Pleasanton Weekly 03.26.2010 - Section 1

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NEWS

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Laursen to seek election to Pleasanton school board Trustee Pat Kernan remains undecided on whether to run again Joan Laursen, president of the Pleasanton PTA Council, announced Tuesday that she will seek election to the Pleasanton school board in Joan Laursen November. Two seats are opening this year on the board with the current four-year terms of board members Pat Kernan and Jim Ott expiring. Ott earlier announced that he will not seek re-election, but Kernan, the longest serving school board member, said he is undecided. His focus now, he said, was

hiring the new superintendent. Laursen has long been active in local school programs and fundraising campaigns. She headed last year’s effort to gain voter approval of a parcel tax and also spearheaded community fund-raising campaigns. “We are a team — teachers, administrators, staff and parents — who have all worked very hard together to build an excellent school district,� Laursen said. “I feel compelled during these difficult times to continue my service to Pleasanton’s students and families by running for school board.� “I believe I can make a real contribution,� she added, “utilizing my extensive knowledge of school

construction

Kiwanis club giving back At a recent meeting of the Pleasanton chapter of the Kiwanis International, representatives from local organizations were presented with charitable contributions from the club. Pictured are Dawn Wilson, president of the Pleasanton chapter of Kiwanis; Ken Mercer of ValleyCare Foundation; Linda McKeever of Open Heart Kitchen; Sue Compton of Axis Community Health; Martha Hogan of Down Syndrome Connection; and Shelley Despotakis, also with ValleyCare Foundation.

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Page 6ĂŠUĂŠMarch 26, 2010ĂŠUĂŠPleasanton Weekly

finance and educational issues and by utilizing my many years of experience at all levels, whether in parent groups or on school site councils, to continue to improve educational opportunities for all of our children.� School board elections are every two years on a 3-2 alternating basis for the five-member board. Kernan and Ott were elected after running unopposed in 2006, with current members are Valerie Arkin, Chris Grant and Jamie Hintzke elected in 2008. The school district has no term limits for its elected board members. —Emily West

HEALTH Continued from Page 5

“make history for our country and progress for the American people.� Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) said to the House before the vote that Democrats are voting “for all those people that deserve health care but just can’t afford it.� No Republicans voted for the bill, which was criticized by local conservatives who said it will increase the country’s budget deficit and cause further intrusion by the federal government into people’s lives. Tom Del Baccaro of Lafayette, who is vice chair of the California Republican Party, said rather than end the debate on health care, the passage of the bill will inflame the issue and cause voters to go against Democrats in upcoming elections. The bill “will be a nightmare for the Democrats ... to deal with because these costs and the deficit will be so out of control,� he said. Del Baccaro cited McNerney as a legislator who could lose his seat as a result of voting for the bill. About 300 conservative protesters from the Pleasanton TEA (Taxed Enough Already) Party gathered Friday on the Foothill Road overpass to Interstate 580 to voice their

disapproval of the bill, and about 50 gathered there again Sunday and Monday. Another group with signs and banners supporting health care stood in front of McNerney’s office on Stoneridge Mall Road. Bud Warder, a member of the Danville-based Conservative Support Group, was at the anti-health care measure rally and said the protesters appear to have the support of the general public based on reactions by people driving by the group. “We have a bird-to-’atta boy’ ratio, where when we show our signs and try to listen to the reaction from motorists, if we get a (middle) finger or a ‘Way to go’ and clapping,� Warder said. “About a year ago (during a similar rally) it was probably 10 to 1 birds to ‘atta boys,’ but here today, the ratio was more like 7 to 1 in the opposite direction,� he said. Warder said Congress pushed the bill through without properly studying the consequences and that Democrats will pay the price at the polls. “How can you vote for something that we doubt you understand?� he said. “We have the support of the people, and people are not going to forget what happened today.� McNerney said that the measure

passed Sunday night “tackles our most pressing health care challenges and is a critical first step. It will slow out of control health care costs and fight back against insurance company abuses.� In a message to constituents after the House vote, McNerney said that the reform package is fiscally responsible and will cut the deficit by $143 billion in the first ten years and $1.2 trillion in the second decade. He said: “For nine months, I’ve been listening to our community’s thoughts and ideas on health care reform. I’ve held public events that hundreds of people have attended and have met with seniors, patients, veterans, small business owners, doctors, and nurses. Thousands of people have also emailed, written letters, and called my office. “Reform will reduce the growth of health care costs by creating fair, transparent and competitive health insurance markets and cracking down on waste, fraud and abuse,� he continued. “It will improve benefits for seniors, help small businesses to stay open, and stop insurance companies from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions or kicking sick people off their plans.� Bay City News contributed to this report.

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