RWC Council may not allow new blood

One two-year seat held by Councilwoman Alicia Aguirre is assured; no one is challenging the newcomer who will hold onto the seat she was appointed to fill in January when former Councilman Ira Ruskin moved on to the state Assembly.

The three other positions up for re-election are held by Jim Hartnett, Diane Howard and Mayor Jeff Ira. Hoping to knock them out of the running are Planning Commissioner Hilary Paulson and newcomer Adrian Brandt. While the incumbents have the power of council experience and name recognition on their side, Paulson and Brandt are the only candidates backed by the grassroots group Friends of Redwood City. With the specter of the failed Marina Shores development measure- attributable to the resident backlash stirred up by the group - still fresh in many voters' minds, its support could carry substantial weight.

Development in the city will remain a hot button issue for the future as will the ongoing $100 million revitalization effort of the downtown. The new retail and cinema project is slated to open soon and its success or failure could fall on the shoulders of the councilmembers that pushed it, including those seeking to maintain their office.

The battle to replace Ruskin earlier this year also stirred up some newcomers to politics and some voiced consideration of tossing their hat into the ring for the November ballot. Ultimately, possible contenders like former councilman Paul Sanfilipo declined to run this turn.

The sure thing

Aguirre, a 17-year resident and former Redwood City Elementary School Board trustee, is the one candidate with a lock on her seat. No challengers stepped forward to take the two-year seat for which is running.

The council appointed Aguirre in late-January to finish out Ruskin's term with the caveat she run in November. Aguirre beat out 11 other candidates, including Paulson.

Despite Aguirre's assured election, she is still running a campaign. In a pitch sent to prospective supporters, Aguirre cites as main issues in the city "ensuring safe and vibrant neighborhoods, bringing a common sense approach to growth, protecting our environment and promoting partnerships in education."

Aguirre's pending victory following being appointed to a two-year term also breaks with recent tradition. The last time an appointed councilman ran for election - Ian Bain - he was defeated. Bain later secured a seat in the last race.

The veterans

The three other incumbents hoping to retain their council roles have sat through a number of controversial topics in recent years: Downtown revitalization, development, recycled water and a financially hefty lawsuit over the use of eminent domain to snatch a privately owned parcel of land.

Howard, a nurse, was the first to kick off her campaign - with the tagline that Redwood City is "a work in progress" with Ira and Hartnett quietly following suit. Voters first elected Howard in 1994 and she is in the midst of a third term. Similarly, Hartnett, an attorney, was also first elected in 1994 and sat on the council since. Ira, an accountant, joined the council in 1997. Collectively, the trio are the veterans of the council and each has a stint as mayor under their belt.

The challengers

Paulson is well-known to many in the community for her work as the current chair of the Planning Commission and a failed bid to replace Ruskin on the council in January. The seat ultimately went to Aguirre although Paulson elicited two votes from the council, too.

Paulson's backers currently include Sanfilipo, who threw his support her way when he opted out of the race, and the former members of the anti-Measure Q campaign.

Just as campaign season kicked off in July, Brandt cited the Measure Q campaign as a decisive factor to run on a platform of "smart development." He expects the issue is far from done, believing that another development proposal for Marina Shores is a possibility, and also has concerns that Cargill Salt will begin developing its land near Seaport Boulevard.

The new PAC on the block

Adding a unique wrinkle to the November race is the Friends of Redwood City, an offshoot of the grassroots group that defeated the proposed Marina Shores development. The group, which formally became a political action committee, has publicly stated it will endorse Paulson and Brandt because of their opposition to the high-rise tower development. Paulson, in particular, was quite vocal against the proposal in her position as planning commission chair.

The anti-Measure Q campaign took form after the Redwood City Council endorsed the high-density housing project for Marina Shores. Rather than accept the council decision, the group collected signatures for a referendum and shocked many by beating a plan backed by politicians, developers and hefty funding.

The "David versus Goliath"-like defeat showed that council decisions are not absolute and that residents carry more clout than typically assumed. The group did not die with the measure, instead morphing into the current PAC.

In June, member Cathy Moyer said the group may contemplate backing Ira because he has been the "most cooperative and participatory" of the council but there has been no public endorsement of any incumbent.

Friends members are quick to point out that although it sprung from the No on Measure Q/People for Housing Not High-rises campaign, it aims to start a community conversation about all city issues.

The goal is similar to that expressed by all candidates and current councilmembers.

"I want to help create a community where all residents can afford to live, work and raise a family," Aguirre stated.

Michelle Durand can be reached by e-mail: michelle@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 102. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.