Q&A: 21 (more) questions for the Tiburon Town Council candidates

Two incumbents on the Tiburon Town Council, Vice Mayor Holli Thier and Councilmember Isaac Nikfar, face challenges from Parks, Open Space and Trails Commission Chair Chuck Hornbrook and former mayor and councilmember Andrew Thompson in the Nov. 5 election.

On Oct. 8, The Ark sponsored a public candidate forum at Tiburon Town Hall, moderated by the League of Women Voters of Marin, with questions submitted by readers before and during the event. As in years past, there were far more questions than the allotted time could accommodate, leading to reader complaints that so many of their concerns weren’t addressed. This year we tried something new by putting the remaining questions for the candidates into a Google Form questionnaire and giving them a week to respond.

For complete local election coverage, visit thearknewspaper.com/election2024.

For reader transparency, the evening before responses were due, Thier requested a 24-hour extension via email, citing a personal emergency, which Ark editors did not see until after the morning deadline passed. At that point, only Hornbrook and Thompson had responded by the stated deadline. With the intended interest of providing readers with the most information from the most candidates, we granted a 24-hour extension to everyone, returning Hornbrook’s and Thompson’s answers to them to allow for revisions; both made minor changes. Nikfar used the extension to submit his responses.

Their answers below are published in full online, at thearknewspaper.com/election2024, with minor edits for clarity. A truncated version with select questions appears in print.

— The Ark

Developing Tiburon’s future

The Belvedere City Council has expressed concerns about Caltrans’ planned Tiburon Boulevard rehabilitation project, particularly the addition of bike lanes. What is your stance on the project, and how would you address Belvedere’s concerns?

HORNBROOK: I agree with Belvedere’s concerns about the bike lanes, and Tiburon should also. Adding single bicycle lanes on either side will create an additional choke point at Trestle Glen, make it harder for the residents on the north side of Tiburon Boulevard to enter the boulevard, and rarely be used because bikers will not have the patience to wait for traffic lights.

Currently and in the future, the Safe Routes To School path includes Greenwood Beach-Cove Road. This route will not change.

However, the Greenwood neighborhood challenges are the additional higher-speed bikes and bike congestion on the weekends. I would first explore lower capital options with the residents and experts. If a low-capital, non-Tiburon Boulevard solution cannot be obtained, and bike lanes must be added on Tiburon Boulevard, with Belvedere and Tiburon neighborhood involvement we should demand that the bike-lane additions are only on the south side of Tiburon Boulevard and bidirectional, which is the Marin County Bicycle Coalition plan. These lanes would connect to the existing Old Rail Trail for more usage, not be a choke point at Trestle Glen, address Tiburon Boulevard access from northern neighborhoods, and solve Greenwood Beach’s issues.

NIKFAR: I met recently with members of the Belvedere City Council, including Councilmember Sally Wilkinson, to discuss our shared concerns about the proposed Caltrans bike lanes, as well as members of the Mill Valley City Council, including Mayor Urban Carmel, to learn from their approach to reducing traffic. I am aligned with many of the concerns that Belvedere has around the addition of bike lanes.

Key concerns center around a bike lane that crosses an already-difficult unprotected left into town at Reed Ranch Road, and a concept in urban planning called “desire paths,” in which convenient shortcuts emerge where more deliberately constructed paths take a less efficient route. Part of the traffic study we are conducting will show data that we can give to Caltrans regarding the negative impact of the proposed bike lanes and altering the geometry and traffic patterns of Tiburon Boulevard.

In speaking directly with Caltrans and providing direct feedback about my concerns, I learned that for Caltrans to secure funding for roads like Tiburon Boulevard, they are required by the state to comply with Clean Streets, which requires bike lanes for funding and project sign-off.

THIER: Tiburon is very fortunate to receive the largest amount of funding from the California Transportation Commission of $23 million to improve Tiburon Boulevard with bicycle lanes and pedestrian upgrades that will enhance safety for our residents, as well as preserve and extend the life of the existing pavement. I am delighted that Caltrans has planned a rehabilitation project for Tiburon Boulevard that will add Class 4 Bike lanes to Tiburon Boulevard. I believe that adding Class 4 bike lanes to Tiburon Boulevard will improve safety on the Old Rail Trail and other paths, as the fastest riders will now have a dedicated lane. These Class 4 bike lanes will also reduce Tiburon’s greenhouse-gas emissions by providing an alternate mode of transportation, which meets Tiburon’s climate goals and our efforts to stem the tide of climate change.

THOMPSON: I have not yet had the opportunity to review the specific concerns of Belvedere City Council, but I am supportive of well-planned bike routes from the city limits to downtown — both on and off Tiburon Boulevard.

From The Boardwalk to Main Street, downtown Tiburon feels like a drive-through of parking lots, with pushed-back buildings and no walkable street-front retail or services. What ideas do you have to improve this?

