Novato City Council Candidates’ Forum Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009
Five candidates are vying for two open seats on the Novato City Council, and the winners will be making key decisions about the future of Novato. To help the public get real answers on each candidate’s true priorities before the November 3 election, Sustainable Novato, the Novato Housing Coalition, and Greenbelt Alliance are sponsoring an informative forum on Thursday, September 17. The forum will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Novato Unified School District and will be broadcast live on Novato Public Access Television.
Instead of the standard panel, the new format seeks to elicit specific answers from each candidate to questions on a range of topics. Their responses will be clearly noted, holding them accountable for those promises in the future.
New format
“We’ve noticed at past forums that candidates use a lot of buzzwords they think the audience wants to hear, like ‘improve the economy,’ or ‘maintain our small-town character,’” said Whitney Merchant, Marin Field Representative for Greenbelt Alliance. “It isn’t until they are elected and making key decisions that we really find out where they stand on important issues.”
Candidates will receive questions from each of the cosponsoring organizations ahead of the forum, giving them adequate time to research each topic and prepare a response. Audience members will also have the opportunity to ask questions of the candidates, and a scribe will track each response on a flipchart for all to see.
The candidates, which includes one incumbent, two retirees, the President of the Downtown Novato Business Association, and the vice-chair of the Recreation, Cultural, and Community Services Commission for the City of Novato, will have the opportunity to share their platforms, answer the submitted questions, and respond to audience questions.
Key Election
“Novato’s City Council will have a major impact on how the city will develop over the next 20 years. We want to ensure candidates understand the issues that matter most to our members and allow the public to understand how candidates feel about the issues prior to the election,” said Katie Crecelius, President of the Novato Housing Coalition.
This is a critical time for Novato, which is undergoing a series of planning processes, including an update to the General Plan, an effort to revitalize the North Redwood Corridor, and a new housing element. Planning for the proposed SMART stations will also have to be addressed. With the local economy hurting and greenhouse gas emission levels rising, these processes are vital to Novato’s future.
“We believe the best vision for Novato’s future is to plan walkable communities located near high-quality transit options, with a vibrant mix of retail and services, homes that all can afford, and recreational gathering spots,” said John Schlag, President of Sustainable Novato. He added, “We are anxious to hear which candidates share our vision and how they plan to achieve it.”
Recorded Positions that candidates took at the Forum (click)