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San Mateo County, CA November 6, 2001 Election
Smart Voter

Is it a conflict of interest to have firefighters and former firefighters of our District on the Board of Directors?

By Joe Loomis

Candidate for Board Member; Point Montara Fire Protection District; 4 Year Term

This information is provided by the candidate
Answer: Yes
In its August 22 Editorial, the Half Moon Bay Review encouraged candidates for upcoming local elections to " run clean and honest campaigns" inasmuch as the "voters deserve to know for whom and for what they are voting". In addition the Review stated that "individuals and organizations contributing to campaigns often indicate where the candidate's sympathies lie" and for that reason it behooves voters to investigate the sources of campaign funding as well as the true intentions of the candidates.

As a candidate for one of the three open seats on the Point Montara Fire Protection District Board of Directors this is my response to the Review's request for openness and candor. Financing for my campaign comes from my own personal funds and contributions from individual citizen taxpayers who are, after all, the owners of the Fire District.

I believe that the Board should consist of citizen taxpayers who are not allied with any particular group but who represent the community at large.

I believe it is cause for concern when current or former employee firefighters of the Fire District sit on the Board. While I do not belittle their knowledge of emergency services, I believe it creates a conflict of interest inasmuch as one of the Board's duties is to represent taxpayers in negotiating contracts with the employees.

I also believe it is cause for concern when Directors do not even live in our District.

Joe Loomis

Moss Beach

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ca/sm Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 7, 2001 16:42
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