Menlo Park resident Elizabeth Lasensky is no stranger to speaking out against members of the City Council, but now she wants to fill one of their seats.
Ms. Lasensky, a 15-year resident and one of the most outspoken critics of the council’s push to build a golf course and playing fields at Bayfront Park, said she intends to run for one of three council seats up for grabs in November.
Those seats are currently filled by council members Nicholas Jellins, Lee Duboc and Mickie Winkler, who often vote together on major issues. So far, they haven’t publicly announced whether they will run for re-election.
Ms. Lasensky, a member of the Housing Commission since August, is the third resident to announce her candidacy. Parks and Recreation Commissioner Richard Cline and former Councilman Steve Schmidt say they also will run.
Ms. Lasensky has worked for the dean of research at Stanford University for 19 years.
She and Mr. Schmidt were driving forces behind the creation last year of Friends of Bayfront Park, a resident group that gathered the signatures of more than 2,000 people against the plans to build a golf course and three playing fields at the 160-acre park off Marsh Road. Ms. Lasensky served as the group’s president until recently.
Mr. Jellins, Ms. Winkler and Ms. Duboc authorized negotiations to develop the park, but the developer eventually withdrew the proposal, citing public opposition.
Ms. Lasensky has also voiced frustration over the council’s privatization of the city’s aquatics center and a recent push to privatize the city’s child care programs, calling “the privatization of public facilities a breach of public trust.”
“I’m really upset with the quality of the decision making,” she said. “I want the council to return to open, honest and respectful deliberations.”
Unlike Mr. Schmidt and Mr. Cline, Ms. Lasensky is a relatively fresh face on the city’s divisive political scene.
“I don’t come with a lot of baggage … and I think that’s a good thing,” Ms. Lasensky said. “The council should be cooperative and get things done. There needs to be some change.”
On the oft-divided council, Mayor Jellins, Ms. Winkler and Ms. Duboc garner more support from business and real estate interests than the other side. Council members Andy Cohen and Kelly Fergusson often receive support from residents opposed to increased development.
Ms. Lasensky said she often agrees with Mr. Cohen and Ms. Fergusson, but is yet to decide whether to align herself with anyone before the election, including Mr. Schmidt, whom she worked with through the Friends group.
Ms. Lasensky said her other goals include: maintaining a “diverse housing pool” through the construction of affordable rental units; promoting business development on El Camino Real and the city’s downtown corridor; improving the city’s transit system; researching sites for more playing fields; and encouraging “green technology companies” to move to the city.
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