The Petaluma City Council consists of six Council Members and the Mayor. The Council Members are elected at large for overlapping four-year terms. Three Council Members are elected at the November General Municipal election in even-numbered years. This means that at least three Council Members are up for election every two years. The Mayor is directly elected to a four-year term during the General Municipal election in November. Council and Mayoral elections are non-partisan and members are elected as at-large representatives for all of the citizens.
On November 2nd, 2010, the Mayor’s seat and three Council Member seats will be on the ballot. The open seats are currently filled by Mayor Pam Torliatt and Council Members Mike Harris, David Rabbitt, and Teresa Barnett. Those elected on November 2nd will serve 4-year terms that will expire on December 31, 2014. The remaining three Council Members are David Glass, Tiffany Renee and Mike Healy.
Regular City Council Meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month, with some exceptions made for holidays that fall on a regular meeting day, etc. Meetings usually include a 6:00 p.m. Closed Session and a 7:00 p.m. Open Session. Special Meetings are also called on an as-needed basis. All City Council meetings are open to the public with the exception of discussions which pertain to property acquisition, legal, or personnel issues. State law allows these to be handled privately under Closed Session and no other issues may be discussed in Closed Sessions. City Council agendas indicate whether or not there will be a closed session.
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Ray Johnson
10
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Mike Harris
10
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Chris Albertson
10
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Wyatt Bunker
7
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Karen Nau
10
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Gabe Kearney
8
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How important is job creation and retention on your priority list if elected to office?
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Ray Johnson
10
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Mike Harris
10
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Chris Albertson
10
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Wyatt Bunker
8
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Karen Nau
10
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Gabe Kearney
10
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Should job creation and economic development be one of the top priorities for Sonoma County City Councils and Board of Supervisors in 2010 – 2011?
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Ray Johnson
10
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Mike Harris
10
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Chris Albertson
10
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Wyatt Bunker
8
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Karen Nau
10
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Gabe Kearney
10
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Are you committed to diversifying and strengthening your jurisdiction’s economy?
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Ray Johnson
yes
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Mike Harris
yes
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Chris Albertson
yes
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Wyatt Bunker
yes
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Karen Nau
yes
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Gabe Kearney
yes
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Do you believe that your jurisdiction is doing enough to attract businesses that provide jobs?
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Ray Johnson
no
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Mike Harris
no
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Chris Albertson
no
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Wyatt Bunker
no
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Karen Nau
no
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Gabe Kearney
no
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Do you support attracting new business and expanding existing businesses in your jurisdiction?
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Ray Johnson
yes
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Mike Harris
yes
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Chris Albertson
yes
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Wyatt Bunker
yes
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Karen Nau
yes
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Gabe Kearney
yes
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Do you support the coordination of and participation in an economic development effort that promotes Sonoma County on a regional basis?
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Ray Johnson
yes
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Mike Harris
yes
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Chris Albertson
yes
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Wyatt Bunker
yes
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Karen Nau
yes
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Gabe Kearney
yes
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Should local government offer incentives, financial or otherwise, to attract new business to our area?
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Ray Johnson
yes
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Mike Harris
yes
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Chris Albertson
yes
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Wyatt Bunker
yes
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Karen Nau
yes
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Gabe Kearney
yes
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Should your jurisdiction provide funding to local Convention & Visitor Bureaus to promote tourism?
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Ray Johnson
yes
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Mike Harris
yes
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Chris Albertson
yes
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Wyatt Bunker
yes
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Karen Nau
yes
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Gabe Kearney
yes
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Do you view using the Redevelopment Agency as a tool to be utilized for economic sustainability in your jurisdiction?
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Ray Johnson
yes
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Mike Harris
yes
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Chris Albertson
yes
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Wyatt Bunker
yes
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Karen Nau
yes
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Gabe Kearney
yes
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Do you support the expansion of the Sonoma County Airport to allow more commercial air service?
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Ray Johnson
yes
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Mike Harris
yes
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Chris Albertson
yes
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Wyatt Bunker
yes
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Karen Nau
yes
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Gabe Kearney
yes
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Do you support allocating funds for deferred maintenance and infrastructure improvements including roads, airports, telecommunications, water, sewer and power?
