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Half Moon Bay: Six candidates battle for three council seats [San Mateo County Times, Calif.](San Mateo County Times (CA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Oct. 18--HALF MOON BAY -- Six candidates are competing for three City Council seats this year in Half Moon Bay, where a pair of incumbents are trying to survive a backlash against the council's unpopular decision to tear down the Main Street Bridge. Councilmen Allan Alifano and Rick Kowalczyk are both seeking a second term. Councilwoman Naomi Patridge decided not to run for a seventh term. The incumbents face four challengers: David Eblovi, an information technology consultant; Deborah Penrose, a retired physician; Deborah Ruddock, a former councilwoman; and Don Prestosz, an environmental consultant. A fifth challenger, Harvey Rarback, dropped out of the race last week. The council's decision to demolish and replace the historic bridge that takes visitors from Highway 92 to downtown Main Street was reversed in June by popular vote. The city is now studying how to repair the existing 114-year-old bridge. But the sour aftertaste of the council's behavior has lingered for many downtown merchants and other residents, who claim the council ignored widespread support for preserving the bridge. Alifano, 68, acknowledges the council handled the issue poorly but said that shouldn't overshadow the body's other accomplishments over the past five years. Half Moon Bay has rebounded from a fiscal crisis that nearly bankrupted the city in 2008. "It's hard to argue with the actual improvements that have happened within the city," said Alifano. ------ Advertisement ------ Alifano supports Measure O, a three-year extension of a 1/2-cent sales tax hike approved by voters in 2012. The measure, which appears on the Nov. 4 ballot, would raise an estimated $3.7 million to $4.2 million over three years to help build a new library and pay for other capital improvements. Kowalczyk, 47, was traveling this week and could not be reached for an interview, but in an email he said he wants to help ensure long-term financial stability for the city and complete major projects such as the library and new skatepark. Like Alifano, he backs Measure O. "Putting the community first and maintaining Half Moon Bay's positive momentum are my highest priorities," Kowalczyk wrote. Eblovi entered the race after getting involved in the campaign to save the bridge. He claims the current council is wasteful and lacks transparency. "I've been railing on the political world my entire adult life, and it was time to put up or shut up," said Eblovi, 47, who wants the city to be more open about its finances and welcoming of public input. He opposes Measure O, claiming the council put it on the ballot to give the incumbents a positive campaign message after the bridge debacle. Penrose also opposes the sales tax extension. The proceeds wouldn't make a dent in the cost of the library, estimated at upward of $20 million, she said. If elected, her top priorities would include easing traffic congestion and making Half Moon Bay more attractive for small businesses and affordable for the working class. "I believe I bring a voice of sound judgment and reason," said Penrose, 71, "and the ability to listen and negotiate reasonable solutions to our problems." Ruddock is trying to return to the Half Moon Bay council after an 11-year hiatus. She served from 1991 to 2003, stepping away to focus on her family and a new job as legislative analyst with the Coastal Conservancy. She faults current council members not only for their questionable handling of the bridge issue but also for passing a 2011 ordinance that shifts the liability for sidewalk accidents from the city to homeowners. "I and other people don't trust them to make critical decisions about the city's future," said Ruddock, 61, who would like the city to overturn the sidewalk ordinance and make capital upgrades to benefit residents, from fixing roads to sprucing up parks. Prestosz, 65, is the only challenger who backs Measure O, though he said he would not support any further extensions. The semiretired former high school teacher said he wants to see better amenities for residents such as the new library and improvements at Smith Field. He said he also wants the city to scale back its outsourcing of services and hire more full-time employees. "Now is the time, since we don't have the deficit, that we can start building for the future," said Prestosz. Contact Aaron Kinney at 650-348-4357. Follow him at Twitter.com/kinneytimes. ___ (c)2014 the San Mateo County Times (San Mateo, Calif.) Visit the San Mateo County Times (San Mateo, Calif.) at www.mercurynews.com/san-mateo-county Distributed by MCT Information Services |