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Published on 10/20/1999 All articles from this issue

Los Altos City Council: 5 candidates face off

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Name: Louis E. Becker, incumbent

Age: 65

Year moved to Los Altos: 1964

Moved from: Menlo Park

Education: M.S. in civil engineering

Work: President, Vertex Antenna Systems, LLC

Why are you running for city council?

I am running for re-election because numerous residents asked that I seek a second term. I have enjoyed my experience in serving on the council and am convinced that I have made a very positive contribution during the past four years.

What issues do you see facing the city?

Issues I see facing the city are:

Providing adequate recreation facilities for the growing younger generation;

Improving the 911 response system;

Continuing to balance the budget while still adding to critical reserves;

Acceptance of new building guidelines that better define what is accepted in new housing construction;

Increased maintenance to our infrastructure.

Name: Chris Casto, incumbent

Age: 52

Year moved to Los Altos: 1974

Moved from: Mountain View

Education: B.S. in social work

Work: Co-owner of Casto Roofing

Why are you running for city council?

I have a strong desire to continue to represent residents and this community. I like Los Altos, and I want to take an active part in preserving our safe, comfortable neighborhoods, our attractive downtown village and shopping districts and community facilities. I am dedicated and have the energy and experience to work with you to build consensus to maintain Los Altos' time-honored traditions and character when setting the course for the future.

What issues do you see facing the city?

I look forward to working:

to keep Los Altos safe by funding police and emergency services;

to keep Los Altos living within its financial means;

to keep Los Altos citizens informed. Early-on dialogue makes for better solutions;

to revise our residential design guidelines as well as our downtown use and design;

to prepare for our next general plan and state-mandated housing element;

for youth programs and facilities for promoting physical and mental health.

Name: Ron Knecht

Age: 50

Year moved to Los Altos: 1998

Moved from: San Francisco

Education: M.S. in engineering-economic systems; J.D. from University of San Francisco law school.

Work: Consultant and expert witness.

Why are you running for city council?

I'm running to serve and improve our beautiful community by: preserving McKenzie Park open space; bringing fairness to home remodeling and business location permit processes; and improving our 911 emergency response system. I'll listen to you.

What issues do you see facing the city?

Biggest issue: avoiding unnecessary, destructive tax increases. On incumbents' watch, tax revenues have grown very fast, but spending even faster, including 17 percent from last year to this year. Government was already too big, and now they want to add a 79 percent increase in taxes on your utility bill. Even if you support Measure I, you need me on council as your moderate watchdog because all incumbents have unvarnished records of supporting aggressive tax and spending increases.

Second: "affordable housing" state planning mandate. Two incumbents admit there's really no problem yet. Two propose "solutions" - which require homeowner subsidies. This wrong-headed mandate doesn't yet bind Los Altos and should be fought when it does.

Name: Francis La Poll, incumbent

Age: 40

Year moved to Los Altos: 1987

Moved from: Sunnyvale

Education: B.A. in economics; J.D. from Stanford Law School

Work: Partner, Gilfix and La Poll Associates

Why are you running for city council?

To preserve and enhance the character of Los Altos as a desirable city in which to raise a family. As a husband, father of five young children and a homeowner in Los Altos since 1987, I believe families should have a voice in charting our city's course. Of the candidates, only I can directly provide that voice. I shall continue to be the only council member with school children. Having led the effort to acquire Rosita Park and then add soccer fields and a baseball diamond, I know unmet open space and recreational needs remain.

What issues do you see facing the city?

Finance: As mayor, I introduced outside audits of departments. With the state taking $1 million in city revenue annually, we must continue audits and recommended restructuring to deliver the service level citizens expect. Increased financial stability allows us to promote maintenance, open-space acquisition, traffic safety and city-school cooperation.

Planning: General plan/housing update; design guidelines revision clarifying requirements; improve city's First Street property.

Name: Noah D. Mesel

Age: 38

Year moved to Los Altos: 1998

Moved from: Redwood Shores

Education: B.A. in political science and literature; J.D. from the University of Virginia Law School

Work: Corporate counsel, Lucent Technologies

Why are you running for city council?

Our city is a special place to live and work. We must work together, as a community, to preserve and build upon those special qualities. I perceive, as do many other Los Altans, that the city council must work more effectively -with more community involvement - to tackle a growing list of projects. I will bring a fresh perspective to the council, with my experience serving as a leader, building coalitions and reaching consensus in numerous private and public arenas.

What issues do you see facing the city?

Listening better to homeowners;

Working on residential and downtown design guidelines;

Hiring an economic development coordinator;

Redeveloping/improving our business districts;

Completing cable TV franchise negotiations with AT&T on more favorable terms;

Updating master plan;

Completing work on the downtown CRS plan;

Agreeing on a civic center master plan, including possible modernization of Hillview Center into a performing arts/cultural center.