November may be election month, but October is the month of decisions as candidates express their views on a variety of topics in advertisements, speaking engagements and public forums.
On Oct. 6 and Oct. 13, The Orinda Association will sponsor three public forums where residents can ask candidates running for the Orinda City Council, the Moraga Orinda Fire Protection District (MOFD) and the Orinda Union School Board (OUSD) about their positions on issues concerning those governing bodies. Questions can be sent in advance to forums@orindaassociation.org or asked in person on the night of the forum.
Monitored by the League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley, forums will be held at the Library Auditorium, 26 Orinda Way, and on Zoom. The meetings will also be recorded and available on LWV/DV YouTube, http://www.votersedge.org and CCTV Comcast 26.
The first forum featured the six candidates vying for the three positions on the Orinda City Council, took place Oct. 6 at 6 p.m., and can be viewed at https://youtu.be/IprxtLYhyoQ. Candidates Alex Drexel, Stuart House, Brandyn Iverson, Latika Malkani, Sunil Rajaraman and Janet Riley were be in attendance. The Orinda News asked the candidates several preliminary questions. See page 11 for their answers.
On Oct. 13 at 6 p.m., https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86751099403, the four candidates for two seats on the MOFD board will discuss their views on matters related to the fire department and protection of residents. Steven Danziger (incumbent) and Vince Dell’Aquila will compete for the District 3 spot with Michael Donner (incumbent) and Michael Roemer vying for the open position in District 4. Answers to their preliminary questions are on page 13.
The OUSD forum is Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m., https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86751099403. Candidates Michelle Chang, Edda Collins Coleman, Linda Delehunt, Eve Phillips and Katie Shogan will share their opinions on a variety of school-related topics as they vie for the three positions available on the OUSD Board of Trustees. See page 15 for answers to their preliminary questions.
This forum is co-sponsored by ONE Orinda and Las Trampas Creek Council of PTAs.
Residents are encouraged to send questions in advance for the three forums by emailing forums@orindaassociation.org. Questions for the City Council forum are due Oct. 3, and questions for the MOFD and OUSD forums are due Oct. 10. Questions can also be voiced the nights of the forums.
On Oct. 12 at 7 p.m., candidates for the Acalanes Union High School District Governing Board will discuss their positions with voters. The seven candidates running for three open positions are Jennifer Chen, Clayton Gardner, Nancy Kendzierski (incumbent), Gabe Ledeen, Renee Nowac, Christopher Severson (incumbent) and Mark Woolway.
Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley, Las Trampas Creek Council of PTAs, Acalanes High School Parents’ Club, Campolindo High School Parents’ Club, Las Lomas High School PTSA and Miramonte High School Parents’ Club, the forum will be held at Del Valle Education Center, Room 401, 1963 Tice Valley Blvd, Walnut Creek.
For questions regarding the AUHSD forum, email voter.services@lwvdv.org.
Sally Hogarty can be reached at sally@theorindanews.com.
