Your Weblog Name http://www.seniorcoalition.org myBloggie - Open Source Weblog http://backend.userland.com/rss http://mybloggie.mywebland.com/?v=2.1.3 Beta Offices Going to Election http://www.seniorcoalition.org/blog/index.php?mode=viewid&post_id=7 17 Aug 2006 04:49:21 am GMT +PST Event News http://www.seniorcoalition.org/blog/index.php?mode=viewid&post_id=7

Offices Going to Election



County Superintendent of Schools (1, 4-year term)
Rowland Baker Yes Assistant County Superintendent
Michael Watkins Yes Educator/School Administrator

Cabrillo Community College TA 1 - (1, 4-year term)
Claudine Wildman X 7/20/2006 - Yes Social Services Manager
Michael Bini 8/11/2006 Yes Yes Commercial Realtor

Cabrillo Community College TA 6 - (1, 4-year term)
Alan J. Smith X 8/1/2006 - No Incumbent
Juan G. Escamilla 8/11/2006 Yes Yes Business Owner/Parent

Pajaro Valley Unified School Dist. TA 1(1, 4-year term)
Libby Wilson 8/10/2006 Yes Yes Parent/Business Owner
David Wright 8/15/2006 Yes No Business Manager/Parent
Bruce Mathias 8/16/2006 Yes Yes Licensed General Contractor

Pajaro Valley Unified School Dist. TA 4 (1, 4-year term)
William 'Willie' Yahiro X 8/10/2006 Yes Yes Incumbent
Aurelio Gonzalez 8/9/2006 Yes Yes Construction Foreman/Commissioner

Pajaro Valley Unified School Dist. TA 5 - (1, 4-year term)
Rhea De Hart X 8/10/2006 Yes Yes Incumbent
Leslie L. DeRose 8/11/2006 Yes Yes Nonprofit Organization Manager

Pajaro Valley Unified School Dist. TA 7 - (1, 4-year term)
Sharon Gray X 8/9/2006 X Yes Incumbent
John Brough 8/9/2006 X Yes Environmental Safety Educator
Kim Turley 8/11/2006 X Yes Business Owner

Santa Cruz City School Dist. TA 1/inside city (2, 4-year term)
Rachel Dewey Thorsett X 7/17/2006 Yes Yes Incumbent
Wendy Strimling 7/17/2006 Yes Yes Attorney
Jim Logsdon 8/8/2006 - Yes Retired School Superintendent


Santa Cruz City School Dist. TA 2/outside city (1, 4-year term)
Michael R. Routh X 8/11/2006 Yes Yes Incumbent
Don Maxwell 7/17/2006 Yes Yes Retired Teacher
G. Richard Arnold 8/11/2006 Yes Yes Businessman

Michael R. Routh X 8/11/2006 Yes Yes IncumbentDon Maxwell 7/17/2006 Yes Yes Retired TeacherG. Richard Arnold 8/11/2006 Yes Yes Businessman

Santa Cruz City School Dist. TA 3 / at large(1, 4-year term)
Bruce Neustadter X 8/10/2006 Yes Yes Appointed Incumbent
Cynthia Hawthorne 7/17/2006 Yes Yes Psychotherapist/Mediator
John Wasserburger 8/10/2006 Yes Yes Retired Teacher/Businessman

Scotts Valley Unified School Dist. (2, 4-year terms)
Allison Clark Niday X 7/27/2006 Yes Yes Incumbent
Marshall Wolf X 7/25/2006 No Incumbent
Jondi Gumz 7/17/2006 Yes Yes Journalist/Grant Writer
Dominic Passanisi 8/10/2006 Yes Yes Business Owner/Parent

Elementary School Districts Going to Election
Office Incumbent Dec of Cand Filed Stmt of Int 501 Cand Stmt Filed Ballot Designation

Live Oak Elementary School Dist. (3, 4-year terms)
Paul Franklin X 8/10/2006 Yes Yes Incumbent
Karen H. Palmer X 8/11/2006 Yes Yes Incumbent
James D. Bresnahan 8/10/2006 Yes Yes Building Contractor
Michael J. Pisenti 8/11/2006 Yes Yes Businessman/Communications Engineer

