Brianne Zorn for Martinez Mayor,
Ben Therriault for City Council
Thousand Friends agrees
Editorial: Martinez Badly Needs a New Generation Of Leaders
East Bay Times says:
Martinez has had just two mayors in the last 38 years. Three of the five current City Council members have served at least two decades. It’s time for change. The city needs fresh leaders, not a recycling of the old guard.
For mayor in the Nov. 8 election, voters should select Brianne Zorn, a councilwoman elected two years ago who has brought badly needed fresh perspective. And for two City Council seats on the ballot, the best candidates are Jay Howard in District 1 and Ben Therriault in District 4.
Zorn is hands down the best person to replace him. A botanist and environmental scientist, she’s smart, articulate, well-informed on city issues and exceptionally communicative with her constituents.
She wants to restore trust in city government while better supporting its undersized staff. When she ran for City Council two years ago, she pressed for the independent redistricting commission and was a driving force in making it happen after she was elected. Zorn has led the charge for change. She would be the mayor the city needs.
Three of the six mayoral candidates are part of the two-decade club — leaders who have had their chance and should move on. Mark Ross has served on the council for 26 years, Lara DeLaney’s tenure has lasted 20 years, and Mike Menesini was mayor for 18 years before Schroder and then served on the council for eight more before voters finally booted him.
Menesini is especially problematic. Like a wad of chewing gum stuck to your shoe, he seems impossible to get rid of. No matter how many times voters say no, he keeps trying to hang on.
The Mission of Thousand Friends of Martinez is to provide a stable organization which will work with residents to elect informed, conscientious representatives; promote open government; enhance our quality of life by creating a livable city; defend our parks and open spaces, and; conserve natural areas and historic elements in the greater Martinez region.
Our Objectives are to:
Endorse, support and fund responsible and environmentally supportive leaders
Promote transparent government
Promote better land use planning and the development of policies for the public benefit
Defend parks, creeks, wetlands, open space and historic elements
Support budgeting, ballot measures and funding for these purposes
Educate the public about these objectives and strategies
HELP THE CAUSE
Help Martinez strive for more transparent government, enlightened land use concepts and to defend parks, creeks, wetlands, open space and historic elements
