Candidates' Night Opening Statement

By Pat Anderson

I also have the luxury of working in Oakley. I wish this for everyone. I have been a teacher in the Oakley Union Elementary School District for nearly 20 years and an educator for 35. I am exposed to life in and the citizens of Oakley 24 hours a day. I live the traffic issues and understand our circulation challenges from morning through evening. My father's membership in the Oakley Seniors Club brought the senior community near and made them dear to my heart and although my father is no longer on this plane, the open arms of the seniors remain a treasure to my life.

For me, serving on the City Council is a labor of love. I view myself as a community advocate and not a politician. I study issues in depth and respectfully listen and consider citizen, staff and council input. I regard the impact of a decision not for the moment but for the long haul. Being a councilmember means understanding that not everyone will agree with what you do. It takes being prepared and timely and ever vigilant. It means respecting differences as well as agreements and being grateful for the efforts of our lean and amazing staff. It means sacrifice and time away from loved ones. It means making a difference and being part of the process. I want to continue to make a difference.

There is still much to do in the City of Oakley.

• We need to maintain and add to our business base so that jobs, goods and services and sales tax dollars can remain local. As we create our walkable downtown, we need to seek unique businesses that will compliment our larger retail development.

• We need to continue to grow our police department to keep it effective and efficient.

• We need to find a solution to our fire service constraints to keep fire service safe for the firefighters and the citizens.

• We need to continue to review and build the toolbox we have to deal with code enforcement issues. Our recent addition of the rental inspection program and property maintenance standards has added great tools but we need to use them wisely and rapidly especially in this time of foreclosures and an ever increasing rental market.

• We need to be ever vigilant of and vocal about our Delta for its health reflects on our health. We must be watchful of the businesses, landowners and organizations which impact our Delta shores and work to bring citizen access to our shoreline, for it is one of our most precious and yet hidden attributes.

• We need to find funds and means to help our library grow and create a home for it off of the Freedom campus.

• We need to work with our growing senior population to coordinate activities and facilities to keep them an active and vibrant part of our community.

• We need to grow our recreation offerings to keep young adults +past high school - active in healthy and positive activities and use their energy and expertise to better our community rather than challenging it.

• We need to continue our great job of road maintenance, implement our Neighborhood Traffic Calming measures and continue our Capital Improvements to better circulation in our community +be it by foot or wheel.