Crime & Safety

An Update on the Coastside Fire Recall Election

The candidates, a forum and now a court hearing.

• The recall election, slated for April 9, pits the Coastside Fire Protection District Board incumbents against a slate of fresh candidates. Those four candidates that are running for the Coastside Fire Protection District Board — to potentially replace three of the five current board members — are: Karen Anderson, J.B. Cockrell, Lee McKusick, and Harvey Rarback. All four candidates were involved with the “Keep Cal Fire!” group that wants to push out board directors Doug Mackintosh, Mike Alifano and Gary Riddell, who want to get rid of Cal Fire and go back to a standalone department. To find out more about the candidates, read about them in the Half Moon Bay Review article here.

• Mark your calendars. The Half Moon Bay Coastside Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a candidate forum for the Coastside Fire Protection District on Thursday, March 14, 2013, 7-9 p.m. at the Ted Adcock Community Center, 535 Kelly Ave., Half Moon Bay, providing a great opportunity to learn more about the candidates before placing your vote. The League of Women Voters of North and Central San Mateo County will provide the moderator and conduct the forum. The sponsors neither support nor endorse the recall or any candidate for the office. All candidates, including the board members of the Coastside Fire Protection District who are subject to recall, have been invited to participate.

•  According to a report in the Half Moon Bay Review, Marshall Ketchum of El Granada has taken issue with some of the candidate's statements, alleging that the statements of President Doug Mackintosh, Director Mike Alifano and Director Gary Riddell did not focus on their education and qualifications, which is the primary purpose of a candidate statement. If the court rules in Ketchum’s favor, county elections chief Mark Church would have to have the statements changed so that they adhere to election guidelines. The hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Feb. 14 at 400 County Center in Redwood City. Read the full story in the Review here.

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