Recommendations for Northwest's Election

The Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council is holding an election to fill eight seats on their Board of Directors.

The voting will begin at 1:00 PM on Monday June 25, 2007 and last until 7:00 PM of the same day. The only polling place will be at the Peck Park Community Center.

All individuals who have signed the R1 petition to keep the Ponte Vista site with its current zoning of R1 are asked to vote in this very important election.

The members of the Steering Committee of R Neighborhoods Are 1 have made their recommendations and those recommendations are listed below.

I will identify each seat on the Board that is being considered for this election, the candidates, and the recommendation made by the Steering Committee.

For the Business Seat the candidates are: Russell Etheridge, Craig Goldfarb, and George Radosich. The Steering Committee endorses Mr. Craig Goldfarb.

For the Education Seat the candidates are the incumbent Bonnie Easley, and Larry Mersman. The Steering Committee endorses Mr. Larry Mersman.

For the Non-Profit Seat the candidates are Molly Abbatello, and John Lauro Jr. The Steering Committee endorses Ms. Molly Abbatello.

For the At-Large Seat, Mr. Peter Burmeister is running unopposed. The Steering Committee makes no recommendation for unopposed seats.

For Census Tract 2951 The candidates are the incumbent, Phil Nicolay and Frank Prieto. Mr. Andrew Mardesich apparently has withdrawn from this race, but had he remained in the race, the Steering Committee would have endorsed him. The Steering Committee now endorses Mr. Phil Nicolay for that seat.

For Census Tract 2963 the candidates are Dan Dixon and David Stanovich. The Steering Committee makes NO ENDORSEMENT of either candidate, for this seat.

For Census Tract 2964 the candidates are Chris Jourdano (sp?), Ray Olsen, and the incumbent, Ray Patricio. The Steering Committee endorses Mr. Ray Patricio.

For Census Tract 2970, John Mavar is running unopposed. The Steering Committee makes no endorsement in an unopposed race.

Every candidate did NOT pledge to demand R1 being kept at Ponte Vista to win endorsement from the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee believes that the candidates it endorses have the best interests of the Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council, and the community as a whole in their hearts and minds.

The steering committee did not use any particular special issue in determining which candidate to endorse. The committee has endorsed a candidate who represents Eastview Little League and supports that cause.

If you would like more information about the candidates, please visit: http://nwsanpedro.org/
and contact someone who can put you in touch with the candidate you want to learn more about.

This election is critical to form a solid group of Board members who will look out for the best interest of the community they represent. It should not be seen as an election based solely on Ponte Vista, but there needs to be a solid base of support for issues like Ponte Vista, working on environmental issues, dealing with Gaffey Street and the future Target Store, dealing with the Port of L.A., dealing with the Department of Sanitation to get them to move so more park space can be acquired, and many other issues.

It is true that the Steering Committee heartily endorses candidates like Mr. Craig Goldfarb and Mr. Ray Patricio for their demand to keep Ponte Vista with its current zoning of R1, but the committee also has endorsed others who want low density housing, but are not as open about their demand for R1 at Ponte Vista.

If I can help answering any questions I might know the answer to, regarding the candidates the Steering Committee endorses, please Email me.