NIKFAR: I think Tiburon has a quiet charm, and downtown has its own character and beauty. There are aspects that remind you of the Italian Riviera, but also Tiburon’s rough and rowdy history as a train town and dairy farms to the growth and emergence of downtown in the ’80s and ’90s.

Tiburon is unique among towns in Marin and has changed over time and will continue to evolve, but my hope is that we keep that character and beauty.

THIER: I am very proud of our downtown community. We went from empty store fronts to multiple new businesses, including Bungalow Kitchen, Squalo Vino, Petite Left Bank, The Caviar Co., Malibu Farm and many more. Ark Row also has many new businesses, including Servino Trattoria, Lola’s Taqueria and Tiburon Wine. As a community, we need to shop local, dine local and support our businesses and merchants.

THOMPSON: I fully support the Create Tiburon 2040 General Plan, which seeks to explore the best ways to enhance and improve our community. However, I must take issue with the negative framing of the question, which seems to suggest that this entire area is somehow a wasteland. I couldn’t disagree more.

One of the things I love most is walking from Town Hall, crossing over to The Boardwalk and bumping into friends and neighbors along the way. After crossing Beach Road, I often wave to my friend Shana Rohde-Lynch at her real-estate office. I might stop by the Tiburon Lodge to see who’s relaxing in the lounge chairs, and further down the way, I’ll look for my childhood friend Fire Chief Rich Pierce at the firehouse. A quick stop by Petite Left Bank often reveals more familiar faces, either at the bar or seated outside. By the time I reach the beautiful fountain on Main Street, I’ve usually greeted several friends and neighbors.

What we’re really talking about here is a small section of town, and that layout is largely the result of Tiburon’s suburban planning from the 1960s.

HORNBROOK: My first step would be to develop the two vacant properties just southeast of Beach Road on the north and south sides of Tiburon Boulevard, the old Bank of America and Sharks Deli sites. This intersection is downtown Tiburon’s geographic center.

Starting here would allow for the community to use the new buildings as anchors and examples for a vibrant and walking-friendly downtown. They would include commercial stores on the lower level facing the street and mixed-income housing on the top with parking in the back. I suggest continuing south on Tiburon Boulevard on the west side, replacing buildings that are clearly at their end of life. I would then upgrade the post office lot and the building behind it. This spot would be an excellent opportunity to anchor with the long-term tenant of the post office on the ground floor and elderly housing.

All these locations would take advantage of a grocery store, a pharmacy, restaurants and Steve and John’s friendly faces in the post office within a walkable two-block radius. After these projects, I would look at options for the street-facing portions of the CVS lot and how to do infill development without permanently removing the building.

In your opinion, should lower Main Street be permanently closed only for pedestrian use? If so, how might such a plan be implemented?

THOMPSON: No, I do not support a permanent pedestrian area. I do support temporary closures for events like Friday Nights on Main and other events.

HORNBROOK: Towns have successfully created pedestrian-friendly zones by closing one- or two-block areas. These temporary or permanent initiatives have boosted local economies, enhanced walkability and strengthened community ties. To begin this process, I would review past feedback from local businesses, residents and community organizations to rally support and address potential concerns.

Second, I would review with the Tiburon Peninsula Chamber of Commerce and other stakeholders how the June 2024 weekends including Friday Nights on Main, Juneteenth and Tiburon Classic Car Show performed from a commercial perspective. I would expand the June 2025 school-ending/Juneteenth weekend closure as a proof point for more ongoing pedestrianization while supporting the hotel and small businesses.

I would continue to build support and marketing for Friday and Saturday evening closures, similar to the successful San Anselmo “Live on the Avenue,” and evaluate how to expand Main Street closures during the weekend days for tourists, leveraging weekend events like the Tiburon Wine Festival.

The success of weekend closures of Main Street for residents and business owners will identify potential steps for the expansion to additional longer closure periods. See my plans at hornbrook4tiburon.com.

NIKFAR: I’ve met with many stakeholders on this topic and there is a split. Downtown business owners are split on permanently closing Main Street. The Tiburon residents on Corinthian Island I’ve spoken with are strongly opposed to closing Main Street as one of two ways off the island. I would explore ways to integrate Main Street and Ark Row with events, signage and ensuring all the storefronts are rented.

Permanently closing a street in a town like Tiburon that has challenges with egress can have unintended consequences. That said, I do support closing Main Street for family-friendly events like Juneteenth and some other cultural events, Reed Union School District graduation, back-to-school and the Tiburon Peninsula Little League fundraiser.

Zelinsky Park is another great location, where the Tiburon Jewish Festival and Nowruz events were held.

Ultimately, we need to ensure that we are supporting downtown businesses, bringing tourists and ensuring that we have family-friendly events. I recently volunteered at the Tiburon Wine Festival, which was fantastic and brought a lot of tourists to downtown, and following the event the restaurants were packed.

