Showalter, Siegel, Ramirez best picks for Mountain View council

No suburban city in the Bay Area has been more aggressive in attacking critical housing issues in the past four years than Mountain View. The City Council has added 2,500 housing units in the past four years and is on track to build another 10,000 housing units through its North Bayshore plan.

It’s this kind of approach that gives the region the best chance of solving its housing crisis — arguably the biggest threat to Silicon Valley’s future..

Mountain View’s council also has managed its financial outlook to such a degree that it is the envy of other cities.

Voters have a strong slate of six candidates to choose from on

Nov. 6. This race boils down to a question of whether Mountain View will stay the course or take a different approach. Voters should reward incumbents Pat Showalter and Lenny Siegel by re-electing them to the council. And they should add thoughtful, hardworking Lucas Ramirez to fill the third contested seat, replacing Ken Rosenberg, who chose not to run after serving one term in office.

Showalter has a good sense of the right balance between growth and retention of the neighborhood feel that Mountain View residents enjoy. She’s also a good listener who has demonstrated a willingness to compromise when legitimate concerns on an issue are put before her.

Siegel is bright and doesn’t lack for vision on housing issues. His engagement in Mountain View issues is unmatched, having, for example, served on the city’s Planning Commission 30 years ago. He also has a long history of environmental leadership and currently serves as the executive director of the Center for Public Environmental Oversight.

Siegel’s directness and intensity can be off-putting, but his knowledge and commitment to the city merit another four years on the council.

Ramirez, 30, ran for the council in 2016 when four seats were being contested and finished fifth. He has spent the past four years preparing for another run, seldom missing a council meeting and staying well-versed on issues. He is currently serving on the city’s Human Relations Commission and Environmental Planning Commission. Ramirez is bright, brings a balanced approach to growth and would add needed diversity to the council.

All three of the remaining contenders — Ellen Kamei, Alison Hicks and John Inks — are serious candidates who would serve the city well by staying involved in some manner.

Kamei, 34, is another young, active, smart candidate. Her experience as Assemblyman Marc Berman’s district director is a plus. But her strong ties to labor makes Ramirez the better choice.

Hicks has a wealth of valuable experience, having served as a planner for the city of San Jose and as associate director at the Northern California Land Trust, the nonprofit that advocates for affordable housing and homeless transitional housing. But her advocacy for slower growth won’t solve the city’s or the region’s housing issues.

John Inks, a retired aerospace engineer, served on the council from 2009-16 and is also well-versed on city issues. He would be a solid choice for those wanting a conservative approach to fiscal issues and a libertarian voice on city issues.