 | | | Supervisor Candace Andersen
Photo Andy Scheck
| | | | | | Now in office for just over sixty days, Contra Costa County Supervisor for District 2, Candace Andersen, took time from her busy schedule to address the Lafayette Rotary recently. Originally from Hawaii, she served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for the City and County of Hawaii after earning her J.D. from Brigham Young University.
Andersen had served as the Mayor of Danville for two terms and was on the Town Council for nine years. In a wide ranging discussion, from fellow classmate at Hawaii's Punahou School-"Barry" Obama -to pension problems, she charmed the audience and demonstrated a keen understanding of the pressing fiscal challenges facing the County.
Not only is she new to the office, but the boundaries of District 2 have recently changed; it now encompasses Lamorinda as well as San Ramon and Danville. She'll be keeping former Supervisor Gayle Uilkema's office at the fire station on Mt. Diablo Boulevard, along with a Danville office.
As part of the five-member Board of Supervisors, she talked about her priorities in her new role as County Supervisor. First off, "continue to find ways to do more with less money," said the fiscally conservative Andersen.
Next in line is dealing with public safety issues, primarily reigning in pension costs. She called for an alternative pension tier for new hires. The Supervisors are currently working with unions to negotiate a 3 percent at 55 contract versus the current 3 percent at age 50; she acknowledges it's not a perfect solution, but "at least it's a start."
Anderson was the lone vote against putting the $75 parcel tax to support Contra Costa Fire District on the November ballot. She believes the model that the County is using is not working, even if passed by the voters, because in 3 years' time the Fire District will be running deficits again.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA