Campaign Statement

By Bea O'Keefe

I have been a home owner and community activist in El Cerrito for 22 years. I've served as your elected Director for the Stege Sanitary District for 12 years, currently as President. During that time we met mandated EPA water discharge standards 10 years ahead of shcedule and $8,000,000 below estimated cost. We instituted a $700,000 per year rehabilitation program of our aging sewers while retaining one of the lowest rates in the area.

I hold a BS degree from UC Berkeley, A Masters in Business Finance and work as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist.

I am the only candidate who has experience directing a Municipal Agency. I have the fiscal know how and proven experience to make the critical decisions to get this City financially back on track, improve our parks and facilities and stimulate our local businesses.

As a member of Project Listen's Improvement Committee under chair Gina Brusatori, I helped identify the city's capital improvement needs.

I served on the Residential Architectural Development Committee. We drafted ordinance proposals that preserved neighborhoods from overscale additions and provided a mechanism for negotiation for view preservation.

I participated in the Del Norte Development process and ensured that any proposed development addressed neighborhood concerns about safety, traffic, pollution and density.

I am a Friend of Baxter creek and lobbied and won inclusion of Baxter Creek and protection of the creek area in the general Plan.

I am a Friend of the El Cerrito Library and a supporter of after school programs for children.

I will bring all of the knowlege and experience I have gained in the community to ensure that we Revitalize business, Restore fiscal responsibility and Repair our aging infrastructure.