2014 Marina Elections

It has been a while since I have written a Marina Matters column, primarily since it is election season and you needed to hear from the candidates about the issues and where they stand. By now I hope you have seen and heard from many of the candidates and have an idea of how you will vote in the November elections. If not, or if you are not sure I want to forward to you the Monterey Herald editorial endorsement for the Marina elections.

Mind you I have not agreed with the Herald on a lot of things over the years but they evolved recently to now look at the issues that affect us all in a much broader sense. The editorial board really captured the essence of our Marina City election and stated it very clearly. It goes without saying that I agree with their comments and the candidates they endorse.

More later….

Editorial: Amadeo, Turgen, Devlin best for Marina

Monterey County Herald

POSTED: 10/16/2014 05:20:54 PM PDT

Marina was one of the cities hardest hit economically when Fort Ord closed in 1994, and now 20 years later it is still dealing with a variety of issues stemming from that event. But its officials are also considering how to develop a downtown with a specific identity and how to meet the needs of various groups in the community, like teens and seniors.

A recent candidate forum highlighted different approaches to these issues. We found mayoral candidate Ken Turgen and council candidates Dan Devlin Jr. and Nancy Amadeo, an incumbent, to have the most balanced approach. We recommend their election.

Turgen, a member of the city Planning Commission and an architect, emphasizes the need for logical economic growth and job creation, and stresses the benefits to Marina of more regional cooperation. He clearly understands the necessity of solving the region's water problem, as so many of Marina's residents work in jobs all over the Monterey Peninsula — jobs that could be in jeopardy without a water supply project. Turgen wants to see city parks improved, a downtown identity developed and a stable city revenue base established.

Incumbent Mayor Bruce Delgado clearly spends a lot of time on his job as mayor. But his future vision for the city is not as clearly balanced or delineated as Turgen's. Delgado emphasizes "smart growth" and a new "greenway" for Marina, though he has not provided details about the greenway or how it could contribute to the city's economy. Delgado does highlight his endorsement by political parties, a trend we find unhealthy for local nonpartisan offices.

We believe Turgen would bring a more vigorous and balanced perspective to Marina's economic future.

The council race mirrors the mayoral contest. Incumbent Nancy Amadeo clearly has the best grasp of how to be an effective council member. At a recent forum she stressed the need for Marina to develop policies and strategies for economic health, rather than just react in a piecemeal fashion. She also has an impressive understanding of the city's budget process.

Candidate Dan Devlin Jr. emphasizes his interest in providing good city services for families, and wants to develop an economic base that will benefit Marina overall and provide jobs for CSU Monterey Bay graduates. We feel his family-oriented perspective and his budget expertise from his job with the Department of Defense would be good additions to the City Council.

Incumbent David Brown believes the city's "smart growth" is a sufficient economic policy, but offers few details about how he would apply that to future project review. Brown has noted he's been part of "a council majority with Delgado and Frank O'Connell since 2010." We think a more open-minded approach to council business would be better for Marina.

Turgen, Devlin and Amadeo offer balanced, reasonable and thoughtful approaches to Marina's future and deserve your vote.