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By Roz Rogoff
E-mail Roz Rogoff
About this blog: In January 2002 I started writing my own online "newspaper" titled "The San Ramon Observer." I reported on City Council meetings and other happenings in San Ramon. I tried to be objective in my coverage of meetings and events, and... (More)
About this blog: In January 2002 I started writing my own online "newspaper" titled "The San Ramon Observer." I reported on City Council meetings and other happenings in San Ramon. I tried to be objective in my coverage of meetings and events, and saved my barbs for my Commentary page. I had some political differences with the City Council at that time and particularly with the majority dubbed "The Gang of Three," by the San Ramon Valley Times. In 2003 new Council members were elected and the Council was more balanced and fiscally conservative, but I continued to write the Observer until 2009. At that point I decided I wanted to concentrate on my commentaries. So I requested a meeting with the editor and publisher of the Danville Weekly about taking over the San Ramon Observer. My timing was very apropos since the parent company, Embarcadero Media, was planning to release an online San Ramon Express that April. I was offered a "blog" under the name "San Ramon Observer" for my commentaries. I like to inform residents about what is happening in San Ramon, especially on city government and local politics. When I don't have anything to write about on those topics, I just write about anything I am doing or thinking about. (Hide)
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Carol Rowley Follows Heart and Bill Clarkson
Uploaded: Jan 20, 2011
Wednesday afternoon I received a phone call from City Councilperson Carol Rowley. I asked her what she was calling about. She said, "What do you think?"
I said, "After I wrote that you are not planning to run for Mayor, now you are calling to tell me you are."
"I've given this a lot of soul searching," she said, "I need to do this at this time."
She asked me to hold off writing a story on it until she had a chance to make a public announcement.
I saw Carol at the Arts Advisory Committee meeting later Wednesday night, but she didn't say anything more about her plans to run for Mayor. She was with Carol Lopez, who is on the Parks and Community Services Commission. Councilperson Scott Perkins was also at the Committee meeting.
I was planning to write my Friday Observer blog on the new kinetic sculpture being installed in Athan Down this week. It will be completed by Friday afternoon, for those of you who want to see it. It's a fun piece.
Carol phoned me at 11 pm to tell me I could take the lid off the story; so that's why I'm writing this now. She knows I don't like to be "scooped," as they say in the News Biz.
I also received an email from Carol Lopez, who is Carol Rowley's Campaign Manager, announcing Rowley's candidacy for Mayor of San Ramon. I'll let the Editor of the Express post the formal announcement in the news section of this paper. I'm writing from my own experience and perspective.
I am a little surprised that Carol took this move. The two candidates both worked for the San Ramon Valley Unified School District. Bill Clarkson was a Trustee for 12 years and Carol Rowley was Principal of Country Club Elementary School for 19 years.
I asked Carol how she thought the two of them both being in the SRVUSD would play out. She said, "I'm the only one with experience on the City Council." She has served 8 years on the Council and was on the Parks and Community Services Commission for many years before that.
So that's one distinction Carol can make with her opponent(s). I added the parenthetical (s) because it is still very early in the year. More candidates could pop up like rabbits, but according to Carol it won't be Councilperson Dave Hudson. He won't be running for Mayor this year.
Dave at least has a "safe seat." Since his term goes through 2013, he could lose and still stay on the City Council. Carol's term is up this year, so if she loses as Mayor, she's off the City Council. I asked her if she's willing to risk that. "I'm following my heart," she said.
So far, in my opinion anyway, both of the candidates are qualified yet provide voters a real choice. I'm sure some residents will consider these two candidates part of the political establishment, so there could be at least one more joining in the race for Mayor.
And with Carol not running for Council, this opens up her Council seat for a newcomer – OR maybe not. There has been some speculation that Mayor Abram Wilson might run for City Council. He cannot run for Mayor again, but there are no term limits on City Council seats.
This election is looking to be very interesting, and not at all as expected (by me anyway). One thing I guarantee. My hat is firmly fastened to my head.
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+ Like this comment
Posted by jrm, a resident of Danville,
on Jan 22, 2011 at 12:55 am
San Dublin.....as "The Who" sang...(Roz, that is a rock group) "Here's the new Boss....Same as the Old Boss"...except the title was ""won't get fooled again" but that is not the case in San Dublin....
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Posted by Bob P., a resident of San Ramon,
This is a very interesting announcement, indeed. Again, it looks like voters who may have supported both candidates in previous elections, and who could support either one in the mayoral election will have to decide between two attractive choices. This could open the field up to a 'third' candidate who could benefit from the split of that vote.
It will be interesting to see who the 'green' folks throw into the ring.
Sorry, but further commenting on this topic has been closed.
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