BY FAR, THE MOST EXPERIENCED CANDIDATE IN THIS RACE

By Ralph Hoffmann

I grew up in poverty, worked my way through college. I filed my Candidate's Intention Statement with the Secretary of State nearly a full year before any of the other candidates and have been devoting nearly full time to learning the job of Member, Danville Town Council ever since.

My wife of over 37 years, Betsy, and I have learned how to invest our income wisely, saving over 10% of our income. My FPPC Form 700, Statement of Economic Interests is 15 pages long; longer than all 4 of my opponents combined.

Each Member of the Danville Town Council is expected to critically analyze monthly the status of the Town's Operating Income and Expenses versus Budget, and the Capital Improvement Program versus Budget. Our Town's Investments are reported on monthly by our CFO and by an Independent Asset Management Firm Quarterly.

Our Country's economy has been in a state of transition, from a manufacturing economy to a service economy. The revenues of our Town threatened by the large State Budget deficits (All State Budgets and the Federal Budget are struggling with deficits). The CA State Budget Deficit will result in take-aways from municipalities by the State for the next 4-5 years. Current laws in CA make the State our only practical source of incremental revenues. I have proposed an innovative source of quasi-private revenues from Homeowners Associations (HOAs) to supplement services now provided by the Town. The HOAs are governed by the State Davis-Sterling Act, which permits assessments of Homeowners to be raised 20% per year, requiring only HOA Board of Directors' approval. Political realities such as the fact that HOA Boards are elected by its property owners, not every inch of Danville is within an HOA, and the Davis-Sterling Act restricts use of funds generated by Assessments, need to be taken into account, however sports field construction, maintenance, and reciprocity agreements are permitted.

The field of Asset Management requires more expertise than ever because of Corporate and Investment House misfeasance has brought on complex new Federal regulations. An uncertain future of bond yields and ratings in our state makes attention to our Town's finances extremely important.

I believe I have the experience as an investor of my own assets to perform these duties far better than any of my opponents. Training as a CPA is woefully insufficient for this task. Entensive knowledge in the fields of Economics, International Money and Banking, and World Trade, are essential adjuncts to decision making involving Town of Danville Asset Management.

MY EXPERIENCE AS AN INVESTOR OF MY OWN SIZEABLE ASSETS MAKES ME THE IDEAL CHOICE FOR YOUR VOTE FOR MEMBER, DANVILLE TOWN COUNCIL.

The following are the dates that each candidate filed FPPC FORM 501, The Candidate's Intention Statement to serve as a Member of the Danville Town Council for the term from November, 2002 to November, 2006:

Ralph Hoffmann - August 20, 2001

Mike Shimansky - July 24, 2002

Loucy DeAtley - August 5, 2002

Dwight Winn - August 8, 2002

Karen Stepper - August 9, 2002

Very simply, I stated my intention fo file for this office nearly a year before any of my opponents. I have used this year to study nearly full time all aspects of the job ahead as a Member of the Danville Town Council in the coming 4 years. I am overwhelmingly the most experienced and prepared to take over the reins of the job. My attendance at innumerable meetings concerning the Town, more than all of my opponents combined, is testimony to that statement.

I have consistantly participated in, during the past year, Danville related meetings that the other candidates have not, or virtually have not:

Mayor's Conferences.

Joint Planning Commission Hearings on the Alamo Creek Development

Town Council Annual Planning and Goal Setting Workshops (except for the incumbent)

Contra Costa County Ad Hoc Committee Meetigs on Open Space Funding

South West Area Transportation Authority (SWAT)

Monthly Town Council Study Sessions (Except for Incumbent)

Monthly Joint Meetings of the Town Council and Staff with the SRVUSD Board of Trustees and Staff (except for incumbent)

Annual Operating Budget Hearings (except for the incumbent)

Annual Capital Improvement Plan Updates (except for the incumbent)

Contra Costa County Board of Supervisor's Meetings, relating to Danville, but not Alamo Creek Related.

San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission Meetings

SRVUSD Board of Trustees Meetings

Danville Planning Commission Meetings.

Open Meetings held by other elected representatives in the region

Meetings of the Tri-Valley and San Ramon Valley City Councils and Staff, held monthly, to discuss areas of mutual concern.

Two of the challengers have experince only in the area of Parks and Leisure Services, whie the third is involved only in leadership roles in the Sports Alliance. The Government of the Town of Danville has many more areas of involvement than those narrow interests.

I have spent over 16 years of active participation on the Board of Directors of the largest ungated Homeowners Association in Danville. I am quite familiar with methods of partnering between the Town, HOAs and the SRVUSD can operate toward enhancement of common goals.

I REQUEST YOUR VOTE FOR ME, RALPH HOFFMANN, THE MOST EXPERIENCED CANDIDATE FOR THIS OFFICE.