| | Published July 13th, 2016
| Former Council Member Crossley Declares His Intention to Run Again
| | | By Sophie Braccini |  | | Graig Crossley Photo Sophie Braccini |
Graig Crossley is the first of a potentially long list of candidates to replace Moraga Town Council members Mike Metcalf, Phil Arth and possibly even Roger Wykle - who is vying for re-election- this November.
Crossley filed an intent to run form with the town clerk at the beginning of the month. This would be a reelection of sorts for Crossley, as he was a council member and two-time mayor from 1982 to 1992.
A well-respected veteran, teacher, and town volunteer, Crossley brings a record of fiscal responsibility and a dry sense of humor to the table. He was chosen Citizen of the Year in 2015. (See www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue0905/Moraga-Citizen-of-the-Year-Graig-Crossley.html.)
Crossley says he was asked by a few friends to run for council. "It is important to have responsible community members on the council," he says, referring to the fact that Metcalf and Arth will not run again. He believes that he will bring a high level of community interest and knowledge to the job. Since he was on the council over 20 years ago Crossley has kept up his involvement with the city's affairs, following major issues, volunteering on committees and with local foundations, and is not shy in giving his opinion and sometimes proposing new things.
Crossley was not a supporter of the Moraga Open Space Ordinance (MOSO) when it was passed, but he reflects today that it had a positive outcome.
"When I look at our hills and I don't see homes, I think it was probably a good thing" he says, adding that the rights of the property owners have to be taken into consideration, and that if the town wants public purpose on private land, owners should be compensated.
Protecting the character of the town will be one of his objectives. He says that seeing the deep scars on the hill off Camino Ricardo - site of the Harvest Court development - is not what people want to see, and that having allowed massive two-story homes uphill next to the street was probably not the best choice.
"A single story on that first house would have been a way to deal with the visual impact," he says.
Regarding the Moraga Center Specific Plan, he rejoices that planning staff is working on a precise zoning that will ultimately create the look and feel people want to see.
"I hope people get involved in this process," he adds.
Crossley defines himself as fiscally conservative and knows that Moraga's income has been restricted since the passage of Proposition 13. He believes that if funds were to come to the town, such as developer's fees, the first use should be addressing issues that have to do with safety.
Crossley says he wants to listen to the people. His web site, www.graigcrossley.com, will be up and running in a few weeks. His team is already forming with John Haffner as his campaign manager and Ed Beatson as treasurer.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA