Preston Park Candidates Forum September 28, 2002

By Ken Gray

I want to help you as voters make an intelligent choice by clearly telling you who I am and where I stand on the issues. And I challenge all the other candidates to do the same. I don't think you should make voting decisions based on lawn signs.

The League of Women's Voters is trying to help voters be informed by offering all candidates a free web site to post their information. Look for it at http://www.SmartVoter.org. Despite it being available for over a month, as of today, I am the only candidate for office in Marina that has posted information on the League's site. I challenge all the other candidates to be open and honest with the voters by taking advantage of this free service offered by the League. I urge all of you, as voters, to demand this level of openness and honestly of all the candidates. That web address again is http://www.SmartVoter.org.

As for who I am, I would describe myself as a stable, hard working 52 year old man, dedicated to his family and to public service. My wife Pat and I have been married for 26 years. We have two boys ages 16 and 19. We own a home in the Cypress Cove neighborhood. We have lived in Marina for 15 years during which we have been active in youth programs including pony baseball, soccer and cub and boy scouts. Pat is not here today because she is camping with the Scouts this weekend at Pico Blanco.

I have been employed as a ranger, ecologist and planner for California State Parks for 29 years. I am proud to have had a leadership role in many of the major projects that State Parks has undertaken in this area over the years including habitat restoration, trail construction and public access improvements at Marina and Monterey State Beaches and at Point Lobos. My State Parks experience will be valuable as I work for you as a member of the City Council.

I am currently serving as a member of the Marina Planning Commission and Design Review Board.

I am a strong supporter of environmental protection and land use planning. I was a principal organizer of Marina 2020 Vision which organized the Measure E campaign to establish Marina's Urban Growth Boundary 2 years ago. I am a board member of LandWatch Monterey County.

As for where I stand on key issues, here are a few highlights:

" I will work to increase housing opportunities for all income levels in Marina. Work forces housing should be the highest priority. At Fort Ord, Preston Park and CSUMB provide models for how we can create substantial, permanent affordable housing options for our residents.

" Seniors on fixed incomes need special attention. Residents of Mobile Home Parks should be protected from unfair rent increases with a rent stabilization ordinance as they are in most communities in California.

" I will support open government in Marina. The present City Council is making too many decisions in closed session. Closed session action over Measure E resulting in over $200,000 being lost to unnecessary legal fees.

" I support development of new recreation facilities and programs in Marina. We need a swim center, senior center and a gym. We should work to establish a Boys and Girls Club in Marina.

" To fund new recreation programs we need to build our tax base. I support development of the Marina Knolls Golf Resort near the airport which could generate over $1 million in annual income to the city.

" I support the Marina Larger Library Project and urge everyone to vote yes on Measure R.

" I support establishment of a greenbelt recreation trail around Marina and conversion of our ugly percolation basins to pocket parks and other uses.

" I support development of a real downtown for Marina. We can create a pedestrian oriented area similar to Alvarado Street in Monterey.

" I support new developments that emphasize pedestrians and bicycles and less dependence on the automobile. Different housing types should be mixed together. Shopping and office areas should be in walking distance of where most people live. Apartments over businesses should be encouraged.

" I support full implementation of the Marina Public Safety Department's Community Policing Program. I want our officers paid competitive wages and to live in our neighborhoods.

" The City should aggressively work to find new uses for the K-Mart site. I support creating more options for private developers to develop restaurants, motels, miniature golf, a bowling alley and/or movie theatre for the site. Options for housing should also be considered.

" I support the Monterey County General Plan principal that most new growth in the county should occur in and adjacent to existing cities. The county's limited water and land resources should not be going exclusively into luxury second and retirement homes and golf courses when working people can't find decent placers to live. We need to preserve our agricultural lands.