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Ray Johnson
yes
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Mike Harris
yes
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Chris Albertson
yes
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Wyatt Bunker
yes
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Karen Nau
yes
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Gabe Kearney
yes
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Do you support reducing development and impact fees to spur job creation?
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Ray Johnson
yes
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Mike Harris
yes
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Chris Albertson
yes
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Wyatt Bunker
yes
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Karen Nau
yes
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Gabe Kearney
yes
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Do you believe that there are too many local regulations preventing or discouraging businesses from starting up or expanding in our area?
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Ray Johnson
yes
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Mike Harris
no
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Chris Albertson
yes
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Wyatt Bunker
yes
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Karen Nau
yes
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Gabe Kearney
yes
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Will you consider job creation as a top priority in your decision making?
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Ray Johnson
yes
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Mike Harris
yes
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Chris Albertson
yes
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Wyatt Bunker
yes
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Karen Nau
yes
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Gabe Kearney
yes
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Will you put your jurisdiction’s jobs and the economy ahead of political agendas and special interests?
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Ray Johnson
yes
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Mike Harris
yes
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Chris Albertson
yes
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Wyatt Bunker
yes
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Karen Nau
yes
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Gabe Kearney
yes
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Do you support the deferral of local government impact fees on a construction project until that project is completed?
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Ray Johnson
yes
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Mike Harris
yes
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Chris Albertson
yes
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Wyatt Bunker
yes
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Karen Nau
yes
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Gabe Kearney
yes
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Do you support a Living Wage Ordinance that would mandate what private businesses contracting with your jurisdiction would have to pay their employees?
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Ray Johnson
no
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Mike Harris
yes
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Chris Albertson
yes
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Wyatt Bunker
no
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Karen Nau
no
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Gabe Kearney
yes
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Do you support local production and distribution of construction materials (i.e. sand, gravel, asphalt, lumber, etc.)?
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Ray Johnson
yes
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Mike Harris
yes
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Chris Albertson
yes
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Wyatt Bunker
yes
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Karen Nau
yes
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Gabe Kearney
yes
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Should local government set a policy requiring open and fair competition in bidding on all public works projects?
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Ray Johnson
yes
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Mike Harris
yes
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Chris Albertson
yes
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Wyatt Bunker
yes
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Karen Nau
yes
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Gabe Kearney
yes
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Would you support efforts to position the North Bay to maintain a leadership role or become a leader in key job-producing industries?
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Ray Johnson
yes
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Mike Harris
yes
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Chris Albertson
yes
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Wyatt Bunker
yes
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Karen Nau
yes
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Gabe Kearney
yes
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Do you believe that it is important for your jurisdiction to provide flexible land use policies?
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Ray Johnson
yes
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Mike Harris
yes
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Chris Albertson
no
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Wyatt Bunker
yes
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Karen Nau
yes
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Gabe Kearney
yes
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Do you believe that a cost-benefit analysis should be a required step in the process of formulating new regulations and reviewing existing regulations?
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Ray Johnson
yes
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Mike Harris
yes
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Chris Albertson
yes
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Wyatt Bunker
yes
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Karen Nau
yes
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Gabe Kearney
yes
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Will you support land-use and zoning regulations that deter excessive regulatory control?
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Ray Johnson
yes
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Mike Harris
yes
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Chris Albertson
yes
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Wyatt Bunker
yes
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Karen Nau
yes
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Gabe Kearney
yes
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Do you support having local regulations that are no more stringent than federal or state requirements?
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Ray Johnson
yes
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Mike Harris
yes
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Chris Albertson
no
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Wyatt Bunker
yes
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Karen Nau
yes
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Gabe Kearney
no
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Do you support fast tracking new projects that will create new jobs?
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Ray Johnson
yes
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Mike Harris
yes
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Chris Albertson
yes
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Wyatt Bunker
yes
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Karen Nau
yes
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Gabe Kearney
yes
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Will you support a streamlined licensing and permitting process if it doesn’t sacrifice environmental protection?
