Menlo Park Councilman Chuck Kinney won't run again Menlo Park Councilman Chuck Kinney won't run again (July 07, 2004)

** He says his ideas have 'little impact on or compatibility with' the rest of the council.

By Rebecca Wallace
Almanac Staff Writer

Saying he's tired of "not seeing the same way" as the rest of the council, Menlo Park City Councilman Chuck Kinney has announced he will not run for re-election in November.

After being elected in 1996, Mr. Kinney was hit with a profound change two years ago, when a three-member slate with many views contrary to his swept the 2002 race. Nowadays, he said in a prepared statement, "My ideas and directions currently seem to have little impact on or compatibility with those of the present council."

He added, "Another two years with the current council would be truly frustrating."

There are two four-year council seats up for grabs this fall, and the other incumbent, Paul Collacchi, has already said he won't run again. So far, planning commissioners Lorie Sinnott and Kelly Fergusson have announced their candidacies, and Planning Commissioner Stu Soffer and former councilman Steve Schmidt say they're still mulling over the idea.

West Bay Sanitary District board member John Carcione, who in March narrowly lost the Democratic primary for the 21st state Assembly seat, has also expressed interest in running.

Divided council

Several recent issues highlighted the divide on the council, Mr. Kinney said. He told the Almanac that he was particularly perturbed by the debates on new home-building rules and a proposed child-care center. Besides casting a minority vote, he said he found his ideas were largely ignored in the council's deliberations.

"I made a fairly in-depth presentation and it was, 'Oh, thank you, Chuck.' There was not a lot of discussion," he said.

Still, the decision not to run was a tough one, and Mr. Kinney said he will miss serving on the council.

"It gets you outside yourself, to help others," he said, adding that he especially enjoyed walking precincts and meeting fellow residents. "You meet people who are far superior to your intellect, and you say they should be running."

Despite any rift, Mr. Kinney is widely liked for his politeness and easygoing manner.

"He went about the council's business in a highly respectful and pragmatic way. He never let it get personal, never was disruptive, never filibustered," said Mr. Schmidt, who served on the council with Mr. Kinney.

Planning Commissioner Soffer agreed, and added that he has appreciated Mr. Kinney's work with the Trees for Menlo organization.

"El Camino has already been beautified by it. I see it as I go by, and that's Chuck's doing. That really is his legacy," he said.

Mr. Kinney, a general contractor specializing in seismic retrofitting, moved to Menlo Park in 1993. He previously lived for 22 years in Palo Alto, serving on the Architectural Review Board there, and before that lived in Illinois.

Mr. Kinney and Mr. Collacchi will stay on the council until early December, when freshly minted council members will assume their seats.

Through most of 2005, Mr. Kinney will remain as one of 29 directors of the Bay Area Water Service and Conservation District, which represents the jurisdictions buying water from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.

INFORMATION

For the November City Council election, residents can start taking out and filing candidacy papers at the Menlo Park City Clerk's office on July 12. The filing period would ordinarily end August 6 at 5 p.m., but because the incumbents are not running, the deadline is extended by five calendar days.

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