Candidates detail priorities in race for council seats

Meeting housing goals, rebuilding the Town Hall campus and disaster preparedness are top priorities for three candidates vying for two seats on the Ross Town Council.

The June 7 election features two incumbents keen on maintaining continuity on the council and a challenger who says his focus is on building a better relationship between town government and residents.

The challenger, Nicholas Skewes-Cox, a 33-yearold technology product manager, said his family ties to the town go back to the 1920s. He said the recent hearings on the private Branson School's proposal to expand enrollment partly influenced his decision to run for office.

“It certainly gave me a look into the process of the Town Council, and I think there is an opportunity in Ross for more collaboration,” said Skewes-Cox. “I would like to bring a more positive focus on listening and collaboration.”

Skewes-Cox, whose wife is a Branson admissions officer, said he understands there would be a conflict of interest in any decisions on Branson. He said he has discussed with the town attorney instances in which he would need to recuse himself.

“This is not meant to be adversarial,” Skewes-Cox said. “I highly respect the members of the council. I just want to bring a fresh perspective.”

Incumbent Elizabeth Robbins, a 71-year-old pediatric oncologist and professor, is running for her third term on council. Robbins said she's interested in preserving and enhancing Ross' small-town character and making the best decisions for the town.

“Having served on the Ross school board, the Town Council and committees means that I have been actively involved for many years, and that provides a perspective that is important to make decisions for the residents and town,” Robbins said. “It would be an honor and pleasure to serve again.”

Incumbent Julie McMillan, a 62-year-old attorney, was appointed to the council for a partial term in 2017 and then elected to a fouryear term in 2018, when she ran unopposed. McMillan said she is primarily concerned with climate initiatives and disaster preparedness and also wants to preserve and enhance small town character.

“I want to continue to give back to the community that we cherish,” McMillan said. “I feel that our council has been effective in addressing several key issues. I want to continue to make the town safer.”

McMillan said she started the FireWise pro

gram in the Winship Park neighborhood and wants to expand the wildfire prevention network to other Ross neighborhoods.

“Between climate change and wildfire, those are the biggest issues in Ross and the entire county,” she said.

Each candidate said meeting the state mandate to allow 111 new residences in Ross over an eight-year period is a point of focus for them. Part of that includes addressing traffic and water supply concerns, they said.

McMillan said the rebuild of the Town Hall campus is also a top priority. Recently, the Ross Valley Fire Department approved a plan to close the Ross fire station and move the firefighters to San Anselmo and Fairfax.

The decision was made after town staff said the 93-year-old civic campus is in such poor shape it would cost less to rebuild than remodel, but that the town couldn't afford to include a new firehouse as part of the plan. Nixing the station reduced the project estimate of $28 million in half.

“I was disappointed that we will no longer have fire services in Ross,” said Skewes-Cox. “I think that's a lost opportunity.”

As for the rebuild, he said listening to advice from professional consultants and extensive community outreach “is going to be critical” in finalizing plans.

Robbins and McMillan said their other priorities include continuing fiscal responsibility. The town has paid $3 million to pay down the CalPERS unfunded accrued liability since 2016.

“That has greatly enhanced the town's financial status,” Robbins said.

“We have been very careful about expenditures,” McMillan said. “By the time the remodel of the town facilities starts, we should have about $7 million to help contribute to the cost.”