Name: Karen Holman
Address: 725 Homer Avenue, Palo Alto
Telephone: (day) 650.321.6170 (eve) 650.321.6170
Email: kcholman@earthlinnk.net
Office for which you are running: Palo Alto City Council
Political Party: Democratic
Date of Birth: January 3, 1949
Education (colleges attended, degrees, etc):
Bachelor of Arts in graphic arts, University of Arkansas
How long have you lived in the area? 30 years, since 1975
Public office now held, if any:
4 year member and current Vice-chair of the Palo Alto Planning & Transportation Commission
Public offices previously held: none
Occupation:
Conservation land use planner
Project director, Palo Alto History Museum
Employer: Self
Major affiliations:
Palo Alto History Museum
Woman's Club of Palo Alto, 1st vice-president
House and Grounds Committee
Palo Alto Historical Association
Tri-County Zero Waste Task Force
Marital Status: Divorced
Spouses Name: N/A
Spouse's occupation & employer:
Number and ages of children: None
How much money have you raised at this point in your campaign? Approximately $17,000
How much you plan to spend? $20,00-25,000
Will you supply the Mercury News editorial board with your campaign literature? Yes.
Please answer the following:
Describe your experience in and knowledge of Palo Alto and the policy issues facing the city.
Response: I have lived in Palo Alto for 30 years, and have been active in the community for much of that time, most recently 4 years on the Palo Alto Planning and Transportation Commission. Through that experience, combined with my experience on the SOFA Working Group, I have an understanding and working knowledge of zoning, environmental review, and the City's Comprehensive Plan. Through these and other experiences I also understand many of the City processes and issues. To complement that, I also have experience in the community as a neighborhood and non-profit leader.
The following responses more specifically address the issues.
What are the three most important issues facing Palo Alto?
Response: We can and must be the visionary leaders we once were rather than reacting to market trends and making case by case decisions. While there are many issues facing the community, I would list the most important three as economic vitality, quality of life and council leadership.
1) Economic Health: Palo Alto has lost major sales tax generators and cherished local retailers such as The Cookbook, Sophia's, Printer's Inc., Albertson's, Café Verona, Hyatt Rickey's, California Avenue Pharmacy, and Midtown Video. The Council must be proactive rather than reactive in order to successfully address retail concerns, and it must be creative in its approaches to retaining and attracting retail.
If elected, what would you do about these issues?
As a Planning Commissioner, I understand the role of zoning, land use and incentives in retail vitality. I have a "zone for what you want" approach to protecting uses that provide services and sales tax to the City. I have and will continue to recommend removal of zoning that threatens existing income generators.
I will also recommend changing the processes that currently frustrate existing retailers as well as new retailers that want to move into existing buildings. As a small business owner, I understand the need for long-range, innovative planning to enhance our revenues and control our expenses. To complement my experience I will continue to listen to a broad range of experience from the retail and service community.
I do and will strongly support Palo Alto's Comprehensive Plan for neighborhood centers. I support a business registry as a tool to retaining our retailers, increasing our tax base, and seeking new complementary businesses.
2) Quality of Life: It is Palo Alto's unique qualities that make this town so livable. Traffic and the current housing market trends are concerns in the community. There is growing demand on our playing fields, libraries, schools, and other public facilities while our resources are diminishing.
If elected, what would you do about these issues?
I will bring my Commission experience and a practical, comprehensive approach to meet these challenges in ways that preserve and protect Palo Alto's neighborhoods and unique character. Solutions will require increased cooperation between the City, the School district, and our many local constituencies.
My experience with environmental documents and my understanding of impacts and mitigations will serve me as I serve the community.
3) Council Leadership: Again, the Council must be proactive rather than reactive; it must take creative approaches to problem. Our City government needs to be responsive and accountable, and its governing processes easily understood, fair and predictable.
If elected, what would you do about these issues?
I will provide clear policy direction to staff in its work for the benefit of the public. I will address issues in a comprehensive manner and encourage dialogue among colleagues on emerging policy issues and opportunities. The council is accountable to the public, and I will do my best to ensure that Palo Alto achieves the highest possible level of service.
Briefly, explain why you are the best candidate for the office for which you are seeking election.
My experience on the Planning &Transportation Commission sets me apart from the other candidates. It has often been said that the lack of this and other public service has led to extensive and even contentious Council considerations.
My proven commitment to the public's interests, my reputation as a person who understands the issues and can tackle them, and my comprehensive approach to issues has garnered my campaign the endorsement of some 26 current and former elected officials and many more appointed officials and community leaders.