By Eliza Ridgeway
A few yard signs on Los Altos Hills streets proclaimed preferences last weekend in the waning days of the campaign for city council.
The most frenetic political activity was evident in the volley of mailers between supporters of John Vidovich, particularly Steve Finn, Toni Casey and the Los Altos Hills Civic Association, and supporters of Breene Kerr and Dean Warshawsky, notably from Councilman Craig Jones and Hills2000, headed by Duffy Price.
Two seats are available on the city council in Tuesday’s election, with Vidovich challenging incumbents Kerr and Warshawsky.
Rhetoric in the council race has centered on Vidovich’s critique of current council policy and Kerr and Warshawsky’s enumeration of past successes on which they plan to build. Particularly charged issues have included the eucalyptus ban, redistricting, wildlife in town, estate homes, highly visible lots and property rights, and the council’s allowance for resident input.
A letter from former City Councilman Steve Finn accused Kerr of conflicts of interest, asserting that Kerr benefited professionally, as an alternative energy consultant, from the town’s solar and energy ordinances.
Kerr said he participated in discussion of the alternative energy initiative after requesting and receiving a letter of advice from the California Fair Political Practices Commission, which advised that he did not stand to benefit financially.
“During the period in question I specifically avoided getting involved in projects in Los Altos Hills … in a couple of cases I recused myself,” Kerr said. “This is essentially a smokescreen to obscure the real issues of this campaign, which are about development.”
Jones, who has been an outspoken supporter of Kerr and Warshawsky, said the Finn letter “hit a new low” in political negativity.
Vidovich has been the biggest spender in the race overall, with reported expenditures of $25,328 in the latest campaign spending count, filed Oct. 25. He raised $25,000, from his company, De Anza Building and Maintenance. His biggest expenditures included $4,560 for four ads in the Los Altos Town Crier and $3,730 disbursed to two political consultants.
Kerr raised $16,268 and spent $13,088. His biggest expenditure was half the cost of a Hills2000 newsletter in his support, at $4,258. His contributions came from local residents, with the exception of $100 from the California League of Conservation Voters.
Warshawsky raised $19,288, including almost $5,000 in in-kind donations, and spent $9,143. He received contributions from residents and two political action committees, including $500 from the Republican Lincoln Club of Northern California and $500 from CREPAC/BORPAC, a realtors’ group. Warshawsky’s biggest expense was printed materials.
