PLEASANTON, Calif. — Pleasanton Weekly hosted a candidates’ forum at Pleasanton City Hall featuring Mayor Jack Balch and Councilmember Julie Testa, who are competing for mayor.
Credit: OpGov.News Staff Pleasanton Mayor Jack Balch (left) and Julie Testa(Right)
The discussion covered several key issues:
City manager hiring
Both candidates said the city should appoint its next city manager after the election, allowing the incoming council to participate in the selection.
Measure HH and the failed Measure II
Both candidates expressed support for Measure HH, which would increase the city’s hotel tax from 8% to 12% in two stages. They also discussed their positions on Measure II, the sales tax increase rejected by voters.
Testa criticized Balch’s opposition to Measure II, arguing that its failure left the city without additional revenue to address its structural deficit. She supported Measure HH as a less contentious way to raise revenue because the tax is paid by hotel guests.
Balch reaffirmed his opposition to Measure II while expressing strong support for Measure HH.
In neighboring Dublin, a similar proposed sales tax measure did not reach the November 3 ballot following opposition from local businesses.
Endorsements and campaign contributions
Balch highlighted his endorsement from the police association, while Testa cited her endorsement from the Sierra Club. Both maintained that their endorsements would not compromise their independence.
Testa said she would not accept donations from unions whose contracts she would help negotiate. Balch said the police association had endorsed him but had not contributed money to his campaign. He also acknowledged his role in overseeing its contract and emphasized his professional background as a CPA and auditor.
“Because, of course, that’s what every politician says,” Testa remarked during the exchange.
Additional topics discussed at the forum were
Structural Budget Deficit,
Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness,
Downtown Revitalization,
Water and Aging Sewer Infrastructure,
Stone Ridge Shopping Center Redevelopment
Castlewood Annexation
Summaries of these discussions are available on OpGov.News/Platform.
The full forum recording is available on Pleasanton Weekly’s YouTube channel. Visit Pleasanton Weekly for more information.
Video Credits : PeasantonWeekly. Youtube Channel
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