McMillan, Robbins best for Ross Town Council

As a former Ross School Board president and trustee, I can say that we are fortunate to have an easy call for Ross Council in the June 7 election.

Incumbents Julie McMillan and Dr. Elizabeth Robbins have served in many capacities for 25 years. Robbins was on the school board before I ran in 1997. She served more terms after I retired. McMillan was elected to the school board after serving as Ross Recreation president, Ross School Foundation president and chair of the Ross School Endowment. Both served with me on the Ross Leadership Council, bringing together a representative from the school board, the superintendent, council, foundation, endowment, Ross Property Owners' Association, Marin Art and Garden Center, police and a town resident to discuss issues and coordinate efforts and calendars.

Both have gone on to serve as Ross Town Council members, Robbins for eight years and McMillan for more than four. Our town could not ask for two more dedicated, hardworking, well educated and experienced candidates.

Challenger Nicholas Skewes-Cox is a newcomer. His wife is an admissions officer at the Branson School here in town. In the recently published Marin IJ article (“Ross council candidates detail positions in 3-way race,” May 2), he said that the contentious Branson enrollment expansion “influenced his decision to run.”

Yet he did not mention his Branson connection in his candidate statement on the town website, nor did he do so during the candidates' night forum. He promises new leadership, but he has not led anything in our town.

I'm concerned Skewes-Cox may have an agenda. He will need to recuse himself from any discussions about Branson, including traffic monitoring to ensure Branson meets its promised “net neutral traffic” from its expanded enrollment.

He is well-spoken and energetic, but needs to get involved in the town's many volunteer opportunities before he runs for office.

— David Peterson, Ross