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John Boyle: No. Heyward Robinson: Yes. Rich Cline: Maybe. So the Nov. 2 race for three seats on the Menlo Park City Council begins.
With the candidate filing period opening July 12, Councilman Boyle announced today (July 13) that he won’t run for a second term. In a written statement, Mr. Boyle said he’s been offered “an exciting new, full-time opportunity to help my alma mater (Purdue University) establish a major presence here in California. Combined with a number of other factors, I have made the difficult decision to not seek re-election… .”
Noting that he is often in the minority on the five-person council when the votes are tallied, Mr. Boyle said his “ability to effect real change has typically been limited.”
But, he added, he believes he has contributed “in a positive way to many important projects and improvements” to the city, and cited his roles in helping to move the Bohannon/Menlo Gateway project through the approval process, and in the downtown/El Camino Real planning process, among other achievements.
He expresses some disappointments as well. When he ran for office in 2006, he campaigned on the need to balance the budget, build more sports fields, and get rid of the blight on El Camino Real. Although progress has been made in these areas, “the process has been slow, costly, and quite frankly, often not in the direction that I believe can and should be taken,” he said.
“Although I have a great deal of respect for the time and effort my colleagues on the City Council each invest, I do not believe that, collectively, the current council is functioning in a manner and direction that will fully address these and the many issues facing our city,” he wrote. “I think a change is needed, and as the ‘odd man out’ in the current council, perhaps my departure will enable changes for the better.”
Mr. Boyle said he’s looking forward to serving out the remaining five months on the council, and offered to discuss the process of running for the council with anyone interested in entering the race.
Councilman Robinson told The Almanac this week that he intends to run for a second term. “This council has made a lot of progress (but) I think there’s more to do,” he said.
An important lesson he’s learned during his first term, he said, is that “everything takes longer than you think. Four years sounds like a long time but it goes by in a flash.”
Mayor Cline told The Almanac that, with all the work he wants to see completed, he is “leaning toward running again, but I need to weigh all the factors and make sure that my family is on board.”
The normal candidate filing period ends Aug. 6 unless an incumbent in a race doesn’t file for re-election. In that case — which will apply to Menlo Park in the likely event that Mr. Boyle sticks to his decision — the filing period is extended to Wednesday, Aug. 11.
Staff writer Dave Boyce contributed to this report.
What a shame. The city will lose a fair and decent moderate. Let’s hope Cline runs and if he wins, he doesn’t slide south towards the mediocrity of the other 3 council members. It’s always the way that the weakest is the one who feels most confident about running again.
John Boyle listens, answers emails and phone calls. He takes every issue and gets the facts before voting. We know why he has voted for or against every agenda item. No games. No tantrums, grandstanding and no silent pouting. He is too good for Menlo Park.
Heyward Robinson “Thinks” there’s more to do? Duh!
Hopefully, he won’t be around to take any credit when something positive does get accomplished by this council. Sorry to see Mr. Boyle depart, but we should all feel his frustration. Time to clean house, and get some council people with backbones and who reflect the true interest of Menlo Park residents,not just the small, personal interest groups.
Thank you John for the time you have–and are still–giving to menlo park.
Thank you for your informed decisions, and thank you for, at least on occassion, moving this Council towards sanity.
I agree with everything Disappointed has said. 🙁
Boyle’s not running again means simply he has faced reality. He wasn’t going to win and he knew it. This year expect to see all the incumbents swept out of office, as they should indeed be. That happened 4 years ago if you care to remember.
Four years ago, Jellins refused to run again and he was replaced by Boyle, who barely won (about 100 votes as I recall). For the most part John has indeed been the “odd man” out as he put it.
The council has spent over one million dollars on a plan for the downtown that has well over one half of the property owners against; they have signed a petition to that effect. Yet City Manager and City Staff and council refuse to acknowledge the plan has failed and continue to put funds into the consultants money pig troff. Nobody has yet to put the the finger on exactly who on City Staff convinced the Chamber to tell Nancy Couperus she couldn’t be present at the next block parties (unless she was in the free speech areas). Fran Dehn won’t talk about it; City claims they weren’t involved. Really!
