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Planning Commissioner Kathy Narum launched her bid for election to the Pleasanton City Council at a breakfast fundraiser where more than 100 gave her a standing ovation and pledged their support.
Narum is one of four seeking to fill the empty seat on the council, a vacancy created last November when then-Councilman Jerry Thorne was elected mayor. Thorne was among those at the campaign launch breakfast.
Others who will be on the May 7 ballot are Mark Hamilton, a wrestling coach at Amador Valley High School and director of financial services at ADP in Pleasanton; David Miller, director of engineering program management for a Silicon Valley semiconductor company, and Olivia Sanwong, a graduate of Amador Valley High School and a member of Pleasanton’s Economic Vitality Committee, who holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Simmons College’s School of Management in Boston.
Narum, who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from UC Davis, is in her fifth year on the Planning Commission. She has been active in civic events since moving to Pleasanton in 1996.
Prior to her appointment to the Planning Commission, Narum served on the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission for five years. She is also past president of the Pleasanton Seahawks swimming organization, a member of the city’s East Pleasanton Specific Plan Task Force and is chairwoman of the city’s Heritage Tree board of appeals.
She said fellow Planning Commissioner Arne Olson has agreed to serve as her campaign treasurer, and that Planning Commissioner Jennifer Pearce will be co-manager of her campaign. Also named a co-campaign manager is Nancy Allen, a Danbury Park neighborhood homeowner who introduced Narum at the campaign breakfast fundraiser.
She is married to Jeff Narum and the couple has two grown daughters, Jennifer and Lisa, who work on the East Cost.
After college, Narum was employed as a chemical engineer, but with the arrival of the couple’s first daughter, she chose to be a stay-at-home. As both daughters later started swimming with the Pleasanton Seahawks, she also volunteered her time to work with the organization, joining its board of directors and eventually becoming president. At the same time, she also became active with city and other civic organizations.
“Through my service in these groups, I’ve talked with many residents across Pleasanton and gained invaluable knowledge of the issues facing the city and what’s important,” Narum told her supporters.
She said her top three priorities as a councilwoman would be to promote the city’s fiscal sustainability, maintain Pleasanton’s high quality of life and preserve and create more parks and open space for all age groups.
Responding to a question at the breakfast meeting by long-time resident Jack Bras, she also said another priority of hers would be to improve and beautify Pioneer Cemetery. The cemetery was acquired a few years ago from the International Order of Odd Fellows by a then-reluctant City Council. The cemetery has no water sprinkler system or caretaker.
With regard to one of Narum’s key priorities, fiscal sustainability, she said it’s critical “as it ensures the availability of money to reinvest in our community for capital projects and to help maintain our high quality of life.”
“Sometimes, when people talk about fiscal sustainability, they only refer to pension reform,” she said. “However, there are really two parts to fiscal health and we need to look at both: the expense side and revenues.”
“With regards to expense, it’s not only pensions we need to look at, but include every line item in the budget,” she added. “To only talk about pension reform ignores the revenue side of the city finances, where I believe opportunities would be missed.”
She said that the city’s unfunded pension liabilities are still a major concern, but that reducing them needs to be done in a way that is both fair to employees and also fair to residents and supports the long term fiscal sustainability of the city
With regard to municipal revenue, Narum said she would work with the owner of Stoneridge Shopping Center to support its redevelopment to maximize revenues. This would include being proactive in supporting the development of the approximately 250,000 additional square feet for retail that has been approved for the mall.
At the same time, Narum would encourage owners of older shopping centers to look at revitalizing their properties to make them more attractive so that more Pleasanton residents and those from other cities would shop here. That would generate more sales tax revenue and keep property values up which will positively impact property tax dollars, she said.
Narum also wants to review, update and consolidate the planning documents for the Hacienda Business Park.
“These documents have not had a comprehensive review for 20 years,” Narum said. “It’s important that the management of the business park has the ability to attract prospective companies and respond to their needs with an understanding of the process for getting approval of a city application. This should be done now so that we’re ready to respond as the economy improves and we don’t lose opportunities.”
As part of seeking municipal revenue growth, Narum said the city will need to simplify its permit process where it makes sense.
“We need to keep the focus on this issue so that we continue to challenge ourselves to improve the process, ensure that expectations are clear for all parties involved and avoid unnecessary work where possible,” she said. “I certainly understand and appreciate that time is money as all of you do.”
“Now let’s talk about my second priority, preserving our high quality of life in Pleasanton,” Narum said. “What does quality of life mean to you? Is it keeping Pleasanton’s small town feel? Is it ensuring responsible growth, maintaining our wonderful downtown, keeping our schools great, ensuring public safety, having beautiful parks? For me it’s these and many other things that contribute to maintaining our quality of life.”
