Facts >> Fremont 2008 Elections - Three Candidates for Open Space Won in Livermore

In 2008, Fremont voters will have an opportunity to elect a new mayor and two council members. It is our intention to elect officials who share our vision.

For mayor, we want someone who puts a community’s quality of life ahead of special interest groups such as developers. Look at Chuck Reed, mayor of San Jose, who put the city’s quality of life ahead of developers by putting a moratorium on development of 3,500-acre rural Coyote Valley until certain conditions are met, for example, jobs created there before houses are built. He also set a bold vision for a more "green" city with ten ambitious initiatives.

While Friends of Coyote Hills is focused on protecting 520 acres of open space adjacent to Coyote Hills Regional Park, we also identify with Fremont residents living in Ardenwood/Forest Park, Irvington, Mission San Jose, Niles, Warm Spring, and Centerville who are very concerned about Fremont city council members who have approved runaway development with further, continuing strain on city services—schools, police, fire, street maintenance, etc., and quality of life.

We need to elect a mayor and city council members who would have a fresh approach—who understand what would constitute quality of life for Fremont residents, who draw strong businesses into the city, who work more closely with the school district when evaluating proposed developments, and who reach out to neighboring cities on common issues.

In the 2006 Fremont ballot, Measure K sponsored by Friends of Coyote Hills received 15,000 votes, which represents a large block of supporters, enough to elect a council member or mayor. For example, in 2002, current mayor Bob Wasserman received 16,747 votes (25.2%) while former council member Dominic Dutra received 11,675 votes (17.6%).*

If you want your voice to be heard in 2008 at the ballot box and elect candidates who favor planning decisions that originate from the careful consideration and consensus of Fremont citizens (and not outside interests such as developers), please register to vote.

In the coming months, we will monitor and publicize how each council member votes on land use decisions that affect quality of life in Fremont.

Read about how the Friends of Livermore helped to elect a full slate of city council members who support the preservation of open space and oppose urban sprawl. Through grassroots efforts such as community outreach and use of email groups, we can do the same in Fremont. 

*Source: Smart Voter by the League of Women Voters of California, 2002.