City Council Candidate Q&A: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft

What is the primary reason you are running for this office? To bring experience, common sense and vision for a vibrant economically viable Alameda to the City Council. I pledge to tackle our city's problems with a cooperative spirit and will ensure transparency at City Hall.

What will be your single most important priority if you get elected? To help Alameda become a vibrant, economically viable community, by creating jobs and housing opportunities, strengthening our business districts, pursuing sensible, sustainable development, and promoting ethical and accountable City Government.

What sets you apart from the other candidates? A proven track record of accomplishments and the tenacity to tackle challenging situations. Two past examples are co-chairing the campaign to build Alameda's new Main Library after the prior defeat of a library ballot measure, and leading the campaign to ask voters to approve creation of a healthcare district and parcel tax to keep Alameda Hospital open. More recently, I led the Planning Board effort to initiate planning and design concepts for the badly needed revitalization of Webster Street. 

I believe I have the leadership qualities—experience, common sense and vision— to do the job well, having served on the Planning Board for the past 4 years, as President for the past year, the Economic Development Commission before that, the Library Building Team, and the Boards of Directors of  Alameda Hospital and the City of Alameda Healthcare District.

Where do you work and what is your job title? I work part-time as an Arbitrator for the Better Business Bureau in Oakland.

Family Info? I am 58 years old and was born in San Francisco. My husband Howard Ashcraft and I are the proud parents of 19 year old college student twins, Cole and Claire.

Please list the schools and colleges you attended, the degrees you attained and when. Alameda High School, high school diploma; UC Davis, Bachelor of  Science; Santa Clara University School of Law, Juris Doctor.

Have you ever held an elected or appointed public office? I have never held an elected public office, but I was appointed to the City of Alameda Healthcare District Board of Directors, and the City of Alameda Economic Development Commission and Planning Board. I am currently Planning Board President.

Have you run before for an elected public office? Yes, I ran for Alameda City Council in 2002.

Approximately how much money do you expect to spend on your campaign? Enough to enable me to communicate effectively with Alameda voters.

How long have you lived in Alameda? A total of 38 years, but not consecutively.

What's your favorite thing about Alameda? The small town feel—running into people you know at the Farmer's Market, the grocery store, the movie theater, and so on—and that Alamedans genuinely care about their neighbors. I was recently reminded of this caring spirit when a neighbor's house caught fire. Fortunately, the residents escaped safely, but the contents of their home were destroyed. Within hours, another neighbor had organized a community-wide collection drive to help the family—and the community responded with overwhelming generosity. 

What is the biggest problem in Alameda? We sometimes "sell ourselves short" and don't realize what valuable resources our community has to offer, and how to maximize those resources for the betterment of the community. Recently VF Outdoors, parent company of North Face, Jansport, Vans, Eagle Creek and Lucy, decided to locate its corporate headquarters, housed in 5 LEED-Gold certified buildings, and 650 employees to the Harbor Bay Business Park.  I welcome the opportunity to help bring more projects like VF Outdoors to Alameda to bring badly needed revenue and jobs, and attract new businesses to our city.

This same tendency, to not realize and maximize our city's valuable resources, applies to the development of Alameda Point. We must learn from the missteps of the past and move forward to realize a vision for Alameda Point that incorporates good planning principles and sensible, sustainable development. I have the experience, and willingness, to help Alameda achieve this goal.