For example, she cited the ongoing work of the East Pleasanton Specific Plan task force that is now considering the best uses for 1,000 acres of mostly undeveloped land east of Valley Avenue and along Busch Road and Stanley Boulevard.
“This task force needs to take into account the desires of all residents in terms of the open space, residential needs and retail and commercial development in a balanced approach and in a way that nearby neighborhoods are not burdened by traffic from any development,” Narum said.
She also promised that as a member of the City Council, she would support a strong collaboration between the city government and the Pleasanton school district. This could include sharing of resources for activities away from the classroom and also looking for land for new schools if required.
Narum said she has heard from many in Pleasanton who say they like and want to retain the small town feel of Pleasanton.
“Nothing says ‘small town’ more than our downtown,” Narum said. “I served on the downtown Hospitality Task Force, which was formed to identify ways to make our downtown more vibrant. It’s important that residents go downtown for shopping, dining and entertainment to support the businesses. I support the downtown and will make it a priority to encourage new businesses (there) and to look at ideas to help solve the parking problem in downtown”
Not only does Kathy have the most experience of the candidates, she has specific ideas on how to make great things happen for Pleasanton, based on all her experience. I wonder if any of the other candidates have specific ideas or if they’re just going to co opt Kathy’s.
Experience + specifics is why I’m voting for Kathy!
Kathy has my vote! Her experience speaks for itself. I know what her agenda is & I think it’s the best thing for Pleasanton to have a candidate that is in the “middle” and not so one sided.
Kathy has my vote and I am delighted such an experienced person is running for this important seat.
I have known Kathy many years and always found her to be an independent thinker who does her homewortk before making decisions and solicits input from many members of the community. She really listens to public input and that is so important so our leaders stay grounded on what the needs and issues are and do the right thing for the overall good of the community.
Yes, I’m in Kathy’s camp…she’s common sense too !! She puts Pleasanton first….not an extremist, not a partisan activist. She’s about Pleasanton first, last, and always.
Where does she stand of the issue of freedom?
Good for Kathy for taking the leap. We need more candidates that have the strong civic experience Kathy brings to this role to be able to effect change and maintain our high quality of life.
Sounds like another DEVELOPER and CHAMBER funded meal ticket.
Libertarian raises an excellent point. Experience is one thing, but where does Kathy stand on freedom? Is she for it or will she bow to one of the socialist manefestoes out there?
I certainly hope people who are consumed with issues outside Pleasanton, don’t drag that into our issues of street signs, banks, restaurants, traffic. We will be voting for ‘CITY’ council, and don’t intend to be ‘used’ as an experiment for partisans. I want who has done the most for Pleasanton, understands Pleasanton, and whose only focus is Pleasanton.
Also ‘single issue’ people are deadly….YOU know who you are….this could get ugly, you’re not fooling ANYbody!….sort of an abuse of position too.
I don’t want someone whose “only focus is Pleasanton”. Sounds a bit parochial. How about someone like David Miller, who wants the best for Pleasanton, but also knows what is going on in other communities. If you don’t put some focus on Stockton and Vallejo, you may be inclined to make the same mistakes they made. Up until recently we had a City Council that was taking us down the road to bankruptcy, and it was David Miller and a few others who took the time to attend Council meetings and fight against more fiscal irresponsibility. I did not see Kathy Narum speaking out at those meetings, and I have yet to see any platform with solid positions, only the usual abstracts. I’m sure all of those running for Council would say they are focused on Pleasanton, care about Pleasanton, have experience in Pleasanton, etc. None of that means anything. When the unions want the taxpayers to pay for their early retirement, lifetime health care, too-high salaries, etc., will Kathy represent us, or is she being backed by the unions?
Bill Fazakerly
I agree with Bill wholeheatedly. If Kathy doesn’t or won’t defend us against the United Nations – there coming, did you hear the jet last night? – then what good can she do? I think unless each candidate takes a pledge in support of freedom they shouldn’t be alloud on the ticket. That’s why Miller makes so much sense to me.
Well Bill, IF you and your group had been engaged very long, you would know just how deeply involved at multiple levels Kathy has been for YEARS. Those who just suddenly got involved in the last two years, wouldn’t know about that long list of leading and doing. Kathy’s a doer, not a talker.
Of course Kathy has been and is on the Planning Commission.
Those of you who have not been engaged over the years, would have missed observing that it has not been the practice for Council members to speak before Planning Commission, not for Commissioners to crusade before Council. Sort of official decoroum and practice.
As you become more aware of Pleasanton’s history, you will learn Kathy has been there making things happen.
She will definitely ‘represent us’ in fixing the union problem.
