Bragman

I attended the Patriot Act Resolution of the Council and was prepared to give a presentation during open time. As an attorney, I am very concerned about the Acts unprecedented intrusion into the confidential communications between attorney and client. While I have always assumed that my communications with clients in custody are monitored, the Act permits the government to use such information against the accused in a court of law. Thus, the act effectively eliminates the Fifth Amendment's right against Self Incrimination and the right to effective assistance of counsel. I attended the cell phone tower meeting and also favored the town's insistence on an Environmental Impact Report to study whether the placement of the tower in the densely built downtown area will adversely affect property values. I believe such a placement will adversely affect the neighborhood and favor placement outside of the town limits. I do not believe that a private corporation should be able to usurp a public space to broadcast potentially harmful EMF into the community. I support the Pesticide Notification Ordinance and believe it should be defended by our Town Attorney if it is challenged. Ultimately, our Town Council can and must provide a forum for citizens on matters of pressing national or international concern that arise from time to time. I believe that the Council is inherently empowered to do so under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution which guarantees the right of the people to petition grievances, but also under the concept of open time which has long been a tradition in Fairfax. The council is the people's forum and needs to respond to their concerns. Ultimately the aggregate persuasive authority of our Council and others across the country has had a profound effect on public policy.

Hailer

I am a true patriot. I was in the military and went overseas. I learned that only in America is there great freedom of expression. People have been flocking to this country for centuries. Anyone who doesn't want to live here is free to go at anytime. I'm not advocating the 'love or leave it' mentality, I'm pointing out that we have the freedom to leave and come back if we want, unlike many other places on the planet. We also have equal rights. As a woman, I am thankful to be in America where I choose my own path. The problem? That's starting to change. The Patriot Act and the Bush administration remind me of the era of McCarthyism. While I understand the fear of terrorism, we need to learn from mistakes of the past and not repeat them. I'm glad the Town took a stand against the Patriot Act. I am very against the Patriot Act and know others who are very patriotic and also see the Act as downright anti-American. In a community such as ours, letting neighbors who have children and pets know when you'll be doing any major pesticide spraying is the responsible thing to do. I wish we didn't have this in the form of an ordinance, especially one which is practically unenforceable. This could have been an opportunity to inform people of alternatives to pesticides, rather than further divide people. I think this would have been a great project for Sustainable Fairfax to grab hold of and run with. I voted against the cell phone tower on the Fairfax Theatre even though we had the legal reps from the Telecomm companies telling us we were in violation of FCC regulations by not letting them go ahead with their project. Local Government needs to be responsive to the needs and objections of the community and, at times like this, abide by the precautionary principle. The location was too close to residential neighborhoods and there were unknown ramifications for exposures to children. I know that if I lived in that area and the antennae went up next to my kids' bedroom, I'd have moved. That type of action would bring down property values, something we also need to protect. I don't know much about Fairfax's involvement in the creation of a Marin Local Energy Council or the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign, but I have worked on energy projects and might have something to offer here.

Tremaine

Over the past four years, thinking globally and acting locally has been a hallmark of the Fairfax Council's activity, and I have been a leader in this area. I carried the resolution regarding the Patriot Act to the council, assisted in its editing, created the computer file of the resolution, delivered it to the town clerk and made the motion to pass it. I served on the committee that drafted the Pesticide Notification Ordinance and defended it against the state's attempt to reverse it. I have consistently fought the cell phone companies' attempts to place cell phone antennas in residential areas. I have lead the effort to involve Fairfax in the creation of a Marin Local Energy Council while on the town council. I supported the resolution to join the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign movement and introduced the resolution to join ICLEI. I will continue to be a leader in Fairfax efforts to fight global warming, whether or not I am reelected.

Prum

With the Town's relatively recent actions of the Anti-Patriot Act Resolution and the Pesticide Neighbor Notification ordinance, Fairfax has made a sizeable impact on the political landscape of other small towns, the State of California, and the nation. I believe that these kinds of actions, when performed appropriately, are incredibly important, not only in setting an example for other, but in maintaining the morale of the people of Fairfax. Many of the younger residents of Fairfax are totally disenchanted with the political system in our country. Resolutions like this help remind them that someone nearby, with a bit of power, agrees with them and is willing to make a statement about it.

Weinsoff

I supported the Resolution adopted by the Council opposing adoption and implementation of the Patriot Act. As I stated during the candidates' debate, I believe that on issues of significant national, state, or local concern, Council meetings serve as a welcome opportunity for the community to express itself collectively. I support the Pesticide Notification Ordinance and believe that local governments can serve as "incubators" for innovative ideas that are not addressed at the state or federal level. As I discussed the Cell Phone Tower issue with people in the neighborhoods during my campaign walks, I discovered that an overwhelming number favor effective cell phone service. It is an issue of public safety for parents, and one of economic necessity for the increasing number of mobile small businesses now operating in Town. I support the Marin Local Energy Council program. I support the goals of the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign. Because the Town has limited staff to oversee this program, however, I would like to encourage an environmental community group, in cooperation with staff and the Council, to undertake the required planning and implement the program.