Loma Prieta Jt. Union Elem. School Dist. (3, 4-year terms)
Corey Q. Kidwell X 8/3/2006 Yes Appointed Incumbent
Julie Gouldsberry X 8/2/2006 Yes Incumbent
Neil H. Hollander X 8/7/2006 Yes Appointed Incumbent
Mario Montana 7/27/2006 - Yes Technology Industry Manager
Diane Matlock 8/7/2006 Yes Yes Community Volunteer

Fire Districts Going to Election
Office Incumbent Dec of Cand Filed Stmt of Int 501 Cand Stmt. Filed Ballot Designation

Pajaro Valley Fire (2, 4-year terms)
Rudy A. Lopez X 8/11/2006 - No Fire Fighter
Grant Estrada X 8/11/2006 Yes No Incumbent
Ed Wiens 8/11/2006 Yes No Electric Transmission Troubleman

Scotts Valley Fire (2, 4-year terms)
Rudy J. Cabigas X 8/9/2006 X Yes Incumbent
Richard Clark X 8/1/2006 - Yes Incumbent
Jon Walsh 8/9/2006 X Yes Fire Fighter

Water Districts Going to Election
Office Incumbent Dec of Cand Filed Stmt of Int 501 Cand Stmt Filed Ballot Designation

Lompico Water District (2, 4-year terms)
Chris R. Kilgus X 8/11/2006 Yes Incumbent
Fred Stevens X 8/10/2006 Yes No Appointed Incumbent
Rob Hansel 8/10/2006 Yes Yes Plumbing Contractor
Patrice Ballou 8/9/2006 Yes No Artist/Teacher

Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency Division A (1, 4-year term)
Joe Pendry 8/10/2006 Yes Yes Retired Social Worker
Warren Koenig 8/16/2006 Yes Yes Retired Chemical Engineer

Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency Division C (1, 4-year term)
Dennis H. Osmer X 8/8/2006 - No Appointed Incumbent
David McCabe 8/10/2006 Yes No Broker

San Lorenzo Valley Water District (3, 4-year terms)
James Rapoza X 7/24/2006 yes Incumbent
Terry Vierra X 8/1/2006 No Incumbent
Lawrence A. Prather X 8/9/2006 Yes Yes Incumbent
Paul Storm 8/11/2006 Yes No Director, Boulder Creek Recreation and Parks District

Scotts Valley Water District (3, 4-year terms)
William "Bill" Kassis X 7/31/2006 - Yes Incumbent
Roger R. Kern X 8/9/2006 Yes No Incumbent
Dave Hodgin X 8/4/2006 Yes Yes Incumbent
Ken Kannegaard 8/1/2006 Yes Yes Safety Manager/Coach

Soquel Creek Water District (3, 4-year terms)
Bruce Jaffe X 8/4/2006 Yes Yes Incumbent
Daniel F. Kriege X 8/7/2006 - Yes Civil Engineer
Don Hoernschemeyer 8/4/2006 Yes Yes Research Chemist
Don Heichel 8/11/2006 Yes No Commercial Crabber

Miscellaneous Districts Going to Election
Office Incumbent Dec of Cand Filed Stmt of Int 501 Cand Stmt Filed Ballot Designation


Santa Cruz Port District (2, 4-year terms)
Bill Geisreiter X 8/10/2006 Yes Yes Incumbent
David A. Kranz 8/8/2006 Yes No Quality Control Technician
Thomas C. (Toby) Goddard 8/10/2006 Yes Yes Water Conservation Manager
Kaycee Beames 8/10/2006 Yes No Lifeguard/Health Supervisor
Dennis (Denny) Smith 8/10/2006 Yes Yes Retired Sheriff Lt.
Lou Mata 8/11/2006 Yes Yes Sports Retailer
Robert "Bob" Vallerga 8/15/2006 Yes Yes Retired Commercial Fisherman

Offices Going to Election



County Superintendent of Schools (1, 4-year term)
Rowland Baker Yes Assistant County Superintendent
Michael Watkins Yes Educator/School ......

