During this transitional period, we believe that the Community Services District Board of Directors needs strong leaders who share a vision for Discovery Bay’s future. We endorse incumbents Brian Dawson and Kevin Graves, both of whom have displayed leadership in their first 10 months on the board. Dawson and Graves have only just gotten their feet wet in Discovery Bay’s political waters, but we’d like to see what fresh ideas they’ll bring in the future.
Discovery Bay also needs a connection to its history, so we’re endorsing Walter MacVittie, a former member of the Discovery Bay Municipal Advisory Council, whose knowledge about the community spans decades. We believe MacVittie will help move the town forward.
Dawson is a proven community advocate, serving an influential role in the expansion of local parks, and if elected would encourage the development of a series of youth programs. While Dawson wants to bring more positive change to Discovery Bay, he’s also aware of the weary economic climate and believes that fiscally responsible measures must be taken to eliminate government waste and create a budget that supports the water, sewer and landscaping needs of the town.
Graves, who also advocates smart growth and a fiscally responsible CSD, has shown courage by taking over the role of board president, uniting a formerly divisive group and keeping the board on task, running meetings with efficiency. He marries local and bigger-scale issues when he says the CSD should finish installing water meters as soon as possible, if only because water conservation and the Delta preservation are critical, and Discovery Bay should consume less water.
Having lived in Discovery Bay for 22 years, MacVittie’s knowledge of the community will be valuable in guiding the town into the future. He has attended CSD meetings regularly to stay on top of the issues, and his community service record, which includes 10 years on the East County Regional Planning Commission, allows him to better understand the regional agencies that interact with Discovery Bay.
We commend candidates Jonathan Silver and Chris Steele for their interest in serving their community and expressing passion for their hometown, and we hope they’ll continue to stay involved in local politics.
15,000 see the editorial and only a handful will see these comments.
Our Nation and community is at a great crossroad this November 2nd. YOUR VOTE COUNTS! A vote for me will provide leadership on the issues key to our town’s success. I have the skills and experience necessary to lead community-driven teams and develop public-private partnerships. I am fully committed to working hard with enthusiasm and integrity to improve our quality of life in Discovery Bay and the greater Delta region.
This campaign has been such a great opportunity for me to engage our community in the future of Discovery Bay. Thank you to ALL the passionate and concerned neighbors, business owners, and volunteers I have met, for reaching out to me with your constructive discussion about our local history, present issues and future plans. I am listening to you. We definitely have some great vision, talent and resources ready to move forward to address the recurring issues and projects. Here's a brief list of our community goals. Feel free to add yours:
> Improve our property values.
> Maintain a balanced budget.
> Improve operating reserves.
> Establish and maintain transparent government systems.
> Complete a community-driven Community Center development project with a clearly defined vision and operating plan funded through public-private partnership.
> Increase paramedic and fire protection.
> Eradicate invasive aquatic weeds in our bays and waterways.
> Continue landscape improvements.
> Expand quantity and quality of parks.
> Establish dog owner committee to complete a new dog park development project.
> Establish youth committee to plan activities and complete a new skateboard park / BMX track development project.
> Support the “Save the California Delta Alliance”
> Support the establishment of public-private education partnership as a means of improving the financing and delivery of education to our children.
> Support the establishment of local high school and college student internship programs for delta / agricultural sciences and local community services.
Feel free to contact me directly if you have any suggestions and if would like to participate.
VOTE FOR CHRIS STEELE, DISCOVERY BAY CSD 2010
Thank you for your consideration,
Chris Steele
925-519-5082
votesteele10@gmail.com
Graves & Dawson Have Taken Campaign Money From Them
Many local residents including myself have advocated to upgrade the DB CSD by electing individuals who are proven decision makers and who can conduct themselves without political motivation or special interest ties. Unfortunately, unless action is taken at the ballot box we are headed in the opposite direction.
It has been conclusively verified that a Sacramento based Political Action Committee headed by a well know consultant for housing developers has bestowed cash payments to the CSD election efforts of Kevin Graves and Brian Dawson. In fact it has been confirmed through a document search that 38% of Graves entire election funding has come from this one source and they are also Dawson’s single largest contributor as well as, by far, the largest contributor to the entire election. This is the same group that provided massive financial backing for the failed developer sponsored Measure F in Brentwood and two years ago this group backed a DB CSD candidate who was defeated after exposure of their support.
Political/special interest money like this only comes into obscure local elections such as this one when there is something specific to be gained by those paying. The local housing development business is not exactly doing well and these developers are looking for any advantage they can find (buy). Electing Graves and Dawson will end up costing every resident of this community when these individuals refuse to stand up against looming housing development issues. Developer special interests are not good for the residents of this community.
As an example, early next year conflict will likely arise over whether or not there is water/sewer capacity to serve The Hofmann Company’s 600 vacant lots in The Lakes development. Hoffmann will argue they already paid for the capacity but there is a real issue regarding the Hofmann supplied assumptions and variables used back when the capacity was increased. To deal with this and other existing developer related situations we need CSD directors who are not beholding to anyone. Directors who owe their financial candidacy to special interest groups have the potential to cost every resident of this community cash out of our pockets that should be coming from developers.
As concerned community members we have an opportunity to upgraded our CSD board of directors and to sidestep the very real and dangerous issue of special interest influence…. to do that we need to elect CSD board members who know how to make honest decisions and who can oversee our water/waste treatment & parks-landscaping operations as well as be our voice to the county on ultra-important matters such as roads, land use, housing development and public safety (including the fire stations) without political or special interest motivation. The three candidates who can best serve our needs are Jonathan Silver, Chris Steele & Walter MacVittie.
If you agree and are concerned about the negative consequences of special interest influence in this community please forward this message to others who can help stop this from happening.
Jeff Barber
Discovery Bay