Candidate for
Member, City Council; City of Ukiah

I believe that it is the duty of every elected official to put the public interest ahead of their personal interest or the interest of any particular group. This doesn't mean that I don't have personal beliefs about what is in the public interest. It does mean that I am committed to being open minded, to considering all of the information presented, to listening carefully to different points of view and to deciding each issue on its own merits based on the facts of each item and the applicable law.

On every Board and Committee on which I have served, I have earned a reputation for being hard working and fully prepared. When concerns or problems are identified with a project or in the community, I work to build consensus and find solutions to the problem.

I believe in a non-partisan approach to local government and the endorsements that I have received confirm that. Providing for public safety, for sensible land use planning, securing adequate water resources, properly maintaining public facilities, and ensuring that public funds are spent wisely are non-partisan issues.

I support the old fashioned belief that government exists to serve the needs of the people. I believe that local government should be customer service oriented. For this reason I insisted that City Hall be reopened on Fridays. When I learned that the City was charging twenty cents for copies I encouraged the administration to review the actual cost with the result that the cost was lowered to ten cents. When citizens bring their concerns to me I assist them in putting the issue before the City employee or Committee that has jurisdiction.

The City is currently upgrading its website to provide more information and in a more user friendly format. It will take time to fully activate, but the goal is to have as much information as possible available on the website. All relevant documents, from the Budget, General Plan, Zoning Code, Western Hills Contraints Analysis and Draft Hillside Regulations, to the Fire Department Master Plan and Palace Hotel Appraisal should be online for any interested citizen to review. Relevant information about the operations and purpose of every City Department should be available. The website should also be interactive to allow the public to download and submit forms for employment application, business license applications, utility hookups, recreation program signups, building permits and other routine business. Effective use of the website will be cost effective and time efficient for city employees and the public, enabling the City to provide better service to more people at lower cost.

I have extensive experience working on non-profit and public boards and committees, both elected and appointed. I understand that any success that I have depends upon the support and cooperation of other people. I am very interested in being effective and I have earned a reputaion for being open minded and willing to work with anyone. I am a problem solver and a consensus builder.

Many citizens of the City and County don't know the precise location of the invisible line separating the two jurisdictions - they are only interested in the timely, efficient and cost effective delivery of services. For this reason,I am committed to the City and County developing a close working relationship to better serve the public. I have attended many meetings of County agencies and committees in order to advocate for and build support for issues that are of concern to me. Many County residents either work in Ukiah, own businesses, have children in school, shop or have some other connection that causes them to think of Ukiah as their hometown. For this reason I led the successful effort to allow any County resident the opportunity to serve on City Commissions and Committees and I am equally accessible and responsive to County as well as City residents.

I currently am an appointed member, representative or alternate to the following Boards and Committees:

Mendocino Council of Governments; Ukiah Valley Cultural and Recreation Center; Mendociino County Homeless Services Planning Group; Buddy Eller Center Shelter Advisory Committee; Mendocino County Library Advsory Board; Ukiah Main Street Program; Greater Ukiah Chamber of Commerce; Norther California Power Agency; Mendocino Solid Waste Management Authority.

In additon, I have attended and participated in meetings of the Mendocino County Mental Health Advisory Board, the Mendocino County Public Health Advisory Board, the Inland Water and Power Commission, the Russian River Flood Control and Water Conservation Improvement District, the Local Agency Formation Commission, the North Coast Railroad Association, the Russian River Public Water Agencies and the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors. I have also been deeply involved in the Mental Health Services Act process.

Many people have told me that they don't always agree with me but that they respect me for being hard working, fully prepared and fair minded. I believe it is the duty of our elected representatives to be accessible to the public and for that reason, my phone number (462-3210) and email address mccowen@pacific.net are listed in my campaign brochure. I am also listed in the phone book. We may not always agree, but I am always willing to hear your concerns and point of view so that I can better represent the public interest. Thank you for taking the time to be an informed voter.