At the forum on Oct. 3, City Council candidates (L-R) incumbent Eve Phillips, Kathleen Jenkins, Dennis Fay, Nick Kosla, and incumbent Mayor Amy Worth answered questions regarding downtown development and road maintenance, among others.
Five candidates vying for three open seats on the Orinda City Council each answered questions, fielded by the League of Women Voters, to a packed auditorium of Orinda citizens at a candidate forum on Oct. 3. The Orinda Library auditorium was filled to capacity with voters interested in hearing each candidate verbally explain their priorities and visions for success if elected.
The candidates – incumbent Eve Phillips, Kathleen Jenkins, Dennis Fay, Nick Kosla, and incumbent and current mayor, Amy Worth – answered questions on topics ranging from Orinda’s road management and repair, downtown development and revitalization to zoning, land usage issues and fiscal responsibility, among many others. The event was moderated by Martha Goralka, Co-President of the League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley, who solicited and organized questions from local residents. Each candidate was given an equally limited amount of time to personally address issues of concern and establish rapport and connection with audience members. “Orinda is very fortunate to have these highly qualified candidates eager to serve on our City Council,” said Cindy Powell, president of The Orinda Association, sponsor of the event. “Although this will be a hotly-contested election, the atmosphere at the forum was cordial and respectful.”
Phillips has served as a council member since her election in 2014, serving a term as mayor in 2017. She plans to continue to apply her council and extensive technology project managerial experience to upcoming decisions facing our city. More information can be found on her website, www.evefororinda.com.
Jenkins plans to draw from her 35-year professional career as a contract manager, which consisted of negotiating and awarding multi-million-dollar contracts with universities, federal agencies and private corporations. More information can be found on her website, www.votekjenkins.com.
Fay is a current member and past chair of the Citizens Infrastructure Oversight Commission and is eager to continue to apply his professional knowledge as a retired transportation engineer to the roads issues. More information can be found on his website, www.dennis4orinda.com.
Kosla is an experienced community planner and hopes to apply his knowledge to benefit downtown development. Married and the father of two school-aged daughters, he is a past chair of the Orinda Planning Commission. More information can be found on his website, www.koslaforcouncil.org.
Amy Worth, who earned the moniker “Fourth Bore Mayor,” has been elected to consecutive terms on the Orinda City Council since 1998. In December 2017, she was elected to her fourth term as mayor. More information can be found on her website, www.AmyWorthforOrinda.com.
Registered voters can mark their ballots for three of the five candidates. The general election will take place on Nov. 6.
