Kerr, Warshawsky for LAH council
With one glaring exception, we’ve appreciated the work of incumbent Los Altos Hills councilmen Breene Kerr and Dean Warshawsky. Running on a platform of “getting things done,” they’ve done just that, from leading town efforts to rebuild Town Hall to improving the town’s pathway system.
While we’re not supportive of the town’s public school redistricting efforts, which they continue to champion, Kerr and Warshawsky have certainly shown commitment to the job and focus in moving forward on a range of issues benefiting the town. The latest example is the town receiving another $400,000 annually from the state, thanks to their involvement, particularly Kerr’s, on regional committees. The council also is making notable progress in perhaps the most important issue overall for residents - bringing more sewer lines into town to replace the old septic tanks.
We empathize with challenger John Vidovich’s opposition to the council’s pursuit of redistricting and agree that the council is out of sync in this case with the majority of town residents. The redistricting effort encourages divisiveness between the Hills and Los Altos School District supporters at a time when people should be coming together over reopening a public school at the Bullis-Purissima site.
Vidovich could emerge as a viable candidate in the future. We encourage him to get more involved by attending council meetings and joining Hills’ boards, such as the planning commission or pathways committee.
Meanwhile, we’d like to see Kerr and Warshawsky lead the way in mending council fences with the school district and ushering in a new era of cooperation. If they will do that, “Breene and Dean” get our endorsement - without reservation.
Dolores Carr for county district attorney
For our money, former county judge Dolores Carr is best qualified to run the 400-person Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office and its annual $68 million budget.
Her opponent, Karyn Sinunu, boasts more experience as the county’s chief assistant district attorney. But Carr’s experience as a judge has resulted in a strong sense of fairness. She’s also more politically savvy, as is reflected by her capturing the lion’s share of endorsements from key figures associated with the office.
That savvy will play well in her efforts to improve the department, the shortcomings of which were brought out in a San Jose Mercury News investigative series published earlier this year. Sinunu aided the newspaper in reporting the story. But the story, however enlightening to the general public, raised questions about the DA’s office and, ultimately, herself as second in command.
Carr, meanwhile, promises a fresh new start for the department, which could use a morale boost (not to mention an upgrade in efficiency) with this fair-minded judge in the top spot.
