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The list of candidates running for seats on the Woodside Town Council in the Nov. 6 election has grown by two: Brian Dombkowski and Ned Fluet have qualified to run to represent districts 2 and 7, respectively, according to the town clerk.

Incumbent Robert Jones and Sean Ballard have also qualified as candidates for seats on the board of the Menlo Park Fire Protection District.

The list of contenders and would-be contenders for three seats on the board of the Ravenswood City School District is now longer by four. Laura Nunez and Tamara Sobomehin have qualified as candidates, and Brooke N. Crosby and incumbent Charlie Knight have picked up nomination papers.

In other school board races, incumbent John Earnhardt has qualified as a candidate for the board of the Las Lomitas Elementary School District, as has Jenny Hayden for the board of the Woodside Elementary School District.

In the race for a seat on the board of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District to represent Ward 6, Carter J. Warr has picked up nomination papers. Ward 6 includes Atherton, Menlo Park, Portola Valley and Woodside.

Incumbent Roy Thiele-Sardina has qualified as a candidate for the board of the West Bay Sanitary District.

In the Sequoia Healthcare District, governing board incumbent Jerry Shefren told The Almanac that he will be running for election to represent Zone E, which includes Woodside, Portola Valley and nearby unincorporated communities.

The filing deadline for nomination papers is 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 10, unless an incumbent chooses not to run, in which case the deadline is extended to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 15. No extensions to the Aug. 10 deadline will be granted for Menlo Park council races, however, as current council members are not considered incumbents under the new district election system.

Previous reporting

List of council candidates grows

Menlo Park: District 4 may have four contenders for council seat

By Dave Boyce

By Dave Boyce

By Dave Boyce

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9 Comments

  3. Jerry Shefren filed his candidate papers today for Zone E. I fild my papers for Zone C.
    Here is the candidate statement I filed:

    Occupation: Retired Senior Research Scientist Age 84

    In 1946, voters formed Sequoia Hospital District. Property taxes were assessed to build and operate Sequoia Hospital.
    In 1996, with Sequoia Hospital deeply in debt, voters approved it’s sale to Catholic Healthcare West.
    The District continues collecting property taxes, granting money to their favorite charities.
    The 2001 Civil Grand Jury questioned this activity, recommending property tax reductions unless voters approve the re-purposing of the District.
    The District’s response to the Grand Jury suggested that 55% of property taxes not collected would go to the state. That’s hogwash! It was intended to scare voters. Dissolution would distribute taxes locally to the county, cities and special districts. Directors who approved that response are STILL on the Board.
    After my 2002 election to the board, I found the District pursuing a fast track to relocate Sequoia Hospital. My referendum petition derailed that plan.
    Now owned by Dignity Health, Sequoia Hospital recently completed a major upgrade on its historic site at Whipple Avenue and Alameda de las Pulgas. This community treasure has been preserved.
    Now, voters must be allowed to decide the fate of Sequoia Healthcare District.
    If it didn’t already exist, would voters tax themselves to create such a district? I think not.

    Let the voters decide. Vote for Jack Hickey.

    E-mail: Jack@xshcd.com Website: http://www.xshcd.com

  4. Uh, Hickey…didn’t you state earlier this year that you would NOT seek another term on the Board this election year? And now, you ARE seeking another term on the Board?

    You know what that makes you, Hickey?

  6. Harland Harrison filed to run against Jerry Shefren in Zone E. Here is his candidate statement:

    I want to abolish Sequoia Healthcare District, the office I seek.

    Sequoia Healthcare District started as a hospital district. Then Directors sold the hospital, years ago, but went right on collecting the taxes for it!

    How can this go on so long? Easy! The directors give some of the money to public service organizations; millions of dollars buys popularity.

    Until now, the Directors were elected in at-large, staggered, elections. Recently, the District was sued for this crazy system. So, instead of giving up their seats, Directors divided the District into zones and continued their staggered elections. They just drew boundaries around their own homes, creating zones for themselves. That’s right; the politicians are choosing their voters, not the other way around.

    So who gets to vote, now? Areas like Portola Valley, Belmont, and San Carlos. Who cannot vote now and gets no representative at all before 2020? The minorities in Redwood City of course.

    Stop this nonsense now. Sequoia Healthcare District is no longer necessary.

    A Belmont resident for 35 years, I have been working to abolish Sequoia Healthcare District for 16 years. If elected:

    I will vote to stop collecting the taxes.

    I will vote to stop paying groups for support.

    I will vote to abolish Sequoia Healthcare District.

    http://CloseSHD.com

  7. Here is Art Kiesel’s Candidate Statement:

    With the sale of Sequoia Hospital in 1996, the Sequoia Healthcare District’s direction has been relegated to managing collected property taxes into grant money for health care purposes. Starting with the 2018 election, the Sequoia Healthcare District adopted zone elections placing emphasis on more local representation and governance.

    Are you aware of the percentage amount of your property taxes that funds this district?

    I have spent 15 years in local government serving two terms as Mayor of Foster City. I served four years on the City and County Association of Governments Board as well as its Legislative and Finance Committees. I served two years on the League of California Cities Board and seven years on State Policy Committees. I have been a CFO and have extensive experience in financial reporting and budgeting systems.

    An over-all review of the District is long overdue and the tax-paying voters, not five well-intentioned individuals, should decide its future and how the funds should be spent to benefit the area.

    I have spent my career dealing with fiscal management issues and would continue to so. With your support, I will do the same on the Sequoia Healthcare District Board.

  8. From Aaron Nayfack’s website:

    As a board member I will focus on:

    1. Supporting current programs. The district, through its community and grants programs, already supports a number of important campaigns and organizations. I will work to strengthen these efforts moving forward. Some examples are:

    The Healthy Schools Initiative: Supports the physical and mental health needs of students and staff.
    70 Strong: Promotes healthy aging and connections between older adults, as well as community services and opportunities.
    Funding for community clinics such as Ravenswood Family Health Clinic, Samaritian House Redwood City Clinic and the San Mateo Medical Center Clinic in Fair Oaks. Together these clinics serve thousand of low-income and uninsured clients.
    2. Strategically adding new initiatives.

    I see everyday in my clinical practice the enormous unmet need around child and adolescent mental health services. I will make this area a priority for expanding the district’s efforts.
    In addition, I think it’s important to focus on health/wellness promotion and disease prevention in all members of our community.
    Lastly, I’d like to build on the success of 70 Strong and continue to promote efforts to support older adults who may need assistance to remain in their homes or to remain active and engaged members of our South San Mateo County community.

  9. Give it up, Hickey — you won’t be elected to the Board, and neither will any of your hired stooges.

    Now show some actual dignity (I know, that’s asking a lot from you), and step away and LEAVE. After all, that’s what you said you would do earlier this year — or were you lying yet again?

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