A very thoughtful letter from Patrick in the Daily Journal today:

Throughout the Peninsula there are incredible relief efforts underway for hurricane victims. However, this is an election season. I think it is a good time to point out that this year, the money does not belong in election committee's bank accounts. There are numerous forums for all local candidates to espouse their platforms. The local press and individual Web sites provide excellent and cheap alternatives to expensive mailings and parties.

Anyone who is running or supporting a lavish campaign should think twice: Glossy signs or food in the mouths of children the hurricane made orphans? An extra mailing or a cot for an elderly woman to sleep on? A small donation to the candidate I want to get elected or a small donation to the American Red Cross? (https://give.redcross.org/)

San Mateo is a county of great privilege. To whom much is given much should be expected. And so as we call on our middle-schoolers and high school children to donate cans, and conduct grass roots fundraising efforts for hurricane victims, we should also call on our current and potential representatives to do the same: To waive or redirect campaign contributions and limit spending; and to ensure that this campaign season remains moderate.

My vote would be for the candidate who has the moral character, in this time of such great need, to see that there are things more important then a small town campaign when so much of our country suffers in peril

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– Written by Fiona

Thanks to Fred's excellent list of questions, I thought that we should bring them to the front so some of our less informed candidates can be doing their homework before the upcoming debates:

1) Would you support a reduction or an increase in the FAR (residential Floor Area Ratio), if so, by how much and why?

2) What areas of improvement do you think are most important for the City of Burlingame to address in the near future?

3) What is your vision for downtown Burlingame and what steps will you take to achieve that during your next/first term?

4) What changes, if any, would be necessary for you to accept Safeway's plan?

5) What are your thoughts about a senior/teen center? Would you support the one previously studied, across from Washington Park or in Washington Park? If not, why?

6) Do you support the current structure of the DBID or what alternative plans would you support?

7) Would you support a proposal to establish housing on the Bayfront?

8) What role do you believe the city council plays with regards to school and hospital issues?

9) What proposals do you have to encourage smaller, independent retailers in downtown?

10) If the Donnelly Plaza proposal came to a vote exactly as proposed in Mr. Ionescu's 5 July presentation and assuming acceptable financial terms were reached, would you vote For or Against?

11) Would you support establishing a significant historic property? list for residential and commercial properties?

Those candidates who have not been attending council meetings, Safeway meetings, etc. should start studying because these are very important issues to many of us voters.

– Written by Fiona

An earlier blogger questioned how much our candidates are spending on their campaigns. One rumor is that a candidate is spending up to $50,000 but we will have to wait until the 460's are out to confirm that number.

Perhaps our candidates could use some of their campaign war chest towards a good cause and form a team and walk for Burlingame's Relay in Life. It has been done before when a group of high school students walked as the Russ for Us Team. They loved it especially staying overnight in a cold tent!

DATES: October 8-9, 2005
WHERE: Burlingame High School Burlingame, CA
CONTACT: For more information about Relay for Life, please contact Michelle Reynolds at SWATwebteam@aol.com.

Lots of ideas for names – The Lumberjacks, the Red Red Rose Team, the Kiwi Brigade, the Russ for Us Team 2, etc. etc.

Maybe our latest candidate "F Flea Bailey" could bring his Maltese dog friends and go walkies for a good cause!

– Written by Fiona

The City of Burlingame has sent this out on their list serve:

Candidate Night jointly sponsored by the San Mateo Daily Journal and Citizens for A Better Burlingame

Burlingame voters will soon have the rare opportunity to choose from among 9 candidates to elect 4 of them to the 5-member City Council. Getting to know this many candidates in order to make intelligent choices will be a real challenge for many voters. The best way is to hear the candidates first hand. Come hear the candidates address the issues this coming Thursday, September 29th, from 7-9 p.m. at Burlingame Intermediate School Auditorium. Moderators for the debate will be Michelle Durand and Jon Mays of the San Mateo Daily Journal.

The event is jointly sponsored by the San Mateo Daily Journal and Citizens for A Better Burlingame. The Burlingame Intermediate school is located at 1715 Quesada Way in Burlingame.

For more information, please contact Michelle Durand or Jon Mays at the San Mateo Daily Journal: telephone 344-5200.

– Written by Fiona

We have now moved on from "concerned-resident-wants-to-know-if-you-have-a-business-license" shenalligan of yesteryear to "concerned residents" picking on our small businessess about their election signage.

Come on, "concerned residents", leave them alone.

Maybe this election will be won on who has the biggest signs, who has spent the most, the best and worst endorsements, the glossiest of glossy mailings, etc. but most of us want to know about the candidates and the issues.

So all you "concerned residents with inquiring minds", why not use your FBI-type sleuthing skills to find out about the candidates – their past and present record, the content of their brains, which candidates know about the issues and which ones have the integrity to serve the residents of Burlingame for the next two/four years?

– Written by Fiona

The procedure for the Candidate's Debate on THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2005 at City Hall is as follows:

7:00 p.m. to 7:40 p.m. Forum of Council Candidates for 2-year term
7:40 p.m. to 7:50 p.m. Intermission
7:50 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Forum of Council Candidates for 4-year term

The League of Women Voters will moderate this Debate which is sponsored by the City of Burlingame and will be televised on the local Burlingame Channel (26 or 27).

For further information, please contact the Burlingame City Clerk at 650-558-7203 or email dmortensen@burlingame.org

– Written by Fiona