The silence on this is becoming deafaning. Notice how no one is talking about real issues? Like freedom. Do this, do that, experience, blah, blah. But we have the United Nations sending survaillence planes over our hills and no one seems to think this is a question of our liberties being trampled from a far.
I was able to ask Kathy at her breakfast about unions as that’s an issue for me. She told me she is not accepting endorsments or money from any unions. So Bill, making unions an issue is a non-starter. Why don’t you contact her and ask her position on unions?
BTW, my oberservation of people in attendance at the breakfast was that it was a wide cross section of the community–people on opposite sides of issues.
I see, but she takes money and endorsements from others? Isn’t that an unbridgement of free speech rights? So, who is paying her off? Banks? Oil? Developers? UN Forces? How can anyone trust someone like this? And who paid for her breakfast? Whose financing her run? Come on, be honest with us…..
OMG! TPer, I am embarrassed for you. I think you should try larger forums. Pleasanton is a small town not even approaching 100,000. Our country has many experts to focus on United Nations. I want a council that solves my LOCAL property taxes, starting with local public unions. These are issues we want to solve LOCALLY, without interference from either Sacramento or DC. Both of whom are intruding far more than they should. Our agenda is full without adding the United Nations to our local agenda.
I’m not sure your TPer mouth would help our United Nation issues, which I want solved too. TPers would do well to learn where, when, how, and WHAT is appropriate to discuss. This is small town USA with VERY SERIOUS LOCAL issues WE WANT solved, with few hours, and fewer dollars. PICK your battles. Picket the White House, and get on NATIONAL TV, but please to do distract from our VERY SERIOUS LOCAL issues. I am engaged in national issues I don’t ask council to spend time solving. Please take on the United Nations for us and give us a 3 minute report at city council.
Notice how nobody’s ansering my questions? If Kathy isn’t taking money or endorsements from unions, whose she taking them from? If the unions dont have her in their back pocket, who does? She has got a be taken money from somebody.
And by the way, when the UN has its big nose sticking in all our affairs, trying to get cars off the streets and the like, it is very much a local issue.
I am a proud Republican who is very embarrassed by the lastest round of e-mails from Tea Party afficionados insisting that anyone other than their Tea Party candidate, David Miller, is on the “take.” This kind of dialogue is not constructive. If this is the only way Dave Miller and the Tea Party does business – my way or the highway – i am not interested. I would hope all candidates for City Council woud be opem minded and role model positive leadership and specifics about what they will do to make Pleasanton stronger (vs. just slamming others and not describing their own action plan).
Kathy Narum has been very clear about her priorities and totally open about meeting with others who have any questions. I am hopeful that the Tea Party afficiandos will begin to do the same in respect to others.
Dear RINO,
Just another way of not ansering the question. Whose filling Narum’s campaign coffins? Why does she take from some and not others? Whose lining her pockets?
TPP, so why don’t you tell us who is filling the campaign coffers of Dave Miller? The tea partiers have indicated its not the unions–ok so who is then or is Dave funding his own campaign which would indicate a lack of community support. . .
To “An Embarrassed Republican”:
If you are new to this forum you will not know that there are groups of people posting messages that are just “trouble makers” for lack of a better term. It is quite possible, and probable even, that the person who is posting as a “tea party person” is on somebody’s campaign trying to make the tea party look bad by posting rubbish, and thus hurting the changes of somebody who might have affiliations with the tea party. You have no idea if this person is in the tea party, a supporter of any candidate who may or may not be a tea party person, or a supporter of any other candidate trying to improve their changes. This tactic has been used before on this forum ad-nauseum.
As another piece of information, there have been multiple tea parties in this area. At one time it was a group of concerned taxpayers who feel they have been “taxed enough already” (TEA). This was a group of republicans, independents and democrats. It was not a party-affiliation but a group concerned on the never-ending requests for new taxes when the government unwisely spends the money we already give them. There is also another tea party which some would call way to the right on the political spectrum. Might even be more variants out there.
This forum probably has people from all campaigns posting positive things for their candidate and negative things for the other candidates. People are anonymous. Best that you don’t use any information learned here in your decision on who to vote for.
My guess is that every candidate running has an interest in their community but different ideas on what is best for their community. You need to look at the issues, as told by the candidates themselves, to decide which candidate best reflects how you want the city to run.
The truth is Kathy is financially backed by the Chamber and Developers. ALL Pro-Growth. Brace yourself if she wins, the houses are coming all over Pleasanton!
More tea party spin. . .what basis do you have for that comment considering no financial disclosures have been filed?
Pretty sure one of the guiding principles of the tea party is property rights. Which means zoning out the window so build anything anywhere, wherever. Developers got to love the tea party candidate!
