City Councilwoman Cheryl Cook-Kallio has launched her campaign for election to the mayor's post in Pleasanton, telling supporters that she has a long history of getting things done here with the strong, proactive leadership capabilities required to make decisions critical to the city's future.
Cook-Kallio, a longtime Pleasanton resident, teaches civics, government and American history at Irvington High School in Fremont. She was first elected to the City Council in 2006, and then again in 2010.
She is competing in the election for mayor with fellow Councilman Jerry Thorne, who is also in the second year of his final four-year term on the council. So far, they are the only two seeking the mayor's post which is being vacated this year by Mayor Jennifer Hosterman, who is completing the final year of the eight years allowed under Pleasanton's term limits law.
Supporters of Cook-Kallio filled the home and outside patio of the home of Amirra and Dr. Basil Besh on Club House Drive, the road leading to the Callippe Preserve golf course clubhouse. Her supporters include a long list of state, civic, county and city leaders, including Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty, State Senate Majority Leader Ellen Corbett, Assembly members Joan Buchanan and Bob Wieckowski, who represent Pleasanton, Mayor Tim Sbranti of Dublin and former Livermore Mayor Marshall Kamena.
"The upcoming mayor's race is critical to the future of Pleasanton," Cook-Kallio said. "It will determine the direction of our city for the next 10 years and beyond. I am running for mayor to ensure Pleasanton has the strong, proactive leadership required to make decisions critical to our future."
"Quality of life is very important to us all," she added. "The city has to be financially sustainable. This means that we all work together to make sure that we maintain needed city services and continue to maintain a safe community.
"I understand economics and what is important to all of us," she continued. "As mayor, I will take steps to ensure that we make sound fiscal decisions and maintain a healthy reserve while continuing those things that make Pleasanton a wonderful place to live. We want people to live, work and shop in Pleasanton."
She said that because of recent court-ordered and state government imposed rulings, the city has rezoned more than 75 acres of vacant land to accommodate low- to middle-income high density housing.
"As you know the city does not build housing, we only zone for it," she reminded supporters at her election campaign rally. "But once zoned, they will come. It is critical that we plan well and within the law. We can be smart about this. As mayor, I will make sure that all stakeholders are educated in what this means and are involved in the decision making process."
She said that as a public school teacher for more than 35 years, she also understands the impact this housing will have on the city's schools. As a member of the joint city-school Liaison committee, she works closely with the school district to find ways both government agencies can cooperate to strengthen the quality of public education in Pleasanton.
"As mayor, I will have a unique insight to the issues facing our city, including locating property and funding for the 10th elementary school when needed," Cook-Kallio said.
Other priorities Cook-Kallio mentioned are the completion of the Stoneridge Drive extension to El Charro Road, which she supported and is now nearing completion; widening State Route 84 across Pigeon Pass to provide an expressway-type link between I-580 and I-680, thereby reducing cut-through commuter traffic through Pleasanton, and connecting El Charro Road from 580 to Stanley Boulevard.
"This will take a proactive approach," Cook-Kallio said. "I have those critical relationships with the business community and with surrounding elected officials whose cooperation we will need to gain the necessary approvals and funding."
"This election is about issues and effectiveness," she added. "It is about who has the ability and the relationships to get the job done."
Pleasanton's municipal election will be held along with the General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 6. In addition to Cook-Kallio and Thorne vying for the mayor's post, two candidates have also launched campaigns for seats on the City Council. Planning Commission Chairman Jerry Pentin and Realtor Karla Brown are seeking election to the two seats that will open as both council members Cindy McGovern and Matt Sullivan complete their eight years on the council this year.
Comments
Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Jul 3, 2012 at 11:10 am
on Jul 3, 2012 at 11:10 am
Haven't we had enough of left wing loonism with the Hippy Mayor? Cook-Kallio is even more left than the Hippy Mayor! Even though the Mayor's office is supposed to be non-partisan, all of those listed that endorse her are left wing loons. Pleasanton desperately needs a change in direction -- the city is stressed financially, the council and mayor do not stand up to the municipal employees labor unions, they are beholden to unions for campaign contributions (hence the Wal-Mart fiasco), they are beholden to developers for campaign contributions (hence the Lin Family fiasco), the city is continually getting sued because of actions taken by the mayor and the council, and Livermore is supplanting Pleasanton as the "the place to be" in the Tri-Valley because the mayor has had no vision. Cook-Callio would be the Hippy Mayor on steroids. Cook-Callio also has "higher office" ambitions just like the Hippy Mayor, so we once again would have a Mayor more interested in loonism at the National or State level, than being Mayor of Pleasanton. We need someone that's not a left wing loon as Mayor; so would somebody else please run so we don't have one of the The Three Stooges replacing another of The Three Stooges?
Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Jul 3, 2012 at 1:46 pm
on Jul 3, 2012 at 1:46 pm
Jeb doesn't mention that Pleasanton fire fighters were parking cars at this event. Hello, the fire fighter's contract is currently under negotiation with the City Council. This seems to be a huge lapse in judgement. For someone running on I'm for good government, I'd hate to see what bad government is. . .
Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Jul 3, 2012 at 2:38 pm
on Jul 3, 2012 at 2:38 pm
At least Cheryl is up front that she has a real close working relationship with the public employee unions, specifically the fire union here, and will pay back their help when it comes time to negotiate union contract updates. Don't ever expect Cheryl to side with the taxpayers.
When she says "The city has to be financially sustainable. This means that we all work together to make sure that we maintain needed city services and continue to maintain a safe community." that means that she supports every tax increase possible since she will never ask for any concessions from the unions.
To tell you how out of touch she is, she said "As mayor, I will have a unique insight to the issues facing our city, including locating property and funding for the 10th elementary school when needed," not realizing that the district already has the property for the 10th elementary school; Neal Elementary School on Vineyard Avenue that the district purchased some time ago.
She also says "As a member of the joint city-school Liaison committee, she works closely with the school district to find ways both government agencies can cooperate to strengthen the quality of public education in Pleasanton." I guess we can blame her for the mess the school district is currently in with capital, facility, and communication problems (that were not there before Cheryl was on the council).
Hart Middle School
on Jul 3, 2012 at 4:48 pm
on Jul 3, 2012 at 4:48 pm
Same old right wing complaining. The City and the world are changing. If things are so difficult for you to handle here in Pleasanton, run for office yourself. Perhaps its because constructive solutions are needed and "righties" have no real solutions, just complaints.
Mohr Park
on Jul 3, 2012 at 6:55 pm
on Jul 3, 2012 at 6:55 pm
Well who else is running? I don't see all those who complain on these boards lining up to submit their papers to run for mayor. I'm certainly not voting for Steve B. Maybe Arkin will throw his hat in the ring.
Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Jul 4, 2012 at 6:50 am
on Jul 4, 2012 at 6:50 am
Yes - very disturbing that the firefighters were parking the cars for her event. However, had they not been spotted doing so, we wouldn't know about the political influence peddling going on.
Parkside
on Jul 4, 2012 at 7:05 am
on Jul 4, 2012 at 7:05 am
What the PW Forum shows is that theirs a vast groundswelling of grass, bush, and tree root support for many of the posters here. Like steven from Stonehendge, or Nomad, or Stacey or Kathrin Reuggsigar or Arroyo or Unclllehomer or Arnold or Jimfo1 or Ethyl's Mom or Tracey or Casanova Frankenstein. If we all voted it would be a slam dunk and we'd censor the trolloons on the Forum and chase the rest of the lib socialist affirmative action supporters over to Livermore.
California Reflections
on Jul 9, 2012 at 9:04 pm
on Jul 9, 2012 at 9:04 pm
Funny, no mention of firefighters supporting Jerry Thorne in his two elections for Council but they did with manpower and $$$. "Yes Been There" Jerry benefitted by firefighter and other employee support and since you are most likely a Jerry"s "Kid" it figures. "Clementine" you are just plain full of "it". The city is just fine financially with a whole ton of money in reserves but you complain about the employee that keeps your water on, poop flowing down hill your parks nice or the people who protect you. It is OK to spend $10 million on a 250 seat Fire House Arts Center, or gobs of money on a golf course or tons of consultants who were former or retired employees now making the big bucks because the city wants the perception broadcasted that they got expertise when the expertise is in-house. The thing that get's me is it is city management employees who get the "big retirement bucks", not the gardner, policeman or firefighter. Check out the outragous retirements of the Livermore and San Ramon City Managers, the San Ramon Fire Protection District Fire Chief, etc. When our City Manager he will be another big buck Management Retiree who Jerry, Cheryl or whoever is Mayor will award.
Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Jul 11, 2012 at 6:21 pm
on Jul 11, 2012 at 6:21 pm
Does anyone really believe promoting a public employee union member to the position of mayor will help solve the issues related to public employee unions?
Cook-Kallio is part of the problem. Expecting her to be a part of the solution is ridiculous. The woman opposed what little pension reform the city addopted. We just can't continue to allow the public employee unions to negotiate contracts with other public employee union members. Does that make sense?
Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Jul 11, 2012 at 9:41 pm
on Jul 11, 2012 at 9:41 pm
Let me restate without the hypocrisy. Does anyone expect a employer in the private sector help to solve the issues related to development, minimal tax revenue intake, and exploitation of employers? Of course they are part of the problem. They will attempt to treat public employees as if they are nonunionized workers in the private sector -- you know, overworked, underpaid, insecure, without rights -- and will not be effective. Yes, either I or above are indeed as idiotic as we seem.
Ridgeview Commons
on Apr 26, 2017 at 7:18 pm
on Apr 26, 2017 at 7:18 pm
Due to repeated violations of our Terms of Use, comments from this poster are automatically removed. Why?
Ridgeview Commons
on May 1, 2017 at 1:50 am
on May 1, 2017 at 1:50 am
Due to repeated violations of our Terms of Use, comments from this poster are automatically removed. Why?