Community...Synergy...Sally Jean Aberg for Pacific Grove City Council

By Sally Jean Aberg

An independent thinker with a fresh, creative perspective and a "green and clean" campaign!

My campaign motto starts with "Community," because participation in my community has always been as essential to me as breathing.

"Synergy" is my second catchword, because I excel at bringing people and ideas together for the common good----whether to form relationships, solve problems, effect change when necessary or get things accomplished.

A native Californian, I was raised among the Mennonite Brethren in the Central Valley. My childhood instilled in me the motivating values that have carried me into adulthood: dedicated volunteer service, plain speaking, a spirit of cooperation, appropriate technology, social justice and the promotion of a healthy, sustainable environment.

As many of you know, the Mennonites believe in barn-raising. They know that helping their neighbors nets rewards for the entire community. I believe this barn-raising principle should be applied to a small town like ours. I believe Pacific Grove needs to continue on its present and very positive "barn-raising" course.

For the past eleven years that I've lived in Pacific Grove, I have contributed to this concept by committed volunteering very quietly and behind the scenes for such organizations as the Heritage Society, Monarch Sanctuary, Natural History Museum and our wonderful Library. Gradually I stepped forward a bit into the public eye by co-editing the Heritage Society's quarterly bulletin, The Board & Batten.

Now I'm taking a huge leap into the spotlight of public scrutiny, running for this Council seat. But I'm doing it in my own way. With my beloved little dog Ginger Snap as my only campaign manager and most devoted precinct walker, I am following a "Green and Clean" campaign.

The "green" means my campaign materials make the lowest possible impact on the environment----no commercial signs, buttons or mass mailings through the post office. The "clean" means no impact on anyone's wallet but my own. By doing no fund-raising whatsoever, I remain beholden to nothing and no one except fair, trust-worthy and resourceful governance.

There are many possible options being suggested by candidates to help remedy our current budget deficit. However, I believe that a vote of 2/3rds of the people to raise local sales tax, raise the Transient Occupancy Tax, or install parking meters would only tinker around the edges of this huge financial challenge.

Instead of considering any of these alternatives, I would prefer to investigate an increase in a tax that already exists----the property transfer tax. Raising this a bit by a 2/3rds vote would not only solve our budget shortfall in short order. It would also establish an endowment for our City far into the future. It could eventually even help us meet the more-than-ten million dollars we presently lack to cover unfunded pensions for current City staff.

I would appreciate participating first-hand in the outstanding progress that our current Council has made towards a more open, responsive, inclusive and trusted City Hall. I also desire:

• placing a priority on long-range City planning
• a greater voice for residents
• a comprehensible and strictly monitored budget
• wiser stewardship of our natural and built environments
• consistency in code enforcement
• more accountability in all arenas of City government
• more events like Art Walk or our own Downtown Farmer's Market to help put "unity" back into this community

I initially entered this Council election as one of Lisa Bennett's campaign managers. It would be an honor to serve alongside her. With your vote of confidence, Lisa and I can help envision and shape a more lively, innovative and viable Pacific Grove----and a legacy we can all be proud to leave for future Pagrovians.

Thank you so much for your consideration, and please be sure to vote.

Community...Synergy...Sally Jean