So John Boyle cops out, most likely Henry Riggs about to step up and run. Heyward Robinson won’t have any problem with financing; after all he gave $80,000 to the Obama campaign, but boy he has all this baggage around him, as does Mayor Cline, who has yet to announce, but rumors he will run again and announce very soon.
Escaping must have had a double shot of the famous GLS Kool Aid prior to writng his blog. Boyle chose not to run again for two reasons.
First, he was fed up with those irresponsible dilettantes on the dais who have no idea how to provide effective stewardship over the City of Menlo Park.
Second, he was offered an opportunity to do some positive work where he does not have to fight ignorance, pettiness, and corrupt politics in order to accomplish laudable goals.
I have lived in Menlo Park for over 21 years and John was only one of a few council members who have measured up, including only one liberal. The rest are true embarrassments. John is an exemplary councilman whose assiduous service will truly be missed by Menlo Park residents. Thank you John for your service to the community.
I can guarantee you Mr. Boyle winces when people like Hank drool on about him. If Hank speaks on your behalf, it is to your own demise. No one person helps the opposition more than Hank and his vitriol.
Au Contraire,
Whenever Truth disparages just about anyone that is worn as a badge of honor. Truth is so stuck in her far left anachronistic ways that anything she has to say is truly irrelevant as is she. Truth’s blogs are the ultimate in ennui but the perfect elixir for insomnia.
Drop the Thesaurus just for a moment.
I will wager a bet that Cline and Robinson will win re-election by a wide margin and will prove again that tea baggers have no electorate. If they don’t, I will stop posting. If they do, Hank stops.
Deal?
Truth states:”I will wager a bet that Cline and Robinson will win re-election by a wide margin and will prove again that tea baggers have no electorate. If they don’t, I will stop posting.”
This gives new meaning to this election !!!
They will win re-election because nobody wants to be part of such dysfunction so like last election there will be limited if any choices.
Do you guys wear your tea bagger costumes and carry your Glen Beck signed books even when you are behind the computer?
Readers want to know.
Truth,
You should seek the counseling of a mental health professional.
John Boyle and I disagree on some issues and agree on other important issues. To me, he was always ready for a phone call or meeting, and willing to discuss the issues.
His regular emails to the public stayed factual and informative (better than the city’s outreach.)
I know we’ll miss his contributions to the Finance / Audit Committee.
I don’t think anyone wants to run in this election, which is why Lee is begging her fans to step forward and pull papers. We are all suffering political ennui It doesn’t seem to matter who is in office; the song remains the same.
I am grateful to anyone who volunteers to serve, but I would not call Boyle a “fair and decent moderate.” Instead, he has proven himself to be a laissez faire politician and crony capitalist who believes that the rich and privileged should get whatever they want, and the rest of the residents will benefit from the trickle down. I expect that many of his supporters are members of the country club elite, but the rest of us are nearly as pleased with his performance.
correction: not nearly as pleased
It is indeed too bad John Boyle has chosen not to run for re-election. Though I didn’t always agree with him, he really worked hard and offered some excellent financial expertise and valuable perspectives. He will be missed. Thank you John for your service!
Another reason it’s sad for the City is that it takes at least a year for a new Councilmember to get up to speed. With so many important things going on, it would have been much better to have continuity by re-electing John along with Rich and Heyward. All of these three essentially volunteer public servants have done a very good job at what everyone knows is truly a thankless job (in fact, one where you are a lightening rod for people like many here who like to just snipe but don’t seem willing to step up and actually run!).
Again – much appreciation, John, for your able service to our City.
Since I was named in this stream of emails, I’ll address the person who mentioned me — I have gotten a very good response from my email. There are lots of residents who want to run; and I’m very glad about it. I expect just from the response I have gotten in a few days that this should be a very robust city council election and any incumbent who runs will have some stiff competition.
