City Council Candidates Sound Off

Plans for the Dublin's downtown district, a broader vision for business expansion, and thoughts on a charter school were some of the topics discussed by the four candidates seeking two open seats on the City Council during the Sept. 13 forum co-hosted by the League of Women Voters of Livermore-Amador Valley and the American Association of University Women.

During an hour that was more discussion than debate, appointed incumbent Don Biddle and incumbent Kate Ann Scholz shared their thoughts and stances along with two challengers; Dublin planning commissioner Eric Swalwell, who serves as a Deputy District Attorney for the Alameda County District Attorney's Office and Shawn Costello, who first ran for City Council 26 years ago. 

The hour long forum opened with each candidate's view regarding the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan, which has taken over 10 years to fully realize. Dublin's design for revitalizing its downtown region (encompassing the expanse between 1-680 to the east and San Ramon Road to the west, and Arnador Valley Boulevard to the north and Dublin Boulevard to the south) divides the approximately 51 acre area into three districts: transit, Village Parkway, and retail.

Biddle commented on the plans's inclusion of high density housing while Scholz emphasized her excitement regarding the 2011 opening of the West Dublin/Pleasanton station. Costello, an advocate for both the disabled and the "Average Joe", wants to ensure that downtown sidewalks and thoroughfares are easily accessible and safe for bicycles, strollers, and wheelchairs, to make the community's intended meeting spot, "feasible for everyone."

"The downtown should be pedestrian friendly," agreed Swalwell, adding that, "The downtown district must be unique to Dublin. We can't say we want it to be like Walnut Creek or Pleasanton. We want it to reflect our goals and values."

Candidates then discussed their broader visions for the downtown specific businesses, specifically how to keep existing businesses within the bounds of downtown, as well as attracting new ones in to what plans to be the epicenter of city economics. Scholz mentioned planned ventures Cellar 9 Wine Bar and the city's second Target store as integral parts of the broader revitalization spectrum.  

All four candidates agreed that the charter school movement has no place in Dublin, as such schools are meant to correct "under-performing" districts, according to Biddle. 

In addition, the panel discussed the impact of the State of California's budget crisis on Dublin's economy. While they all felt that a diligent watch should be kept on the city's coffer, the four candidates agreed that Dublin is fortunate to have a budget surplus of $65 million, a fact stated by Scholz.

The meeting closed with the Biddle, Costello, Scholz, and Swalwell discussing which local politicians and organizations support each of them in the Nov. 2 election. 

For more information on each candidate, visit the League of Women Voters of Livermore-Amador Valley's website at lav.ca.lwvnet.org.

Dublin Patch will continue to follow this race and will be publishing a Q&A with each candidate in the coming weeks.