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LWV League of Women Voters of California
Santa Barbara County, CA November 6, 2001 Election
Smart Voter Political Philosophy for Margaret Connell

Candidate for
Member of City Council; Proposed City of Goleta

[photo]
This information is provided by the candidate

For the past two years I have worked with GoletaNow! to put a proposal for Goleta cityhood on the November 6th, 2001 ballot. I strongly believe that decisions about what happens in Goleta should be made by the people who live in Goleta.

I am running for the Goleta City Council which will be elected at the same time as the decision on cityhood because I have the knowledge and experience to meet the challenge of establishing the new City of Goleta.

I have lived in Goleta for 45 years with my husband Joe, a UCSB professor of ecology, and we raised our four children here. I know the area, its history and its neighborhoods. My experience includes 17 years on the Santa Barbara School Board (which governs the high schools and junior high schools in the Goleta Valley) where I dealt with many complex and difficult decisions and worked with multi-million dollar budgets; 10 years as Public Affairs Director for a non-profit family planning clinic, a job which involved working with the people in the community and responding to their questions; and over 30 years involvement and leadership in many community organizations.

My priorities will be:

  • developing a community plan to preserve Goleta's special mix of residential neighborhoods, parks and open space;
  • Protecting sensitive environmental areas - our beaches, creeks and native fauna and flora
  • supporting existing local businesses to secure a sound economic base without the need for new, large-scale, commercial development;
  • ensuring public safety, road maintenance and traffic solutions to make Goleta a bicycle and pedestrian friendly community; and
  • securing a greater range of affordable housing opportunities for the diversity of people who live and work here, who today cannot afford the ever increasing cost of real estate on the South Coast.
  • addressing regional issues such as air quality, transportation, and impacts of UCSB and the Airport If elected, I will commit my time and energy to the successful foundation of the new city of Goleta. I would very much appreciate your support and your vote on November 6th.

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 25, 2001 19:57
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