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Arne Olson, a former Pleasanton Planning Commission who recently retired as an executive with Comerica Bank, announced Wednesday that he will seek election to the City Council in November.
Local politicians had been urging Olson to run for one of two open seats on the council in the Nov. 4 municipal election. He told a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce board of directors, where he’s also a member, that he has agreed to enter the race.
“Over the last several months a number of people have approached me asking me to run,” Olson said. “I love Pleasanton and after eight years on the Planning Commission I think I can continue to make a positive contribution to the welfare of our city.”
City Councilwoman Kathy Narum, who was elected in a special mail-in vote in May, 2013 to fill the council seat vacated by Jerry Thorne when he was elected mayor in November 2012, has also announced that she will seek election to a full four-year term in the council.
A second seat will open in November with the departure of Councilwoman Cheryl Cook-Kallio, whose eight-year term expires then.
Olson stepped down from the Planning Commission May 14 after his eight-year term also expired.
He said a few weeks later that he was considering a run for the council, but wanted to complete a move with his wife into a new home in the gated adult community in the Ironwood community on Busch Road before making a decision.
Hooray! Crook-Callio is finally going to be off the City Council. It will be wonderful indeed to have one more of The Three Stooges off the Council. With both the Hippy Mayor and Crook-Callio off the Council, there is hope for it being less left-wing loony.
Another bought and paid for Chamber of Commerce candidate!
A much nicer vibe: Can we all get along?
If you say anything on this site that runs counter to the PW’s political agenda, your post gets deleted. The latest case in point was making a comment about the politics of our former Mayor Hosterman and Councilperson Cook-Callio. Zapped! The PW is political soulmates with both of those politicians. That’s how leftists work. Their interpretation of freedom of the press is the freedom to zap anything counter to the publication’s biases.
well well well…if nomo loons, have you tried LUMPIA?
i rest my case…
I have known Arne for years. He is being supported by the Chamber of Commerce to carry out their ideas of GROWTH here in Pleasanton! Builders and developers will line up to support him. No spot of land is safe. He does not care about Pleasanton’s housing cap or the will of the people that live here in town.
Isn’t there anyone in town that will run against this arrogant idiot? He should not take office in this town.
This fool, with no regards to the longtime residences of Pleasanton voted for the Section 8 housing being build near the new Safeway. Say buh-bye to our once pristine bastion of lillywhiteness.
He does not support the previous voters approved housing cap (which was shot down in court by outside entities), and he wants us to accept all the new housing coming to Pleasanton. But then he goes and buys a house in a gated community. Why does he think he needs to live in a gated community? Is he worried about the new housing/apartments he wants everyone else to accept?
Arne, I was pleasantly surprised to hear that you would be running for City Council this fall. Many of us have our own opinions about what makes Pleasanton great, but not many of us are willing to put in the time serving in public leadership. Thanks to both you and Carol for being willing to continue the sacrifice of time and effort!
CONGRATULATIONS FOR RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE! VIVA!
now…go out and do your stuff! HOORAY!
Vote NO for Arne. I have heard him speak at a couple of planning commission meetings. He doesn’t like to preserve the old historic homes, he wants more houses in town, he is supported Oak Grove and cutting off the hills, and the pro-growth chamber wants to put money in his coffers – do I need to say more?
Toss him out and let’s look for someone that won’t cut off the hills to put mcmansions on them!
Another patsy for James Paxson and the Hacienda Business Park (or should I say Hacienda Multi-Use whatever). Did anyone read the planning commission report for the Summerhill Apartment complex? It reads like a marketing brochure for Summerhill. The planning commission literally handed Summerhill and Hacienda this and the Anton properties on a silver platter without regard on how these buildings will affect the residents on the other side of Mocho Arroyo Creek. I cannot believe someone on the planning commission could walk behind the Parkside residents’ backyards and not think that a four story structure would be insane. The planning commission also perpetuated the lie that these properties were being built to satisfy the Regional Housing Need Allocation (RHNA). They were not. The only purpose was to satisfy the hand-out that Hacienda asked for. Every time there is a down turn in the economy, Hacienda is there with their hands out wanting to convert business property into something else. Tom Pico, former mayor, was aghast at what Hacienda was doing to Pleasanton. Even Ken Mercer, another former mayor, wanted structures to be three stories or less. The planning commission in their report stated that the traffic generated by these apartment complexes would be of critical concern. But then they went on to write that this would be handled at a later date. What? So I hope none of the planning commissioners run for city council. They have already wrecked Pleasanton enough. We do not need another Jerry Thorne, Jennifer Hosterman, or Matt Sullivan. And Jerry, you have yet to explain why you said “my hands are tied” when speaking to the group of people from Parkside about the Summerhill apartment complex. How could they be tied if you voted for rezoning these two properties on W Las Positas Blvd? Seems to me you made the choice to urbanize Hacienda and don’t know how to sell it to the public. So you made up some lame excuse.
During 2 different meetings I saw this man be rude, condescending and negative. I work for a local business and can’t imagine supporting this guy. I have no idea why the Chamber would back him. It can’t be because of his business networking.
Maybe growth, growth and more growth, which I think will ruin Pleasanton. The amount of traffic now is almost unbearable at Valley and Santa Rita. Sorry no, I can’t support this guy.
oh…
I am a developer of many projects here in town. We provide housing for low and very low income people that will be moving to Pleasanton. We also offer housing for people that are Section 8 renters.
I think Mr. Olson is great! He has supported many of my projects as a Planning Commissioner, and I am sure he will continue to be a strong supporter for my type of housing in the East Pleasanton and throughout town.
Where can I write a big FAT check to his campaign?
@What is wrong with more apartments. I sense sarcasm. If not then you can approach the city council about building high rise section 8 housing in Ruby Hills. Just think, the first low income housing community with a gated entrance. Wow. I am sure all the residents of Ruby Hill would enjoy the added diversity to their neighborhoods.
It could be in a few years that people of color in your neighborhoods will INCREASE the value of your property.
In ten years, you will have no choice…people of color will be everywhere…
maybe it’s time to leave the USA. VIVA AMERICA! VIVA!
signed,
k fuzz