I suspect that Gail Slocum’s remarks towards John Boyle would have been somewhat less charitable had the Menlo Moderates had 3 seats instead of just 1. With John always being in the minority, the far left agenda was never in jeopardy.
I will always lean toward moderates and I think a majority of our city agrees with me.
Hank, the “far left”? Who might they be? The “far left”, in MENLO PARK? My my how your imagination flies!
The Far Left: Heyward Robinson and Kelly Fergusson
The Left: Andy Cohen
Leaning Left when he can make up his mind: Richard Cline
Leader of the Far Left: Gail Slocum.
What will be left in Menlo Park City Reserves if we don’t get pension reform: Nothing.
I might have “left” a few people out.
Lee Duboc
“I have gotten a very good response from my email.”
You mean the latest ghost-written email from Mickie? 🙂
Well Hank, you’ve managed to get one out of five right. The city really won’t have anything left in the reserves if we don’t fix the pension (and other post retirement benefits) problem. Meanwhile, you might think about trying to improve your test score a bit.
So you recruited your kids, Lee? Or maybe that nice lady Mary Jo who lives down the street? Awesome!
Hank – Your apparent definition of far left is FAR different from anything I have ever heard of.
It seems to me that a council that voted to impose on a powerful union, and with the union lawsuit over pension reform initiative voted to defend that it should go on the ballot, as well as voted for the Gateway project is pretty darned MODERATE. The only real hard core far leftie up there is Cohen and he’s not up for re-election.
But reactionary responses and knee jerk labels don’t move anything forward… so what?
Puzzled,
So are we supposed to applaud the reckless city council at this late date for feebly attempting to dig the city out of a hole that it should not have been put in the first place? You give the council credit for something it was required to do by law. How disingenuous you are!
Remember, the Council punted on the Gateway project and left it up to the voters. Now that is real stewardship. Gail backed it because she inveigled Bohannon to adopt the LEED standards for his project.
And Heyward’s political donations according to the FEC look like the whos who of leftist extremist groups.
I heard a council that supported the Gateway and a council that now is writing the ballot argument for the Gateway. All the people here can go see the video.
The city council imposed 2@60 before the pension reformers came out with their petition.
Hank, don’t run from the facts. Be a man, stand up and accept reality.
The anonymous “truth” tells Hank that he shouldn’t “run from the facts,” and that he should “be a man….” Great advice from someone who feels compelled to hide in anonymity.
If you can’t determine the difference between anonymity and outright lying, then you have your own set of issues.
Truth,
If you can’t tell the difference between vapid socialist ideology and thoughtful reasoning, then you have your own set of issues.
Facts are facts, the council imposed before the pension petition was created and the council voted to approve Gateway and write the ballot argument in support. Those are facts. By the way Or Consequences, given the level of competition in this forum, you may be one of the most ineffective angry tea baggers we have seen to date.
John Boyle is the best councilmember we’ve had in years. It is no surprise that he is moving on.
Although Mr. Robinson and Mr. Cline are good council members, they have a track record of unconditional support for the unions including a 30% pay increase, pushing for the utility tax to pay for the raise and benefits, and supporting a union takeover of the pool. These decisions have seriously weakened the city’s financial strength and helped a small group of union employees at the expense of the citizens of Menlo Park.
We need new, independent council members.
Show us right now where they supported the union takeover of the pool? And then show us where they pushed for the utility tax? Show us facts if you care about integrity.
Very sorry to see John Boyle leave. Thanks for your contribution John. I will miss your voice of reason on the Council.
Truth numbers one: the tax increase was presented and supported by Duboc and her slate in 2006.
9/13/06
“The council has approved proposals…and a 3.5 percent utility tax for the November ballot with one or none of the council members opposed.”
Truth,
David Boesch & Audrey Seymour hid the fact that the City had a surplus from the CC to garner passage of the UUT (Union Usury Tax). The Council relied on the knowingly false estimates from the City staff. Thank goodness Boesch & Seymour are now gone. I talked with Lee Duboc, Mickie Winkler and Nicholas Jellins and none said they would have voted for the UUT had the City presented with the factual numbers in the first place.