Are there any candidates who show genuine concern for working people (including union members, who are working people also), or are they all pro-development/developers, chamber of commerce employers?
What on earth is this problem people have with being “pro-growth”, or “pro-development”? Pleasanton could use more houses and businesses. It will grow our tax base. It will help restore programs to the schools. And please don’t say Pleasanton will become like Dublin. I don’t get that either. I think Dublin is also a nice place.
@”Are there any candidates who show genuine concern for working people (including union members, who are working people also), or are they all pro-development/developers, chamber of commerce employers?”
You must be joking. I think I speak for all Pleasanton residents when I say that we moved here to get away from working class. Now we find ourselves in a trying situation where our public servents are asking more then we can afford. High unsustainables and unfunded liabilities just because our public servents want to live high off the hog. If we give back to our job creaters what they deserve maybe some of the public servents can come back.
John,
Growth that pays for its impacts, with adequate fees and mitigations, can strengthen a City. The 3000 new high density housing units that have just been approved, and many thousands to come, are not mitigated with adequate school impact fees or other mitigations that will pay their own way. Pleasanton schools, community resources, and roads will be overburdened and new taxes will be asked for in the form of more bonds and parcel taxes to mitigate the damage.
I will support someone who I know has the courage to to stand up to this threat to our community. I will support David Miller.
Folks, please do not be duped by the supposed “Tea Party” participant here. The Troll is merely using the most rabid stereotypes of what he/she/it assumes a Republican, conservative type of Tea Party affiliate’s mindset and opinion would be on this subject matter and is here only to irk the Town Square and defame the Right leaning folks in this town.
Douchebaggery has yet again crept into our midst, ignore the cretin and it will go away.
Go away Troll, SHOOOO, SHOOOO!!
TPP, if you are referring to protecting “freedom” and the whole UN aspect of having more control over local issues then I strongly suggest that you look into what is happening with the implementation of all of the public housing, transportation and taxing aspects of UN Agenda 21 within the Tri-valley and throughout Northern California.
Or is that just a big liberal lie too?
Does it bother anyone that Kathy Narum has been seen regularly having drinks with developers after planning commission meetings?
The UN Agenda 21 is very real, and it is impacting Pleasanton in a very big way. ABAG is dictating more and more high density housing, and our City Council just continues to go along with it. FINALLY, Palo Alto is waking up to the fact that membership in ABAG brings no benefits, while their demands are destroying the city. Another 2,000 plus units of high density housing is on the table in Palo Alto, and their City Council is planning to appeal. There is even talk of withdrawing from ABAG – the absolutely best thing that any Bay Area city can do. Anyone who thinks that the UN agenda is not a local problem needs to wake up. It is time for us to carefully cast our votes because the stakes are much higher than downtown lighting and beautifying Pioneer Park. David Miller can intelligently discuss these more important issues, and it isn’t clear whether the other candidates are even aware of the issues. In Palo Alto they are finally figuring out that another 2000 units of high-density housing is really a local issue.
Bill Fazakerly
Great, withdraw from ABAG and have no seat at the table yet the housing numbers are still asigned to Pleasanton, but without Pleasanton having any say in their allocation, per state law. That makes a lot of sense. . .if that’s intelligent discussion then no thanks! Withdrawing from ABAG doesn’t make housing numbers go away–does Dave Miller NOT understand that?
If you value freedom, you stand tall as an individual and resist the United Nations tyrranical take over methods that are oozing there way into every bashton of our individual liberty.
Having a seat at the table does absolutely no good. Their staff members, who have no accountability to the cities, come up with formulas and then assign housing numbers to cities. The whole “regional housing need” is a joke. At what point can we say “enough is enough”? You cannot keep adding housing and keep a quality of life. The whole housing need is an unfunded mandate. How about leaving some land open for “affordable” housing, 100% financed for by the State of California (the ones forcing us to build subsidized housing). That land will remain vacant until the State finances it and pays all the mitigation fees for all of the impacts it puts on our community (schools, traffic. etc.).
However, I think better that withdrawing from ABAG it would be better to withdraw from Alameda County. The low-income housing pricing for Pleasanton is set at the county level. We have nothing in common with Oakland, Hayward, and the whole west-county. Plus they will always have more people so they will continue to tell us what to do as they have more votes at the agency level as well as the voters (for new taxes). Oakland will only be happy when Pleasanton is just like them.
And as for enough housing, isn’t Dublin doing a good enough job for the whole east bay? They have a jobs-housing balance that is way out of wack with too much housing. But hey, if that is what they want to do, go for it. Just don’t make all cities be required to follow their lead. What is actually the point of having the concept of a city if the city has no control over its land-use?