The questions were prepared by the the League of Women Voters of Fremont-Newark-Union City and asked of all candidates for this office.     See below for questions on Land Use

Click on a name for candidate information.   See also more information about this contest.

Answer from Bernie Nillo:

Growth can bring significant net benefits such as Ohlone College Newark Campus in area 3 and new business development in area 4. Eventually, however, unplanned or poorly planned growth can be counterbalanced by higher land and building rents, longer traffic delays, and increased air pollution. Local economic development depends importantly on the internal efficiency of the whole city, seen as an integrated production complex, with its structural form and paths of movement arranged in mutually supportive ways.

Answer from Mary Vincent:

I'd like Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Strategies to be incorporated into the Land Use Plan for Areas 3 and 4. TOD brings more retail, jobs, and easy to use streets and sidewalks. With more residents living and working in these areas, it will be a more vibrant and inviting place. Public transit will be a better alternative and it will provide daily transportation needs. Ensuring we also have Open Space and Wetland Protection is also an important component of my Plan.

Answer from Sharlene Saria-Mansfield:

Area 2 stretches from Old Town all the way to the Cargill Salt Ponds.

We need a new vision for Old Town, the most impoverished area in Newark. The building of the fire station as well as Carter Station is a good start. But much more needs to be done.

First, we must make a commuter rail stop in Newark a reality. It could either be part of the Dumbarton Rail project, which is under-funded and in danger of disappearing, or part of the ACE and Capitol Corridor routes. This would be a great fit, if and when, the A's build their stadium in Fremont.

A train station could be the foundation for exciting in-fill development projects with higher density, mixed use, and work-force housing. Then, we can truly transform Old Town.

We must also be mindful of the Wetlands in the western portion of Newark. I am an advocate of balancing the need for housing and commercial property, while the preserving open space and natural habitat.

Anything we do on Newark's wetlands should complement and enhance the Don Edwards Wildlife Area.

Area 3 and Area 4

The Ohlone College Campus is located in Area 3, just west of Cherry. Area 4 is west of that. Let me congratulate Ohlone College for building the first "green" community college campus in the nation.

Ohlone, with its modern campus, and emphasis on high-tech and bio-tech, should be the basis for all future development in that area. Area 3 currently zoned as "Special Industrial".

Development in this area has been hampered by the Sobrato Corp., which owns 77 acres adjacent to the Ohlone Campus. This developer has insisted that the land be "re-zoned" for housing.

It appears that our leaders are ready to agree. In exchange for re-zoning the land for residential purposes, Sobrato is ready to build a country club style golf course surrounded by multi-million dollar homes. The developer stands to make millions of dollars from the country club and the homes it will build.

Newark will lose all of the potential revenue from businesses. Given our 2.5 million dollar deficit, it seems like the worse time to make a deal with a developer and to build a country club that does not fit in with the Newark we all have known for 50 years.

Finally, we must be mindful of the Wetlands in the western portion of Newark. I am an advocate of balancing the need for housing and commercial property, while the preserving open space and natural habitat.

Anything we do on Newark's wetlands should complement and enhance the Don Edwards Wildlife Area.

The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.