S VOTER’★ ★ ★ ★ GUIDE★ 2008★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ October 8, 2008 Section Two Ballot features much more than Obama-McCain he sample ballots hitting mail boxes in San Mateo T County for this election should remind voters that they are making many important choices beyond who wins the big seat in Washington. In Menlo Park and Atherton, lively elec- tions for the city council will affect how these cities go forward. HIGH-SPEED TRAINS could zoom Some of the 12 state ballot measures will through a rebuilt Caltrain corridor also affect lives. Proposition 1A, the $9.95 bil- if Proposition 1A passes on Nov. 4. lion bond issue for high-speed rail, is stirring Graphic courtesy NC3D emotions along the Caltrain line. Other issues tap voter sensitivities over banning gay mar- riage, care of farm animals, notifying parents about a teen’s abortion, renewable energy, law Are you on board with Prop. 1A? enforcement, redistricting reform, and $900 million in bonds for veterans. ■ The $9.95 billion bond measure would provide initial funding to shoot Because of the high-intensity presi- high-speed trains up the Caltrain corridor. dential race, county elec- INFORMATION By Rory Brown cials, and a stop is tentatively planned Heyward Robinson. “We can’t support tion officials Almanac Staff Writer for Palo Alto or Redwood City. this project unless these questions are are bracing For more information on the answered. ... [The rail authority] has tried election, go to the League n Nov. 4, California voters for an unusu- will have the chance to stand Hitting close to home to reassure us, but I don’t feel reassured.” ally high turn- of Women Voter’s Web site, smartvoter.org, or the San for or against Proposition 1A To accommodate the additional Mr. Robinson suggested that improv- out among O ing regional transit, rather than con- Mateo County elections office — the $9.95-billion bond measure trains, the project would likely the county’s site, shapethefuture.org. For that would provide the first wave require grade separations — separat- necting Northern and Southern Cali- 365,557 regis- state-wide results, go to sos. of funding to run high-speed, all- ing the tracks from the roadway at fornia, should be a higher priority. tered voters. ca.gov. First-time and busy electric passenger trains between San local intersections. The Menlo Park council voted 3-1 Absentee voters might try easyvoter. Francisco and Los Angeles. in September to pass a resolution org. Polling places are open That means the state would have to voting, which But for some Menlo Park and Ather- dig a trench or build a berm through against Prop. 1A, citing the unknown begins on Oct. from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tues- impacts, and the day, Nov. 4. By law, you have ton residents, Proposition 1A isn’t just the heart of Menlo 6, the same day a question of whether or not the state Park and Atherton. llack of responsive- the ballots were a right to vote if you are in line at the polling place when the should invest in an estimated $45 bil- The construction, nness on the part of mailed, may polls close. lion project. It’s a question of whether aesthetic, and poten- tthe rail authority alleviate the the California High Speed Rail Author- tial property value tto addressing the lines at polling ity (the state agency leading the project) impacts are undeni- ccity’s concerns. The places. Elections MManager DavidD id TomT esti-i will have local cities’ best interests in able, and they’re also still undefined. Atherton council voted 4-0 just over mates that 40 to 45 percent of votes will be mind if the ballot measure passes. The rail authority doesn’t have any a week later to pass a similar resolu- cast by mail. Under the proposed plan, north- answers regarding how the tracks will tion against the bond measure. To shorten the lines Nov. 4, Mr. Tom bound trains would connect to the Bay cut through the two cities, how many “I can see no reason why I would advises voters to do their homework, study Area from the Central Valley via the heritage trees will need to be removed, ever consider voting for this high- the pamphlet, and bone up on candidates Pacheco Pass, and shoot up the Caltrain and how much property — public or speed rail project,” said Atherton and issues. “Spend the time to prepare and corridor to San Francisco. Trains would private — would need to be acquired Councilman Jim Dobbie. be ready to vote, rather than making up travel south using the same route. to widen the Caltrain corridor. Both cities have also joined a lawsuit your mind in the voting booth, he said. The estimated travel time between High-speed rail officials say the impacts against the proposed route, claiming the “Or vote by mail.” San Francisco and Los Angeles is 2 will be studied and mitigated if the bond environmental analysis is inadequate. hours and 30 minutes, according to measure passes, but