Candidate Spotlight: Steve Jordan

Co-owner of Creekside Bakery, former Downtown Novato Business Association board member, 32 year resident of Novato.

www.StevenJordanNovato.com

Why I’m Running

There is a disconnect between the city council and the citizens and this was nowhere more evident than in the affordable housing/rezoning issue that brought scores of concerned residents out of their houses and to the council chambers.

The city and the council totally misread the wishes of the public on that issue and I believe on many more. I intend to make that connection real again between the council and the citizens; as an elected official it is our duty to represent everyone, listening to them and acting on their behalf. My history of customer service with  Novato residents in the local businesses I have worked in, managed and owned over the last 32 years keeps me in contact with them on a daily basis and apprised to their concerns. I intend to be their voice for the issues that matter to them.

Top 3 Issues:

Balanced Budget

The fact that we still operate with a deficit even with additional taxes from Measure F is disconcerting. I would work to identify new sources of revenue in the form of increased, not additional, sales taxes and in increased property taxes through the careful and constrained building of homes, businesses and industries that reflect the scale and character of our community.

Pension reform

I believe there is still more work to do on insuring that the plans we offer to new employees will not burden future councils as we are burdened now.The pension program problem is one of a lack of leadership; because of unrealistic offers and projections made by previous councils our city now is faced with cuts in basic services to pay for these promises.

As a council member I would be diligent in exploring all avenues to provide revenue to meet the promises that have been made and look at all possibilities for new pension programs, drawing heavily on the experiences of successful business in the private sector.

Plan Bay Area/ABAG/Affordable Housing

ABAG is an advisory group, a private non-profit corporation, and our participation is voluntary. The impression given at all levels of government is quite the contrary. I believe as a city we need to re-evaluate our relationship with ABAG, re-examine the benefits it could or does provide and see if they outweigh any possible risk and realize that there are more bills coming from Sacramento related to this affordable housing issue that could substantially alter the way housing is built in our community. We must contain local control, not the promise of it from the state, and chart our own course on housing for wide range of incomes that is inclusive yet reflects the scale and character of our community.

Do you support renewing Measure F?

The city pitched this measure to give the impression that ‘If you don’t vote for this, it’s possible that we’ll lose police officers or not maintain park. If they would said ‘We’re going to hire a public relations person or an economic development director,’ people would have never approved it. We need to be upfront with how we use the money. It’s like taking your car to get fixed but instead of a new bumper you get a paint job.

What’s your vision for the North Redwood Blvd Corridor?

I’d like to do something that reflects the ag background of Novato. Instead of getting rid of the feed store and Novato builders supply, the things that have been in this town for years, we need to preserve them because they’re part of our history and heritage.

Denise Athas

Pat Eklund