Marin Supervisor Judy Arnold’s decision to retire and not seek a fifth term has created an open race to represent Novato-based District 5.
Four candidates are vying for the post on the June 7 ballot.
Novato Mayor Eric Lucan has the most political experience, locally and regionally, to be an effective leader guiding our county government.
In fact, Lucan has the endorsement of his four colleagues on the City Council. They don’t always agree, but they agree on Lucan, who would bring to the job 11 years of elective service, including having worked with Arnold on regional boards.
His local roots are deep, having been raised in Novato and now raising a young family in town.
Lucan is not a firebrand politician. He is thoughtful, well-spoken and respectful of others’ opinions.
He understands his community and the expectations of its residents and local businesses.
That’s why he’s focused his platform on building local resilience from wildland fires and flooding, fostering a strong local economy and responding to the needs of our youth, seniors and those struggling to get by in our high-priced county.
To win the job, he’s going to have to defeat three other candidates, who are bringing diverse focuses to the race.
Veteran county sheriff’s deputy Colin Medalie says he is running to stop “out of control government.” He says crime and the local homeless problem are the ramifications of Marin’s current “dysfunctional” government.
He says the local homeless problem is “a big driver” of local crime, a sweeping generalization that might resonate with some voters.
His campaign is backed by Toni Shroyer, who twice came close to unseating Arnold.
Kevin Morrison, who has twice run for Novato City Council, has set his sights on Arnold’s office, promoting himself as the only “progressive Democrat” in the field of candidates. He says Marin faces “a moral emergency” and needs to do much more in addressing local inequities.
An affluent county such as Marin should not have 1,500 homeless people, he says.
He’s right. But while Morrison casts himself as an “agent of change,” rhetoric alone isn’t going to solve this challenging problem.
Most of Marin’s Democratic Party leadership is endorsing Lucan.
He knows solving the problem – such as finding better housing opportunities – is going to take more than words; it’s going to take leadership in building community consensus.
Medalie’s agenda is clear. He says the county needs to stop handing out “generous benefits” that are attracting “outsiders.”
Joining this race is Jason Sarris, a homeless man who has lived in, and has been the spokesman for, the homeless encampment in downtown Novato.
He is well-spoken and well-educated. He noted that the RV parking that has grown along Novato’s Binford Road is a sign that many of Marin’s homeless are “working-class people” whose financial struggles have left them having to live in their vehicles.
“These are people who are on the bubble,” says Sarris, who says he’s running to help put an end to police sweeps of homeless encampments, which he says hasn’t proven to help end local homelessness.
His candidacy has helped put a public focus on the issue.
Lucan’s years of public service and local endorsements, his youth and local business knowledge as chief marketing officer for Mike’s Bikes, as well as his breadth of experience in having to balance public budgets, working with stakeholders along with other decision-makers and having faced local political decisions make him the best choice for the job.
He has grown into a strong and effective local leader. He would be a strong representative for Novato, its taxpayers and the community’s needs, in county government.
The IJ recommends Eric Lucan as the top choice in the June 7 election for Marin District 5 supervisor.
