berkeley Asphalt/Ready Mix
• Robert Jones, owner of Robert Jones & Associates.
• Laython Landis, former San Leandro Councilmember, Ora Loma Sanitary District board member
• Don Lee, owner of San Leandro Electric Supply.
• Jack Maltester, former San Leandro Mayor
• Milton Murray, a self-employed engineer
• Ron Musgrove, owner of Applied Fusion
• Kent Myers, controller at D.W. Nicholson. Myers is a former San Leandro Councilmember. Myers has also served on the San Leandro Personnel Relations Board since 2001.
• Gary Naman, owner of Gans-Trans Trucking and former Port Captain for the Half Moon Bay Yacht Club
• Louie Pellegrini, Alameda County Industries
• Pat Raposo, owner of Broadmoor Electric. Her husband, Gil Raposo, served on the Board of Zoning Adjustments from 2001 until early 2007.
• Dale Reed, owner of Acme Scale. Reed has also served on the San Leandro Planning Commission since 1987. He is part of the Executive Board of the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce. His wife has served on the Library-Historical Commission since 1986.
• Jon Reynolds, co-owner of Reynolds & Brown
• Robert Smith, a consultant
• Dan Walters, Copper Harbor and Past President of the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce.

Former members, based on the group's filings dating back to 1997, include:

• Jeff Abramson, a project manager with Pacific Union Ventures


• Herman Alexander, Santos Linguisa


• Orval Badger, former member of the San Leandro City Council


• Joseph Bellini


• William Biggs


• Leland Bruner, owner of Bruner & Nash


• John Chovanes, former owner of Chovanes Ford


• Gerald Cockrill, owner of Cockrill & Low


• Ed Cryer, Manager at Peterson Tractor


• Timothy Dam, President of Saags Products


• Bob DeBorba, Cooper & Cook


• Frank Denevi, Denevi Cameras


• Oliver DeSilva


• Bill Dobert, Treasurer of San Leandro Disposal


• Heidi Finberg, San Leandro Planning Commissioner and former CEO of San Leandro Chamber of Commerce. Finberg pulled papers in 2002 to run for City Council against Bill Stephens and in 2006 to run for the School Board against Pauline Cutter, but in both races did not complete the paperwork to become a candidate.


• Richard Gorkosky, Merritt Tire & Brake


• Donald Kane of Mark Container Corp.


• Richard Karn, Bissell & Karn


• J. Dudley Knapp


• Kati Knox, Owner/CEO Senior Assisted Living and Transportation and KMJ Associates


• Lawrence E. Martin, General Manager of Martin Land Co.


• Ben Moal of Ben Moal Investors


• Rene Moal


• Dale Munson, Manager at Peterson Tractor


• Ken Papierniak, Bridgeport Associates


• William Peluso, President of Pel-Mar, Inc.


• Meryl Pethan, Realtor


• Albert P. Russello, Pacific Electric Supply


• George Samson, Samson Construction


• Cliff Sherwood


• Joseph Smith


• James Strauch


• Karen Thompson, Project Manager for Pacific Union Ventures


• Terry Tinsley, self-employed with Howe Insurance


• Raymond Ward, Oakland Coliseum


• Gerald Wen, a manager for San Leandro Disposal


• Jim Wilburn, Sr., Orlando Homes, Inc.


• Jim Wilburn, Jr., Orlando Homes, Inc.


• Gil Zaballos, a general contractor and developer