City council candidates prepare for the election

Seven candidates vie for three vacancies on governing board

By Jana Seshadri

With the general municipal elections approaching on Nov. 6, the seven candidates running for three seats on the council are entering the home stretch.

Incumbent Vice-Mayor Frederick Fowler and candidate Thomas Dwyer III are competing for Seat 1; incumbent Councilwoman Julia Miller and candidates Judy Esteban and Michael Flores for Seat 2, and candidates John Howe and Ronald Lee Ayers for Seat 3.

The issues that have evoked strong feelings among Sunnyvale residents and council candidates are--growth and development in the city, especially in the downtown area, planning for the city's future, neighborhood issues and campaign contributions.

Fowler and Dwyer, who are running for Seat 1, both agree that Sunnyvale neighborhoods should be preserved and be as safe as possible for its residents.

Both candidates serve on committees for emergency preparedness. While Fowler says he has worked to bring growth and development into the city, Dwyer says he feels strongly that there should be more balanced growth and neighborhood preservation.

"We are in the middle of Silicon Valley," said Fowler, "and growth is bound to happen. But, we have to manage and plan it so that we can enjoy the benefits and avoid the problems."

Fowler said future growth should be focused in the right areas of the city to make it amenable to industrial growth and public transportation.

A computer consultant by profession, Fowler runs his own business, called Fred Fowler and Associates, and has been a Sunnyvale city council member for four years. During his term in office, the 44-year-old Fowler says he has helped approve projects such as the Fremont Pool, the Older Adults Center and the downtown redevelopment program. Fowler says he was instrumental in installing heart attack defibrillating machines in the city's police patrol cars, fire engines and most city buildings.

Fowler is co-founder and chairman of the San Jose State University Collaborative for Disaster Mitigation, which is a public/private/academic partnership to help minimize damage from earthquakes and other natural disasters. Fowler serves as chairman of the North Central Flood Control Zone Advisory Committee of the Santa Clara Valley Water District and served for four years as Sunnyvale's representative to the Santa Clara County Emergency Preparedness Council. In his statement, Fowler says he is committed to keeping Sunnyvale the safest, best-managed and most respected city in the Bay Area.

A software engineer working for Sun Microsystems, Tom Dwyer III says he is against rapid growth in Sunnyvale and strongly believes that the current growth is out of control and not what the city needs.

"I feel there should be some reorganization in the downtown area," said 32-year-old Dwyer. "It is not necessary to have a six-story office building there."

Against Moffet Field becoming a commercial airport, Dwyer, 32, is also fighting the city's decision last December to vote 6-1 in favor of allowing a crematorium to be installed on residentially zoned property on N. Sunnyvale Avenue near the downtown area.

The Wyant and Smith Mortuary, situated on N. Sunnyvale Avenue near the railroad tracks, has been there for a long time and been maintained impeccably, according to Dwyer.

"But, now they want to expand its services and add a crematorium to the facility," Dwyer said.

Even though the city says it has sent out information to citizens, Dwyer's neighborhood, which will be greatly affected by this addition, did not receive the mailings. Dwyer said he was not aware of the issue until the city council meeting discussed and approved it. Dwyer believes the approval violates the city code and a crematorium in that area will emit odor, ash and carcinogens into the neighborhood and thus be a health hazard to citizens. Dwyer has filed a lawsuit against the city of Sunnyvale. Since the issue is under litigation, the city council members are under instructions by the court not to discuss it.

Miller and candidates Esteban and Flores are competing for Seat 2. In the past four years as city council member, Miller, 58, said she has worked on the downtown redevelopment project, the Sunnyvale Bay Trail, a 400-mile bike and walking trail around the San Francisco Bay, the new senior center and the Fremont pool. Miller also serves on several regional Board of directors--Bay Area Air Quality Management District, Bay Area Economic Forum, Association of Bay Area Governments, San Francisco Bay Trail, Regional Planning Committee, Earthquake Committee Chair and Regional Airport Planning Committee.

"I have accomplished all my campaign goals," Miller said. "And that's important for the voters to know."

In favor of "smart growth," Miller said she has supported the downtown redevelopment project and is now anxious to see the city turn around economically. Another project Miller worked on is the Bay Trail--a 400-mile bike and walking trail around the San Francisco Bay, out of which 230 miles have been completed, including a portion in Sunnyvale.

The issue most talked about among the three candidates for Seat 2 is campaign contributions. Flores and Esteban have said in their statements and in the candidate forums that funds should be received only from within Sunnyvale and not from outside developers. Esteban has said in her statement that she will promote campaign finance reform, which will ensure that candidates receive contributions only from Sunnyvale residents and not from outside developers, which might influence their decisions. Flores claims all of Miller's funds are not from Sunnyvale.

"Ninety percent of her funds are from outside developers," Flores said.

"That is a blatant lie," Miller said. "My campaign is supported by local friends who live, work or do business in Sunnyvale."

Right now there are no limits on contributions that candidates can receive in Sunnyvale and there is no such thing as campaign finance reform. However, according to City Attorney Valerie Armento, the Fair Political Practices Commission governs contributions.

"I understand that all the funds have been taken legally," Esteban said. "But, I still don't think that candidates should accept funds from outside developers."

Miller said she adheres strictly to the laws and follows the stringent financial reporting required by Sacramento.

Esteban, a long time resident of Sunnyvale, said she wants to contribute to its future growth and prosperity, so it will remain a great place to live, work and do business in, for coming generations.

Believing in cautious growth for the city, Esteban, 48, said in her statement that she would review the residential, commercial and industrial building guidelines to ensure that new buildings and developments blend in with existing neighborhoods and not overwhelm them.

"Too much growth gets rid of our small town feel," Esteban said. "I am very passionate about Sunnyvale and want to still have a community feel."

Flores, an engineering management consultant, feels that the present city council has done a very poor job in informing the residents about what is going on in the city, especially regarding the redevelopment in the downtown area.

"I think the citizens need to be in charge of their city," said 50-year-old Flores. "We should educate our citizens and let them tell us what they want for their city."

Flores has a history of 10 code violations for his home on 815 Alvarado Avenue that stretches back to 1992.

In his statement, Flores cites his past management positions as examples of his ability to communicate with people and assures the residents of Sunnyvale that he will put the people of Sunnyvale first, inform them in a timely manner about the upcoming issues and get their input before making decisions.

Candidates Ronald Ayers and John Howe will compete for Seat 3. Incumbent Councilman Jim Roberts cannot run because he has been termed out.

"I think controlled growth is the way to go," Howe said.

As a chair, vice chair and m,ember of the planning commission, Howe was instrumental in transportation demand management programs, which worked toward safe transportation systems and traffic reduction in Sunnyvale. Howe, 51, also works closely with Sunnyvale schools and the school district and supports high-quality education for all students.

Howe is a graduate and member of the Board of Directors for Leadership Sunnyvale and a member of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce. In his statement, Howe assures residents that he will work hard to provide safe streets, parks, neighborhoods and schools, build the economy by supporting high-tech and small businesses and promote efficient and safe transportation systems.

Ayers, a home restoration consultant, works for contractors and repairs homes for a living. Referring to the projects in the downtown area, Ayers said he believes too much growth will undoubtedly cause problems for the city in the future and affect every small business in the area. In order to maintain the quality of life that Sunnyvale residents enjoy now, Ayers, 41, said he supports controlled growth, which will preserve the market value of homes as well as small businesses.

"The citizens here in Sunnyvale can barely make their mortgage payments and pay their property taxes," Ayers said.

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Some additonal reporting by Jesse Ducker.

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