I was just setting the record straight on the issue. This is especially important now as everyone gets election fever.
The UUT was endorsed by that council and Boyle and others. Robinson talked about raising the UUT but did not and I have not heard a single instance of Cline proposing any increase, rather he pushed to set it at zero. The pool was outsourced with no RFP process so everyone on this string should have been up in arms about that. Sheeper is great and probably would have still won the contract, but policy is policy.
That is all.
I was on the budget advisory committee with Boyle when the UUT was passed. Boyle was not on the City Council. He did not endorse the UUT. I publicly voiced my opposition to the UUT and Gibboney gleefully printed that nugget in the Almanac as if that were a bad thing. It is funny how liberals like Gibboney ridicule repsonsible people who are against unnecessary taxes.
Tom,
I await your rebuttal.
“David Boesch & Audrey Seymour hid the fact that the City had a surplus from the CC to garner passage of the UUT (Union Usury Tax). The Council relied on the knowingly false estimates from the City staff. Thank goodness Boesch & Seymour are now gone. I talked with Lee Duboc, Mickie Winkler and Nicholas Jellins and none said they would have voted for the UUT had the City presented with the factual numbers in the first place.”
Now THAT’s called re-writing the history books!
Good old Jellins, was always trying to rewrite history. He also approved of the Santa Cruz street furniture, but tried to evade blame when it became an unpopular topic.
Actually passage of the UUT (which I think is ok, BTW), was pushed by Fergusson, who organized phone banks etc.
She has really gotten off track and really its too bad she isn’t up, because her recent blunders, such as saying the Civil Grand Jury was corrupted and not taking responsibility for the rise in garbage rates would surely doom her. Note how Robinson is trying to defuse the garbage rate rise. Where was he when it was being done?
We need a whole sweep of all the incumbents this fall. And BTW, we certainly need a new City manager.
Boyle’s political stint was a hiatus from his failed VC ventures.
Lawsuits plagued him from his dot bomb Pluris days, for stiffing landlords for back rent and HVAC contractors for improving working conditions for hard working staff.
He never seemed to show any contrition, nor sympathy for the neighborhoods plagued by excessive cut through traffic and over development.
We could do a lot better. We need someone who connects with regular people.
Sorry, John, but your roadshow is over
Hank…The Council is on the left?
On the left of what?…Yea Gods
Dear Interested,
You said you are the resident of another community. Would that be Pyongyang or Caracas? Are you serious? The council has Heyward Robinson who has donated over $100,000 to far left causes in the last 7 years according to the FEC.
And then you have Kelly Fergusson who with Gail Slocum, when both were on the San Mateo County Democratic Central Committee, hectored 3 time former Menlo Psrk Mayor Nicholas Jellins off the committee. His crime? Why he was a member of the Democratic Leadership Council. This is a moderate group. But that was a crime in Gail’s and Kelly’s eyes. They need committed leftists on the San Mateo County Democratic Central Committee and having a centrist like Nicholas just would not do.
Then you have Andy as an administrative law judge for the Workers Compensation Appeals Board, who consistently ruled for the plaintiff in all his labor cases. You think that there just might have been just a little judicial bias?
We have 3 council members who have a documented history of being leftists. The current sitting council could be best described with two words and the first word is Cluster.
Mr. Lawrence.
Your suggestion that because I question your beliefs I must be either Asian or Hispanic is an absolute outrage.
The point I was trying to make is that in a community such as ours the term “leftist” hardly applies……
Dear interested,
The liberal mind is the master of the non-sequitur. I lived in Caracas for 18 months (when it was a democracy) and I am not Hispanic. My brother was born in Caracas and he is not Hispanic. Your understanding of the world is severely limited. What I was suggesting was that you are sympathetic to leftist doctrine. But I have to admit that some liberals are really slow on the uptake.
If anything is an outrage it is obtuse liberals who abandon rational thought to absurd degrees to reach irrational and illogical conclusions.