those unknowns Mayors Andy Cohen of Menlo Park Other candidates the rail authority. Trains would hit have sparked a lot of fear locally, and and Jim Janz of Atherton did not Three strong Democratic incumbents are top speeds of 220 miles per hour, but prompted the majority of Menlo Park vote on the resolutions and whether running for new terms in Congress and the would slow down to an estimated 125 and Atherton city council members to their respective towns should join the state Senate and Assembly. miles per hour on the Peninsula. A flat-out oppose Proposition 1A. lawsuit, citing potential conflicts of Veteran Congresswoman Anna Eshoo is facing San Francisco to Los Angeles ticket “This is not a NIMBY (not in my interest. Both mayors live within 500 three opponents for the 14th Congressional Dis- would cost $55, according to state offi- backyard) reaction,” said Councilman See HIGH-SPEED RAIL, page 20 See BALLOT, page 20 October 8, 2008 ■ The Almanac ■ 17 ★ VOTER’S GUIDE 2008 ★ Atherton candidates seek to change town’s direction By Andrea Gemmet Almanac Staff Writer here’s no shortage of issues for Atherton’s City Council Tto tackle in the coming year. The question is, whose vision for the future will resonate with Atherton residents? The four candidates for two seats on the council — a fifth can- didate, Sam Goodman, dropped out — are incumbent Kathy McKeithen, retired former city manager and police chief Richard Kathy McKeithen Richard “Dick” Moore Elizabeth Lewis David Joseph Henig Moore, architect David Henig and Years in Atherton: 24 Years in Atherton: 16 Years in Atherton: 11 Years in Atherton: 2 businesswoman Elizabeth Lewis. Age: 59 Age: 70 Age: 58 Age: 44 Ms. McKeithen, who is finishing Occupation: Incumbent; Occupation: Retired Atherton Occupation: Co-owner, Occupation: Architect her second term on the council, former corporate attorney. police chief and city manager. Orchard Commercial property Experience: Las Lomitas said she’ll continue to ask the Experience: Elected to Experience: Holbrook-Palmer management company. Education Foundation board Atherton City Council in 2000, Park Foundation board member; Experience: Atherton General member; former president, tough questions, listen to residents served as mayor in 2004; Atherton citizen’s emergency Plan Committee member; volun- Ladera Community Association. and keep an open mind. “I don’t church and school volunteer. preparedness committee; past teer for 2005 Atherton parcel Education: BA, George think any council member has Education: BA, Smith College; president, California Peace Officers tax campaign; volunteer, Created Washington University; stuck their neck out as much as I JD, Columbia law school. Association; board member and for- Entrepreneur Project Steering master of architecture, have,” she said. While on the coun- Web site: http://kathymckeithen. mer chair, California Peace Officers’ Committee in San Jose; past Harvard University’s cil, she’s pressed for the town to com/ Memorial Foundation. volunteer work with Palo Alto graduate school of design. tackle drainage problems, and has Education: AA in law enforcement, Committee for Better Schools; Web page: http://www.david been a member of the finance and College of San Mateo; BA in past president of board of henig.com audit committees, among others. sociology and MA in public Miramontes Mental Health Mr. Moore moved to Atherton administration from College of Agency. Notre Dame; executive manage- Education: Attended in 1962, and he’s lived in town ment school at National FBI San Jose State University and — or nearby — since then. He Academy, Quantico. San Francisco State University. spent nearly three decades as a Web site: http://www.vote Web site: http://www.elizabeth town employee, moving through chiefmoore.com 2008.com/ the police department ranks and becoming police chief in 1976. He added the city manager job to his years is Mayor Jim Janz’s proposal completely contradictory to our of illegality,” she said. “I don’t encompassing way to preserve all duties from 1988 until 1993, when that the town expand its borders general plan,” he said. know that there’s any other way of Atherton’s artifacts,” she said. he retired. His goal is to keep Ather- to include a portion of unincor- Ms. McKeithen warned that to meet the housing element.” Mr. Moore said the artifacts are ton out of the newspapers, he said. porated North Fair Oaks along annexing the area could cause the Mr. Moore said he’s in favor of private property owned by the Mr. Henig said that being an Middlefield Avenue. Atherton town’s housing element require- the idea. When he was city man- homeowners. The council needs architect gives him experience officials have been pursuing the ments to increase, defeating one ager, he said he proposed building a new city attorney to provide that will help tackle the town’s idea with the county and their of the purposes of annexation.