NOTICE: We are currently transitioning to an updated website! There may be some bugs while we get everything up and running. We appreciate your patience during this process! Thank you! - The Buzz Team
Education and Qualifications: Retired engineer, economist, volunteer, youth educator.
Our city is vibrant and exciting but can aspire to more. The current tone of public discourse by the City Council is divisive and must stop. On issue after issue, this City Council is ineffective at governing Half Moon Bay. The Council wastes millions, while failing to address our core needs.
We can solve pressing issues like traffic congestion and the homeless. As the president of the Ocean Colony HOA, I have been inclusive. We work together as respectful neighbors and with businesses and agencies.
I will put Half Moon Bay residents first to find pragmatic solutions to issues like affordable housing, safe neighborhoods, sewers, local jobs, and electrification. We need reform of our traffic, including a fix for the 92 bottleneck and more public transportation. I will work toward compassionate but cost-effective solutions for the homeless.
We can work together to find and implement solutions. We need a strategic vision that provides balance to meet our needs while empowering our residents to achieve their full potential. The City should remove the barriers to that potential that it has created. I pledge to be the balanced voice on our City Council and humbly ask for your vote. www.billbalson2022.com
As a veteran, former firefighter and paramedic, my focus over the past 10+ years has been on issues that matter to all Half Moon Bay residents. I have fought wasteful spending, saving the City of Half Moon Bay more than $26.5 million on numerous unnecessary or
wasteful projects. One example- my initiative in 2016 saved Half Moon Bay residents $5.3 million on the Library Project by forcing the City to obtain an interest free loan from San Mateo County.
Just this past year I discovered that the City had spent almost $1 million on another Main Street Bridge replacement project that was not allowed by law. When I legally challenged the project the Half Moon Bay City Council was forced to terminate it, saving all of us $13.5 million. I have fought corruption, finding gross fraud and misappropriation of $400,000 of funds in two local organizations.
I have fought for social justice, working for months to fully document the unlawful shooting of Sandra Harmon in 2020, despite the City of Half Moon Bay and the San Mateo County Sheriff working to block transparency. In 2020, our family conceived of and were the driving force behind the Black Lives Matter mural on the side of City Hall.
Our little slice of paradise has weathered many storms in recent years, but we have emerged stronger and more resilient. When I started this voyage eight years ago, I promised to strengthen our city’s finances, protect our open spaces and trails, and build connections among all our communities. Together, we have accomplished much.
City finances are strong. We extended and enhanced our trails, improved parks, and added permanent protections for agriculture and open space. We invested in our merchants and a vital downtown. We supported local organizations that provide critical safety net services and healthy aging programs. Our new Local Coastal Program provides new housing opportunities for all income levels and our local workforce including teachers, farm workers, and hospitality workers. We provide shelter and honest work for those experiencing homelessness. Our beaches are cleaner and more accessible. We are pursuing water recycling. We have made improvements to safety on Highway 1 and city streets, but there is more to do.
I have the experience, judgement, and collaboration skills that Half Moon Bay needs as we continue on our journey. I will listen and help advance our residents’ best ideas. Vote for Debbie Ruddock to keep our town moving forward.
[pdf-embedder url=”https://www.coastsidebuzz.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Certification-of-Insufficient-Nominees-Statement-of-Facts.pdf” title=”Certification of Insufficient Nominees (Statement of Facts)”]
Occupation: Current City Councilmember or Human Resources Leader
I am running for re-election to the Half Moon Bay City Council to represent the interests of District 1, the City and the Coastside.
My four-year vision is of a thriving and inclusive community known for thoughtful long-term planning and balanced solutions…a community whose leaders regularly reach out to all residents for their creative ideas and support in implementing those ideas.
As a long-term resident, I share many of our concerns around affordable housing, coastal protection, controlled economic growth, traffic congestion and infrastructure, and equitable access to quality public services for all.
I have worked for many years, in both the public and private sectors, helping organizations succeed through inclusive and collaborative decision-making. In city government, as in most organizations, the key to making quality decisions is transparency and trust. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or ideas for continuing to make Half Moon Bay a great place to live, work and play.
My first priority will be to continue to develop low- and moderate-income housing. Our teachers, our hard-working staff, and the children of homeowners cannot afford to live here. This has been a struggle, but one we must continue to engage, and I won’t give up until we have won.
We need to be a town where our youth can recreate and get training for future employment. Finishing our connected bicycle and pedestrian paths from Montara to Moonridge and crossing Highway 1 is a priority if we hope to get folks out of automobiles and safely to and from school and work.
We need to support and help grow our farming community and support green regenerative farming techniques. Our downtown business community needs support to aid in recovery and encourage long term prosperity.
We are a diverse community and I want to encourage better and more vigorous cooperation between city hall, our schools, and our businesses. We should tap into the tremendous talent here in Half Moon Bay. Our diversity is our greatest strength. We want our town to remain a beautiful, peaceful, and friendly place. Let’s work together to keep it that way.