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Political Tsunami in Half Moon Bay
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Half Moon Bay, California
Half Moon Bay will be host to yet another political donnybrook this fall with eight candidates running for three available seats on the City Council.
Two incumbents, including two term incumbent Jim Grady and one-term councilmember Bonnie McClung, have opted not to seek reelection. That leaves five term veteran Naomi Patridge alone in pursuit of a successive term.
As per usual, the council election is a battle between the so-called “old guard” of Half Moon Bay representing more of the legacy families of the coast and the traditional agricultural interests that have more or less dominated the coastal city’s political history and those whose families are not century’s old residents and/or part of the agricultural community. These are often more recent arrivals to the coast, perhaps only 40 years residence, and lean toward the environmental side of the political spectrum.
Beyond the traditional divide, the City of Half Moon Bay has been in turmoil since December of 2007 when the final judgment against the City over the now apocryphal Beachwood development lawsuit brought against the City by Palo Alto developer Charles “Chop” Keenan was delivered in federal court.
The judgment, and final settlement, forced the City to pay $18 million to Keenan via an even more expensive bond – leading to a reduction of City staff by nearly a third and will saddle the City with a heavy burden for a generation. The lawsuit began in response to actions of councils past when the council was not controlled by the old guard but it was an old guard dominated council that catastrophically failed to resolve the lawsuit in a way that was even remotely favorable to the City – but that is a much longer story.
Incumbent Naomi Patridge is more or less the political matriarch of the “old guard” but she may be held to account for the huge debt her City must now carry, whether or not she was at fault.
On the Old Guard ticket is also local businessmen Rick Kowalczyk and George Muteff. Kowalczyk, a local volunteer with the local schools, enjoys the endorsements of four of the incumbent councilmembers and several members of the school board
Muteff, a local financial consultant, ran in 2005 finishing well out of the money but has remained a frequent critic and observer of the council. More recently Muteff is known for having shot his neighbor’s 11-month old Boston Terrier puppy that was unlucky enough to have wandered onto Muteff’s property and was allegedly harassing his livestock, specifically sheep.
Muteff, according to the District Attorney’s office, lawfully killed the pup - named Oreo - but the peculiar nature of the killing – a small Boston Terrier puppy supposedly posing a threat to larger livestock – won Muteff few points among animal lovers.
The Other Side
On the flip side, another council veteran is attempting a return. Three-term councilmember Deborah Ruddock is running for a seat on the council after an eight-year hiatus.
While Ruddock is not supported by the majority of the current council she is mounting an impressive campaign with endorsements from the County’s Central Labor Council, The Democratic Party, Sierra Club, Assemblyman Jerry Hill and Senator Leland Yee. Despite the strong support, Ruddock will be painted locally as part of the former council majority that set the stage for the Beachwood lawsuit. But blame will be more difficult to assign as a matter of historical reference.
Following Ruddock with the same set of endorsements is Parks & Recreation Commissioner and retired teacher Sofia Freer. Freer is running for her first term but is a veteran of coastal political battles as a member of the environmentally progressive League for Coastside Protection (LCP), as is Ruddock.
Relative newcomer is local business owner and green energy consultant Dan Handler. Handler largely enjoys most of the endorsements shared by Ruddock and Freer with the exception of labor and the major legislative endorsements. But Handler’s lack of definitive connection to either camp may be an asset as work-a-day Half Moon Bay residents may be growing weary of the constant divide.
The Outliers
Beyond the six candidates who more or less fit nicely into one camp or the other, there are two additional political newcomers.
Allan Alifano, another local business owner has thrown his hat in the ring. Alifano leans more toward the old guard slate but does not enjoy its full support this round.
Finally, newcomer and recent Midwest transplant Charles Hoelzel. The twenty-something conservative lives with his mother and works at the local Bank of America. Hoelzel is an unknown, has no support and has raised next to nothing in terms of campaign funds, particularly when compared to veterans such as Patridge and Ruddock.
Prediction
Ruddock and Freer get a hard fought electoral victory leaving Patridge to fight it out with Handler. If Handler wins – which would be against the odds – it would fundamentally change the character of the council and put the “old guard” on the outs. While Patridge remains formidable, the Beachwood debacle may yet be this council’s Waterloo.
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Boston Terrier
Contact Bruce Balshone at bruce.examiner@gmail.com
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