Where Was Councilwoman Kennedy?

I hear the Gazette hosted a successful debate on Saturday; unfortunately (or fortunately) I was in Napa at Enchanted Hills for our annual women’s retreat and was unable to attend. While my absence wasn’t noteworthy we did have one local incumbent whose was.

Recently I was asked when it was that I found myself thinking about/caring about politics and looking back I realized it was much earlier than even I imagined. It was October 31, 1972 (I would soon be ten years old) and while trick or treating with friends I overheard a group of older boys reminding residents to vote for Richard Nixon. Plucky kid that I was (my report card remarks all said ‘she talks too much’) I countered with a shout of support for McGovern. Hey – I was only ten.

Fast forward six years; my date and I are settling into our seats at the Aquarius Theater in Los Angeles, for the production of Zoot Suit. Down in front I recognized two personalities and asked my date to go and have my program signed by one of them. Puzzled by my request Larry looked at me and asked if I wanted Linda Ronstadt’s autograph too? Nah, I said, just Governor Brown’s. I guess some would say it was kismet.

This is why I’ll be watching our candidates square off when the tapes are edited for local access television. Debates aren’t necessarily the best way to pick a potential candidate but they do provide us with useful information; i.e., how a candidate thinks on their feet, reacts to provocation and is able to persuade another to their point of view.

I can appreciate that Representative Miller had to be absent from our debates, after all I think the collapse of our economy is a pretty compelling reason to stay away, but what about Councilwoman Kennedy? I understand from last Monday’s emergency closed door session that she wouldn’t be attending due to vacation plans. Really – right after council had just returned from vacation?

I don’t make a point of calling out politicians by name, but I have serious reservations about this particular candidate’s platform; one that I admit has been defined by others, so having Kennedy available to answer for herself in a debate would have been helpful. I really wanted to know where she stands on an inclusionary housing ordinance and where she sees those potential units being added.

My understanding of the spirit of inclusionary housing is: a social experiment at the micro level whereby lower income families reside alongside more affluent families, fostering an atmosphere of mentorship, networking and learning by example; the hope being that these types of social experiments will break the cycle of generational poverty. I, for one, don’t believe legislating social change has worked in this area (which may have more to do with fees in lieu of) but I am interested in hearing Kennedy’s thoughts.

I am also interested in Kennedy’s stand on redevelopment agencies. I know she is in favor of them and wants one formed here in Martinez. But there has been much talk about potential conflicts of interest due to her personal affiliations. Obviously Martinez is a small enough city that relationships will overlap, but I need to know legislative decisions aren’t being unduly influenced by those relationships.

These are just two areas of concern this particular constituent has (if we forget about how she came to office in the first place) that in my opinion most incumbents would want to clear up. I am cautiously optimistic and looking forward to a time when Councilwoman Kennedy will make herself available to answer these and other questions before the election.