Some Barbs Tossed at Candidate Endorsement Forums

Some candidates took off the gloves Saturday afternoon in a mostly civil series of forums as an unusually large turnout showed up for the El Cerrito Democratic Club's endorsement meeting for local races.

After hearing from the contenders, club members voted and endorsed candidates for open board seats for Kensington's governing body, BART and AC Transit. They withheld endorsements from three incumbents, and gave endorsements to two incumbents and three newcomers.

The club also heard from the four candidates for the school board of the West Contra Costa Unified School District and endorsed only one, newcomer Todd Groves. (See the separate .)

The turnout of club members and other members of the public was the largest for an endorsement meeting in the club's history, said Hilary Crosby, past club president and current controller of the California Democratic Party. Current club President Scott Lyons estimated that about 150 people attended the gathering in the cafeteria at El Cerrito High School, compared to about 65 people two years ago.

Kensington Police Protection and Community Services District (KPPCSD), two seats

In the most heated race, with five candidates for two seats on the KPPCSD board, the club endorsed Chuck Toombs, the incumbent board president, and Patricia Gillette, a labor/employment lawyer who was running on a two-person slate with Toombs.

The vote was a setback for the other incumbent in the race, Cathie Kosel, a former El Cerrito mayor who has been allied with board member Mari Metcalf in clashes with Toombs and other board members over the township's and , who serves also as the district's general manager. 

The panel discussion Saturday, like some meetings of the KPPCSD, focused both on the issues and on the manner in which they should be discussed.

Kosel led off with a description of her efforts on the board, saying she's "asked tough questions" and been "persistent until we got answers. My questions have sometimes brought new and unsettling questions to light regarding a lack of adherence to standard accounting practices, inaccurate crime data reporting, high personnel attrition and finally a demand for accurate accounting of total compensation provided to our employees."

Speaking second was Gillette, who said she's "appalled at the lack of civility" on the board and that she's become concerned over "a couple of members of our district who seem to be doing everything possible to disrupt the business of the board and to undermine ties that bind our community... I see meetings that are hijacked and stalled by a couple of board members." She pledged to follow the law on protecting employee privacy rights in board personnel deliberations.

Third in line was retired teacher Jim Hausken who was loosely allied with Kosel and said he would work to end the "rancor and hostility" on the board. He called for an "objective" examination of the Kensington police department. "Rather than dealing with what they can do and should do, we have regarded them as heroes and saviors and worthy of commendation and constant praise."

Kim Zvik, who described herself as an "independent" candidate as well as an IT consultant and Hilltop Elementary School parent, said she can hear the "screaming" through the door when the board is having closed-door meetings. "This is unneccessary," she said. "... I am to committed to seeing that the board get along."

Toombs, who has been board president for more than three years, pointed to board accomplishments during his tenure, including maintenance of the parcel tax to pay for police services, a "fair" police contract, plans for future improvements, increased traffic safety measures and reasonable garbage rates. 

Toombs also took issue with Kosel about the township's long-standing garbage contract with Bay View Refuse, which asked for a rate hike in mid-contract. Toombs said the existing rates had been agreed to by both sides but that the board had offered to do a rate study, which he said Bay View Refuse turned down.

Kosel said Bay View, hit by the recession and an unexpectedly large customer switch to less expensive smaller garbage cans, was running in the red and that Kensington would not be able to receive service of equal quality from another company. She noted that Bay View has served Kensington for more than 60 years.

Hauskin noted the extra accommodations extended to Kensington customers, saying, "I do not believe there's another waste hauler in this state that would give us that service for the rates we are now being charged."

Gillette sided with Toombs, saying, "Contracts are contracts. ... We've done the right thing by going back and offering to renegotiate. He (the company owner) refused that offer."

After the panel discussion, 85 club members cast their votes. To win an endorsement, a candidate had to receive at least 60 percent. The results were:

• Toombs: 78 percent
• Gillette: 74 percent
• Hausken: 20 percent
• Kosel: 16 percent
• Zvik: 5 percent

BART, District 3, one seat 

All three candidates for the BART District 3 seat appeared on the panel, and winning the endorsement with an overwhelming 86 percent of the votes was environmental policy manager Rebecca Saltzman, who urged later trains and cited her endorsements from several local political leaders including state Senator Loni Hancock and Assemblymember Nancy Skinner.

Candidate Fred Lopez stressed the need to increase rider safety, and rail transit manager Anthony Pegram said he supports reliable service and more cooperation with AC Transit. No incumbent is running in the race.

After the panel, 49 club members cast votes:

• Saltzman: 86 percent
• Pegram: 8 percent
• Lopez: 2 percent

BART, District 7, one seat

Three of the four candidates for the BART District 7 seat appeared, and none won enough votes to receive an endorsement.

Incumbent Lynette Sweet alluded to the Jan. 1, 2009 killing of Oscar Grant by a BART police officer in the Fruitvale Station and stressed police reforms that she has promoted.

Newcomer Zakhary Mallett, a city/transportation planner, said he supports increased infrastructure, such a dual track in West Contra Costa County to permit 24-hour service and replacement of problem-prone elevators and escalators.

Maria Alegria said she stands for fairness, equity and social justice in BART service, with a safe and reliable system for working families, people with disabilities and seniors.

Candidate Margaret Gordon, identified on the ballot as a mother/grandmother, did not appear.

The most heated exchange came when Mallett accused Sweet of being "clearly out of touch with the East Bay and West Contra Costa, having never attended WCCTAC (West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee) meetings," and said Alegria "was recalled from a local City Council in 2008."

Sweet said District 7 covers a wide area, including all or part of Kensington, Rodeo, Crockett, Hercules, Pinole, San Pablo, Richmond, El Cerrito, Berkeley, Albany, Emeryville, Oakland, San Francisco and El Sobrante. She added, "I can't correct any of the things that my opponent said here today, other than to say he's 100 percent wrong."

Alegria said, "It's really unfortunate that Mr. Mallett has to raise the issue of the recall. ... It's part of our democracy, and unfortunately it was a mean-spirited, politically motivated and whispering campaign. When the smoke cleared, the allegations were empty."

Alegria was recalled from the Pinole City Council in 2008.

After the panel, the club votes were cast:

• Mallett: 37 percent
• Alegria 35 percent
• Sweet: 18 percent

AC Transit director at large, one seat

 The two candidates for the at-large AC Transit seat, incumbent Chris Peeples and retired bus driver Dollene Jones both spoke on the panel, and Peeples won the club's endorsement.

Peeples spoke of his 14 years of service on the board, his support of hydrogen fuel-cell buses, and his hopes for raising more funds for increasing service. Jones stressed her 21 years as an AC Transit driver and urged incentives to increase ridership – such as discounts for frequent riders and bicyclists.

After the panel, votes were cast by 44 club members:

• Peeples: 78 percent
• Jones: 21 percent

AC Transit, Ward 1, one seat

The incumbent for the Ward 1 AC Transit seat, Joe Wallace, did not attend. The other candidate in the race, attorney Yelda Bartlett, received the endorsement. She called for "progressive leadership" on the board and said she wants to give priority to vulnerable populations, including seniors and people of color. She also stressed air quality and said the fleet should strive for zero emissions of pollutants.

The votes cast after the panel:

• Bartlett: 82 percent
• Wallace: 14 percent

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