THIER: Tiburon is embarking on a $4 million transportation study that will look at how we can mitigate traffic and will look at the impacts of a variety of ideas. I hope to see the closure of Main Street as one of the ideas that will be studied. I will be evaluating any potential closure of Main Street after the results of this study, and will also meet with our Chamber of Commerce, downtown businesses, the Ark Row merchants, members of the public and all stakeholders to determine whether Main Street should be permanently closed to pedestrians.

You all seem together on reducing gas emissions and traffic, but how will you integrate that with additional accessory dwelling units, which will bring more people and vehicles into neighborhoods, away from public transportation?

HORNBROOK: ADUs are an excellent complement to the housing plan but not a replacement for well-planned higher-density units on Tiburon Boulevard near transit. Nonetheless, for ADUs and to address transit, parking and traffic impacts, I would incentivize the building of ADUs within a quarter of a mile of Tiburon Boulevard and allow ministerial approval of these units up to 1,200 square feet versus the town’s current 1,000. We can use policy incentives to encourage more extensive development in downtown locations.

Many of the ADUs will likely be occupied by older family members of the families who own the property or are for temporary use that will likely bring in less daily commuter traffic. The ADU target for Tiburon is 72 units permitted, and I estimate that only 30% will be permanently occupied as a separate living area.

NIKFAR: ADUs help to smooth out growth along the peninsula. Rather than a concentrated group of 500-1,000 additional cars within a few blocks, the ADUs can spread the growth across nearly 4 miles of Tiburon Boulevard between The Cove shopping center and the town limit on Paradise Drive.

The state will accept a special ADU program from Tiburon. We need to streamline the administrative process, create incentives and remove obstacles. ADUs as a part of this program could be within walking distance of Tiburon Boulevard, conform to a specific set of requirements, and permit fees could be reduced and collected at the end of final inspection.

The current financial climate has made financing expensive, towns across the state are looking for ways to stay in compliance, and the state has signaled that they are open to alternative solutions that help to bring housing numbers up.

THIER: Traffic along Tiburon Boulevard has increased as new shops, restaurants and more employees have come into town. I do have a plan for making traffic more manageable that will ease congestion. I would integrate my plan with the additional ADUs in order to mitigate any traffic impacts.

I worked very hard for our Town Council to initiate a traffic study to look at ways to mitigate traffic. The study will look at all the various options for reducing traffic along Tiburon Boulevard and within our town. In addition, as a director on the Tiburon Peninsula Traffic Relief Joint Powers Agency, I am working with the Yellow Bus Program for the Reed Union School District to reduce traffic on Tiburon Boulevard. Although the program has reduced traffic along Tiburon Boulevard, we as a community must do more. I am currently researching possible congestion-relief alternatives, including staggering times for construction-related traffic, working with Caltrans to modernize and time the signals along Tiburon Boulevard, and I pushed for the installation of smart traffic signals that can assess traffic and respond in real time, requiring more off-site parking and shuttling in of employees for construction, and looking into whether we can improve our public transport to the ferry. I have also worked with our Public Works Department to create construction-management plans for our new construction projects, so that employees carpool or are shuttled to the construction sites, which reduces trips along Tiburon Boulevard.

I have also proposed a very exciting idea, called the “Tiburon Trolley.” Tiburon Trolley will be an open-air all-electric vehicle that ideally would provide service free of charge. My vision is that it will transport the new workers we have in Tiburon to downtown, thereby taking many cars off the road. The trolley will stop along Tiburon Boulevard, at all the schools, restaurants and private clubs, and it will remove many vehicle trips along Tiburon Boulevard. The idea has been supported by Destination Tiburon, as well as many others. I will also look at many more new ideas for traffic and congestion relief that will be presented through our transportation study.

THOMPSON: With the housing mandate in place, our town will inevitably see an increase in traffic. To address this, we need to develop a comprehensive traffic-management plan that focuses on reducing congestion, particularly during peak hours. Additionally, when it comes to emissions, we must accelerate our efforts to make electric vehicles the standard in our community.

There’s a lot of talk about adding ADUs, and you’ll have to convince the state of Tiburon’s commitment. Will you pledge to increase staff-level approval to the state maximum of 1,200 square feet? Will you pledge to allow homeowners to leverage their equity and sell ADUs as state law now allows, which encourages new affordable home ownership?

THIER: ADUs are an opportunity for affordable housing in Tiburon, as well as an opportunity to spread out the new housing. I have already publicly supported ADUs to be the maximum of 1,200 square feet for ministerial approval, as I believe that the extra 200 feet means one more bedroom, which could provide the necessary affordable housing for a family or for multiple generations. I do not believe that Tiburon should have size standards that are lower than the state of California for ADUs and have publicly taken this position.