]]> http://www.seniorcoalition.org/blog/index.php?mode=viewid&post_id=7 Letter to Editor http://www.seniorcoalition.org/blog/index.php?mode=viewid&post_id=6 01 Jun 2006 06:23:28 pm GMT +PST Senior News http://www.seniorcoalition.org/blog/index.php?mode=viewid&post_id=6 Vote Yes on E The Senior Coalition in Santa Cruz County strongly urges a "yes" vote on Measure E in Watsonville. The existing tax, which funds an obligation of the public at large, is being paid only by property owners. This is unfair and discriminatory. In its place, we recommend that a broader-based source of funds be created and put in place to cover the retirement costs of all Watsonville City employees. The Senior Coalition has a policy of supporting appropriate taxes. We have previously supported successful sales tax measures in Capitola and Scotts Valley. We could support a fair, uniform alternative to cover Watsonville public retirement expenses. Vote "yes" on Measure E! Tom Walsh Executive Director Senior Coalition Vote Yes on E The Senior Coalition in Santa Cruz County strongly urges a "yes" vote on Measure E in Watsonville. The existing tax, which funds an obligation of the public at large, is being paid only by property owners. This is unfair and discriminatory. In its place, we recommend that a broader-based source of funds be created and put in place to cover the retirement costs of all Watsonville City employees. The Senior Coalition has a policy of supporting appropriate taxes. We have previously supported successful sales tax measures in Capitola and Scotts Valley. We could support a fair, uniform alternative to cover Watsonville public retirement expenses. Vote "yes" on Measure E! Tom Walsh Executive Director Senior Coalition...

