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VIEWPOINT

Davis, Atkin, Bukowski for City Council

October 2007

With each passing year, the quality of life issues and hard economic decisions facing Emeryville grow increasingly complex. Every decision a member of the City Council makes has far-reaching consequences, and accordingly requires a demonstrated track record of local engagement, community connections, leadership, and experience.

It is for these reasons that we endorse Mayor Nora Davis, Vice Mayor Ruth Atkin, and Councilmember Ken Bukowski for re-election to the Emeryville City Council on Tuesday, November 6th.

There are five candidates running for the three Council seats this November. Shilen Patel and Thordie Ashley are challenging the three incumbents.

Mr. Patel has only the shallowest of roots in Emeryville, having lived here less than two years and to date has not shown great resolve to participate, in any meaningful way, in civic affairs, nor avail himself of the ample opportunities available to residents to participate in municipal government decision-making. He has not logged a single hour of service on any City of Emeryville board, committee, or commission, and has rarely been seen at City Council, Planning Commission, General Plan Update Steering Committee meetings. This enormous lack of participation in the workings of local government denies us, and all serious Emeryville voters, a tangible track record against which to judge the vague statements and promises contained in Mr. Patel’s campaign literature. Talk is cheap, and until Mr. Patel can establish that he is truly serious about actually working on the critical issues facing Emeryville – instead of just talking about them – then in our view he is not a viable candidate for public office.

Thordie Ashley is a long-time resident and community activist who has long participated in Emeryville civic affairs. However, Thordie lacks any clear platform or coherent vision for the future – much less any kind of real campaign organization – that would merit an endorsement to the City Council.

Unlike the three incumbents running for re-election, we note that neither challenger took a public stance in support of Measure A. On the other hand, Nora Davis, Ruth Atkin and Ken Bukowski have all strongly supported our Emery schools, and were early endorsers of Measure A, which has been a critical component to the revitalization of the Emery School District.

Davis, Atkin and Bukowski bring a combined total of almost 50 years of Emeryville City Council experience to the table. Davis and Bukowski were elected at the beginning of long-time City Manager John Flores’ tenure, which has seen the transformation of the city from the dying industrial town to the modern, 21st Century City which has attracted national media attention and sports regional shopping malls, hotels, corporate headquarters and technology and scientific companies. All three are long-time residents with deep connections to the Emeryville community. Davis, Atkin and Bukowski may have different views on the issues and don’t always vote together, but one thing they all do share is their love and concern for Emeryville. Their hard work and votes reflect this, and they understand the workings of government, and most importantly how to work with our City staff under the Council/Manager form of government to get things done.

The last twenty years have seen Emeryville reinvented as never before: with a state of the art free bus system, flourishing arts community, expansion of parks and open space, a reinvigorated school system and a high level of municipal services supported by a strong tax base. Emeryville has become a regional shopping center, transportation center, business center, and dining and hotel center, with more civic improvements planned.

In our book, proven leadership, hard work, and thoughtful decision-making beat empty campaign slogans any day. Nora Davis, Ruth Atkin and Ken Bukowski have earned reelection to the Emeryville City Council on November 6th.