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Ray Johnson
yes
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Mike Harris
yes
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Chris Albertson
yes
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Wyatt Bunker
yes
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Karen Nau
yes
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Gabe Kearney
yes
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Will you support setting aside money to adequately fund the liability for current and future public employee pensions and medical benefits?
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Ray Johnson
yes
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Mike Harris
yes
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Chris Albertson
yes
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Wyatt Bunker
yes
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Karen Nau
yes
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Gabe Kearney
yes
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Do you believe that salaries and benefits for public employees should align with the private sector?
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Ray Johnson
yes
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Mike Harris
yes
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Chris Albertson
yes
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Wyatt Bunker
yes
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Karen Nau
yes
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Gabe Kearney
no
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Do you believe that privatizing or outsourcing government services should be considered?
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Ray Johnson
no
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Mike Harris
yes
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Chris Albertson
yes
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Wyatt Bunker
yes
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Karen Nau
yes
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Gabe Kearney
no
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Do you support consolidation of government services as a means of providing more efficient government?
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Ray Johnson
yes
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Mike Harris
yes
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Chris Albertson
no
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Wyatt Bunker
yes
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Karen Nau
yes
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Gabe Kearney
yes
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Will you vote to cut your jurisdiction’s expenditures before raising fees or taxes?
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Ray Johnson
yes
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Mike Harris
yes
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Chris Albertson
yes
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Wyatt Bunker
yes
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Karen Nau
yes
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Gabe Kearney
no
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What ideas do you have for creating new jobs?
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Ray Johnson
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Mike Harris
Now that the City of Petaluma has an approved General Plan, it is imperative that we implement this plan. We have also embarked on the creation of an economic action plan that once presented should be immediately implemented. We also need to work with umbrella organizations such as the local manufacturing groups and incubation umbrella groups in order to attract businesses to Petaluma. |
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Chris Albertson
Go out and promote Petaluma as a business friendly comunity in the same manner that the tourist industry promotes the area for tourism. Attempt a three way partnership between possible new businesses, landlords with empy spaces, and local government that ultimately provides a win-win-win for all parties. Promote well designed commercial venues that provide goods and services to the community along with jobs and tax rvenues. |
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Wyatt Bunker
Petaluma can do more to encourage businesses to come to the city. When you allow the private sector more freedom to operate, it will inevitably create a demand for jobs. |
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Karen Nau
Have incentives for new and existing businesses to do business in Petaluma, which creates the need for more employees and puts people back to work. Support the efforts to be a successful business and use any opportunities to continue to promote and continue the success of these local businesses. Encourage the public to see the benefits of businesses located in the city, to shop & buy local products and services. Invite all companies to come visit Petaluma and support their efforts to relocate or begin a start-up. Eliminate or lower the impact fees to encourage new business. Work closely with the Chamber of Commerce's Economic Development Committee to create new job opportunities with in the city. Create partnerships with existing companies to continue their success and hiring of new employees. Have new developments approved/completed in a timely manner with less expense to the owner, will create revenues for the city upon completion in tax benefits etc. Give priorities to local companies that are already in the community and are hiring local employees for bidding on city projects. There needs to be all levels of new jobs created in our local community. High paying tech executive/administrative jobs along with retail/construction type jobs are needed to benefit the whole community in job opportunities. |
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Gabe Kearney
Petaluma is a great destination for many, but we must make it an appealing destination for new businesses in order to have sustained economic growth. We must attract businesses to our wonderful community that will provide well paying jobs for our residents. Bringing these jobs to our community will increase our tax revenue. As we are able to grow our tax base it will be important for us to reinvest in our infrastructure so those businesses will want to stay in our community. Utilizing redevelopment funds to do marketing to businesses should be one avenue that the city explores. It is through these jobs that we will see a significant increase in revenue. |
As the economy recovers, it is critical that I/we approach any and all sources of potential relocations/expansions to Petaluma that might create sustainable job demand. Contacting Venture Capitalists, Corporate growth companies and growing industries like green, light mfg, high tech in person is critical. I have 30 years experience in Boardrooms finding out what it will take to reach agreement. I'm retired and available to do this 24/7