]]> http://www.seniorcoalition.org/blog/index.php?mode=viewid&post_id=6 Retirement tax is an unfair burden to property owners http://www.seniorcoalition.org/blog/index.php?mode=viewid&post_id=5 17 May 2006 04:28:15 am GMT +PST Senior News http://www.seniorcoalition.org/blog/index.php?mode=viewid&post_id=5 [b]YES ON MEASURE E[/b] On June 6, Watsonville voters have a golden opportunity, by voting "Yes on Measure E," to repeal the city of Watsonville’s retirement tax. What is this tax all about? Presently, the city of Watsonville assesses every house and piece of property an additional property tax of $134 per every $100,000 of assessed value. For example, a $600,000 house is assessed an additional $804 in property taxes. On a $700,000 house, the tax is $938. The tax is used to pay for contributions to public employees’ retirement plans. Yes, the tax has been in existence for a while, but much has changed in that time. We used to be a relatively small town with many locally owned businesses. Homes used to cost $10,000. Public employees used to contribute toward their own retirement. Today, we are a city of 50,000 people with large chain stores bringing in generous amounts of sales tax for the city. Homes sell for well over $600,000, generating substantial amounts of property tax for the city. Most city employees no longer contribute anything toward their retirement because this tax is used to pay for their retirement contributions. Yes, much has changed. Who are we? Our committee is a diverse group made up of young first-time homeowners starting a new family, established working families trying to make ends meet, hardworking individuals trying to put something away for retirement and retired people trying to live on Social Security checks which took a lifetime of work to get. Of course, we are concerned about our city’s financial stability and its ability to provide adequate police and fire protection, as well as other city services, but using an unfair and illegal means of taxation to generate city revenues is not the way to run an honest and responsible government. Why is the tax unfair? Only homeowners and property owners pay for the tax despite the fact that everyone benefits from our city services. The City Council can increase the tax at their discretion. Since the City Council adjusts the rate, homeowners can never be sure of the annual cost of the tax. Such uncertainty can be removed by repealing the tax. The tax is illegal! When Proposition 13 was passed in 1978, specific guidelines were established for all property taxes. Raising this tax to pay for enhanced retirement benefits for city employees after 1978 is not allowed, yet the city has continued to do so. Your support of Measure E immediately stops the illegal collection of the tax. From the onset of our endeavor, city officials have accused us of being unwilling to meet with them to discuss a "compromise." First and foremost, we had a duty to respect the wishes of everyone who signed our petition to put it on the ballot. Second, at the beginning of our petition process, the city sent a threatening letter to some of our members in which the city insinuated they might drag the issue into a lengthy and costly legal battle. Does that sound like sincere words of "compromise?" It is important to remember that this repeal is a charter amendment, which can only be changed by a vote of the people. Leaving the City Council to amend the tax only means that existing or future councils can easily change it to an even higher rate. The only security the people of Watsonville will truly have from this unfair tax is by completely removing it. The city claims the repeal is too drastic and sudden. Yet everyone’s property taxes have already been paid for the year, leaving plenty of time for the city to find other means of fair and legally sustainable sources of funding. Our City Council has had an entire year to find meaningful and fairer alternatives. We are all caring, responsible citizens of Watsonville who respect our city employees and the services they provide. Our public services should be funded with stable, fair and legal sources of revenue. Your future and your children’s future depend on it. Creating a more honest and responsible government begins with your vote of "Yes on Measure E." Lorraine E. Stucki is a Watsonville resident. LORRAINE E. STUCKI [b]YES ON MEASURE E[/b] On June 6, Watsonville voters have a golden opportunity, by voting "Yes on Measure E," to repeal the city of Watsonville’s retirement tax. What is this tax all about? Presently, the city of Watsonville assesses every house and piece of property an additional property tax of $134 per every $100,000 of assessed value. For example, a $600,000 house is assessed an additional $804 in property taxes. On a $700,000 house, the tax is $938. The tax is used to pay for contributions to public employees’ retirement plans. Yes, the tax has been in existence for a while, but much has changed in that time. We used to be a relatively small town with many locally owned businesses. Homes used to cost $10,000. Public employees used to contribute toward their own retirement. Today, we are a city of 50,000 people with large chain stores bringing in generous amounts of sales tax for the city. Homes sell for well over $600,000, generating substantial amounts of property tax for the city. Most city employees no longer contribute anything toward their retirement because this tax is used to pay for their retirement contributions. Yes, much has changed. Who are we? Our committee is a diverse group made up of young first-time homeowners starting a new family, established working families trying to make ends meet, hardworking individuals trying to put something away for retirement and retired people trying to live on Social Security checks which took a lifetime of work to get. Of course, we are concerned about our city’s financial stability and its ability to provide adequate police and fire protection, as well as other city services, but using an unfair and illegal means of taxation to generate city revenues is not the way to run an honest and responsible government. Why is the tax unfair? Only homeowners and property owners pay for the tax despite the fact that everyone benefits from our city services. The City Council can increase the tax at their discretion. Since the City Council adjusts the rate, homeowners can never be sure of the annual cost of the tax. Such uncertainty can be removed by repealing the tax. The tax is illegal! When Proposition 13 was passed in 1978, specific guidelines were established for all property taxes. Raising this tax to pay for enhanced retirement benefits for city employees after 1978 is not allowed, yet the city has continued to do so. Your support of Measure E immediately stops the illegal collection of the tax. From the onset of our endeavor, city officials have accused us of being unwilling to meet with them to discuss a "compromise." First and foremost, we had a duty to respect the wishes of everyone who signed our petition to put it on the ballot. Second, at the beginning of our petition process, the city sent a threatening letter to some of our members in which the city insinuated they might drag the issue into a lengthy and costly legal battle. Does that sound like sincere words of "compromise?" It is important to remember that this repeal is a charter amendment, which can only be changed by a vote of the people. Leaving the City Council to amend the tax only means that existing or future councils can easily change it to an even higher rate. The only security the people of Watsonville will truly have from this unfair tax is by completely removing it. The city claims the repeal is too drastic and sudden. Yet everyone’s property taxes have already been paid for the year, leaving plenty of time for the city to find other means of fair and legally sustainable sources of funding. Our City Council has had an entire year to find meaningful and fairer alternatives. We are all caring, responsible citizens of Watsonville who respect our city employees and the services they provide. Our public services should be funded with stable, fair and legal sources of revenue. Your future and your children’s future depend on it. Creating a more honest and responsible government begins with your vote of "Yes on Measure E." Lorraine E. Stucki is a Watsonville resident. LORRAINE E. STUCKI...

