Incumbents top choices for Ross Council

In Ross, on the June 7 ballot, voters are being asked to pick two council members.

The two incumbents, Julie McMillan and Dr. Elizabeth Robbins, are being challenged by political newcomer Nicholas Skewes-Cox.

Skewes-Cox is not a newcomer to Ross. His family has roots in the community dating back to the 1920s.

The three candidates have no shortage of issues to talk about.

One of the most contentious is Town Hall's handling of Branson School increasing its enrollment.

Two years ago, town voters approved a Branson-sponsored measure, allowing it to apply to the town to increase its enrollment above the limit set by voters in 1976.

After a politically charged debate, the Town Council in February approved a plan allowing the private high school to grow by 25 students per year over the next four years and a long list of conditions, including traffic restrictions, the school has to meet.

That means the school's future will continue to be on Town Hall's agenda.

Skewes-Cox says the issue didn't have to be contentious, pledging to bring to the council “a more positive focus on listening and collaboration.”

That's a reasonable goal, but the problem with his candidacy is his close personal and economic ties to the school.

His wife is on the school's admissions staff and they live in campus housing.

That clear conflict means Skewes-Cox, a technology product manager, would be legally required to recuse himself from any council discussion or vote involving Branson.

He's a good candidate. But his timing is wrong.

The town's ongoing monitoring of Branson's compliance with the strict conditions set by the Town Council — including McMillan and Robbins — surely will keep the issue on the agenda. Leaving that task to four council members sets up a dilemma of deadlocked votes.

The additional problem is that Branson's expansion has become such a divisive issue in the small town, where many households have children at Branson or headed there, that it could wind up spilling over into other issues facing the council.

McMillan, an attorney, and Robbins, a pediatric oncologist, are both veteran council members with lengthy resumes of community involvement and leadership. Both served on the school board before seeking seats on the council.

Robbins says she wants to continue to represent the views of Ross residents in town decisions, including preserving its small-town character.

McMillan also cites enhancing Ross's small-town character as a priority, along with local climate initiatives, disaster preparedness and minding the town's budget.

McMillan and Robbins offer a breadth of experience that is going to be helpful as the town comes up with plans to meet the state's increased housing quotas.

Robbins says the quota is “unrealistic,” but the town is looking at legalization of second units — or “accessory dwelling units” — and allowing lot splits as a way to meet that number.

McMillan also is hopeful that legalization of second units can help meet that goal, but said that allowing housing on two of the town's largest tracts — the Marin Art and Garden Center and Branson School — may also be part of the town's plan.

Skewes-Cox says second units may help, but he's worried that property owners may actually use those buildings for purposes other than housing. The town, he says, needs to “think bigger,” possibly working with Ross School or College of Marin to build housing for faculty.

All of these possible strategies are going to need strong community resolve to change the way the town has handled building proposals.

McMillan and Robbins already have the experience helpful in reaching those decisions.

On the June 7 ballot, the IJ recommends the re-election of Julie McMillan and Elizabeth Robbins to the Ross Town Council.