We've enjoyed a good, insightful Los Altos City Council race thus far. The five candidates (three incumbents) vying for three seats on the council have addressed a variety of pressing, important city issues. We congratulate them all on their campaigns and wish them the best in the Nov. 2 election.
We have heard and respect the positions of challengers Noah Mesel and Ron Knecht. But we are sticking with incumbents. We endorse councilmembers Lou Becker, Kris Casto and Francis La Poll for city council.
This city has enjoyed one of the most competent, involved and cooperative councils in recent memory. Before Becker, Casto and La Poll's election in 1995, the council was sometimes divisive and dysfunctional. The current council is more responsive and service-oriented to taxpayers.
For the first time ever, council members walked neighborhoods and asked residents for feedback. This was La Poll's idea, a good one, and the rest of the council followed suit with frequent requests for citizen feedback on pending issues.
Under the incumbents, the council worked to get the Rosita property transformed into useful park land and finally addressed the weed patch at Edith Avenue and San Antonio Road. As a result, we have two park openings this month.
The council heard residents express traffic safety concerns and moved to approve traffic enforcement officers.
Each brings a special expertise and personality that complements one another.
Becker, an astute corporate businessman, is cordial, level-headed and thoroughly honest. Casto, who was a Los Altos planning commissioner for 10 years, brings a strong understanding of city planning issues while showing responsiveness to resident concerns. La Poll, a lawyer, has an eye for detail. Sometimes that attention to detail slows the process and prolongs discussions. He is the only incumbent who has young children and claims to be especially sensitive to city-school issues.
This current council has not been perfect. Members have moved slowly on some issues, such as the question of revising city design guidelines in the wake of the two-story housing controversies. The urgency ordinance the council enacted against one retailer earlier this year proved a mistake that had members branded as being anti-business.
Still, we appreciate Becker, Casto and La Poll's teamwork. The battle of council egos of the past has given way to a more collegial approach. Members may move slowly at times, but we would prefer slow to speedy, possibly rash, decision-making.
You've often heard the old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." The council, with Becker, Casto and La Poll, works well. If they are reelected, we expect this council's effectiveness to continue.