]]> http://www.seniorcoalition.org/blog/index.php?mode=viewid&post_id=5 Gray, Begun honored as seniors of year http://www.seniorcoalition.org/blog/index.php?mode=viewid&post_id=2 03 Nov 2005 09:22:08 am GMT +PST Event News http://www.seniorcoalition.org/blog/index.php?mode=viewid&post_id=2 BY LAURA NORTON [imgl]http://seniorcoalition.org/blog/files/seniors.jpg[/imgl]SOQUEL — Capitola City Treasurer Bob Begun and Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees Vice President Sharon Gray were recognized at a luncheon Friday afternoon by the Senior Coalition for their outstanding contributions as senior citizens to the community. Begun and Gray, now bequeathed with the title Man and Woman of the Year by the coalition, each received a plaque and recognition at the Aged to Perfection noontime ceremony. "These two were chosen by the Senior Advisory Council for their good works in the community — Sharon in the school district and Bob in the city of Capitola," said Tom Walsh, executive director of the Senior Coalition. In a tribute to Gray, Senior Coalition volunteers Vic and Marsha Marani described the trustee as "the definition of a working administrator." "She represents the entire district," Vic Marani said of the Woman of the Year. "But she is an exceptional representative of her trustee area." Gray, a former teacher, attributed her success as a PVUSD trustee to her ability to be "annoying." "I don’t go away," Gray said. "I get to the bottom of things and I can be as annoying as I want and people let me be." Introducing Begun, Capitola Police Chief Richard Ehle lauded Begun for his "dedicated service to the city of Capitola." Begun has served as the city’s treasurer for five years and provides outreach to citizens through a monthly column in the Capitola Times. He formerly worked as an electrical engineer and was a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the largest professional society in the world. He said he is able to efficiently serve the city because of his disposable time as a senior citizen. "I don’t know how people with their own companies and work find the time for it," he said.
Event Photos - Coming Soon


[i]Source: [url]http://www.register-pajaronian.com/main.php?story_id=1386&page=1[/url][/i] BY LAURA NORTON [imgl]http://seniorcoalition.org/blog/files/seniors.jpg[/imgl]SOQUEL — Capitola City Treasurer Bob Begun and Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees Vice President Sharon Gray were recognized at a luncheon Friday afternoon by the Senior Coalition for their outstanding contributions as senior citizens to the community. Begun and Gray, now bequeathed with the title Man and Woman of the Year by the coalition, each received a plaque and recognition at the Aged to Perfection noontime ceremony. "These two were chosen by the Senior Advisory Council for their good works in the community — Sharon in the school district and Bob in the city of Capitola," said Tom Walsh, executive director of the Senior Coalition. In a tribute to Gray, Senior Coalition volunteers Vic and Marsha Marani described the trustee as "the definition of a working administrator." "She represents the entire district," Vic Marani said of the Woman of the Year. "But she is an exceptional representative of her trustee area." Gray, a former teacher, attributed her success as a PVUSD trustee to her ability to be "annoying." "I don’t go away," Gray said. "I get to the bottom of things and I can be as annoying as I want and people let me be." Introducing Begun, Capitola Police Chief Richard Ehle lauded Begun for his "dedicated service to the city of Capitola." Begun has served as the city’s treasurer for five years and provides outreach to citizens through a monthly column in the Capitola Times. He formerly worked as an electrical engineer and was a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the largest professional society in the world. He said he is able to efficiently serve the city because of his disposable time as a senior citizen. "I don’t know how people with their own companies and work find the time for it," he said.
Event Photos - Coming Soon


[i]Source: [url]http://www.register-pajaronian.com/main.php?story_id=1386&page=1[/url][/i]...

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