Valerie Arkin and Matt Gaidos Endorsed by Independent Newspaper

Independent Newspaper endorses Arkin and Gaidos:
“Two races are being contested for the Pleasanton City Council.
For District 2, incumbent Councilmember Valerie Arkin faces a challenge from Craig Eicher. For district 4, the open seat is contested by Matthew Gaidos and Vivek Mohan.
Arkin promises continuity in the city, something which is vitally important as the council wrestles with its budgetary problems and well contamination. She voted to place Measure PP, which The Independent supports, on the ballot to help minimize cuts to emergency services.

Gaidos is the current chair of the Planning Commission and a former assistant district attorney. He also supports Measure PP, plus increasing consultant fees and in lieu fees to raise revenue and promote affordable housing.
Both Arkin and Gaidos have taken a voluntary pledge to cap their campaign expenditures at $24,000 and decline funding from builders or developers seeking to influence the council.

Eicher, a Pleasanton Police captain and community volunteer, says the council needs to engage more with developers to ensure community control over housing projects, and believes tapping into a city employees retirement fund can be used to bridge the budget deficits. He opposes Measure PP.
Mohan, a telecommunications industry executive, says his experience in finance would be valuable on the council, but he opposes all tax increases, including Measure PP.
Pleasanton needs capable and experienced leaders at this time, and it also needs to be careful about spending priorities and seeking new sources of revenue, including Measure PP.
It takes courage to support the tax increase when running for office at the same time. We appreciate that Arkin and Gaidos understand that in order to keep essential police and fire services, for instance, the tax is needed. The decline in sales taxes at the Stoneridge Shopping Center and Hacienda Business Park during and after the pandemic, and the city’s billion-dollar infrastructure deficit have made Measure PP necessary. The tax is a modest amount, only half of one cent per dollar for some purchases, but will contribute $10 million per year to the city.
For their willingness to make necessary decisions that will preserve the quality of life of Pleasanton residents, The Independent endorses Valerie Arkin and Matthew Gaidos for City Council District 2 and District 4, respectively.