I also think homeowners should be able to sell their ADUs and thereby encourage new affordable home ownership in Tiburon.

THOMPSON: Yes, I believe the town should follow the state laws on ADUs.

HORNBROOK: As stated previously, I would increase the maximum size to 1,200 square feet only for ADUs within a quarter mile of Tiburon Boulevard. For all of them, I would allow them to be sold as separate deeded units from the primary house. It is important for the town to demonstrate to the state and locally that we are addressing larger units, ownership and traffic issues. From a planning and design-review perspective, we also want to encourage the right behavior with ADUs as a complement to other housing options.

NIKFAR: [See previous answer.]

Multiple surveys have shown that dog parks, a kayak launch, a community pool and a community center are top resident priorities. Where do you stand on the development, as well as potential location, for these facilities?

THOMPSON: I don’t support building a pool or community center at the sanitary ponds site, but if we could identify a more suitable location within town and secure the necessary funding, I would be open to the idea. Additionally, I support lifting the town-imposed cap on the Tiburon Peninsula Club.

I also support the creation of dog parks and improved water access. It’s surprising to hear some candidates and residents speak as though these amenities don’t already exist, when in fact they do. Blackie’s Pasture serves as an informal dog park, even if it’s not officially recognized as one. That said, we could consider a smaller, protected area specifically for small dogs, where they won’t feel intimidated by larger ones.

As for water access, we already have beach access at Blackie’s Pasture, where you can launch kayaks, canoes or go windsurfing. It just requires some planning around the tides to avoid low tide and the mudflats — something I’ve done myself. I am open to more water access as well on other parts of the peninsula.

HORNBROOK: For a community pool, I recommend partnering with Strawberry Recreation District to expand their current pool given their existing infrastructure, zoned property and experience managing labor and pool operations. Strawberry Rec would like to increase their capacity, and partnering with Tiburon would address their needs and ours faster and at a lower risk.

For a kayak launch, on the parks commission three years ago, we recommended partnering with Belvedere to increase the potential location options. These included Belvedere Cove as the best option and other locations off of Richardson Bay in Tiburon and Belvedere, but only accessible for part of the year. For a community center, we already have a community center called the Belvedere-Tiburon Library. With slight adjustments in physical configuration, we can increase the capacity utilization of the library to meet the residents’ needs. We don’t need another large underutilized building in town.

For a dog park, Blackie’s Pasture is the unofficial location, but I understand the desire for a fenced-in option. An area off the South of the Knoll Park could be a good secondary location, away from homes and still enjoyable for dog owners, like me.

NIKFAR: Let’s set the record straight about the parks master plan and the next steps following the plan. When I presented this to the Town Council as parks commission chair, we agreed the master plan would serve as a framework, and the priority list that came out of it was the largest survey ever done in Tiburon to understand what residents wanted their parks, to be a vision for the future of Tiburon.

There has been a lot of misinformation about the plan, with the printing of unauthorized mockups by The Ark. Tiburon residents impacted by some of the elements in the unauthorized mockups wrote in to voice their opposition to the master plan.

[Editor’s note — These statements are false in fact and concept: The Ark did not publish the referenced mockup, but consulting work performed by WRT is not “unauthorized” and public draft materials produced for the purpose of public review and feedback is not “misinformation.”

The Tiburon Town Council voted 3-0 Feb. 1, 2023, to authorize consultant WRT to help officials develop a master-plan proposal, which includes public drafts and related mockups that are intended to be viewed, commented on and revised under a public spotlight before final decisions are made by the Town Council. Using resident surveys, public workshops and other methods, WRT was tasked with assessing the “functionality of each (park) site” and “provid(ing) recommendations for any new facilities to support programming” with illustrative maps in order to “produce a shared, clearly defined vision for the town’s parks facilities and programming” in the context of demographics, service-area gaps, the environment, equity and other criteria, according to the staff report, request for proposals and approved scope of work. WRT’s first public draft, reviewed by the Town Council March 20, provided site-specific concepts; the council asked WRT to instead provide a more generalized list of amenities that it could later match to parks on its own.

Each public draft iteration and public hearing date has been announced in emails to residents and other interested parties by Town Engineering Manager David Eshoo and in the Tiburon Talk newsletter and published on the town website and a dedicated master-plan website, tiburonparks.com, at least 72 hours in advance of public hearings, for the purpose of public review and solicitation of public comment.

Any Ark republication of information contained in these public drafts is to shine a light on the factual contents of a public document being considered by a legislative body conducting the people’s business; drafts and conceptual plans are not “misinformation,” even if they are later revised or rejected, as the Town Council has done.

In this specific case, The Ark did not publish the mockup referred to by Nikfar, in which a conceptual map from WRT in an August public draft illustrated how the lineal parks might appear if the master plan was approved and specific amenities at specific locations were also approved later, though some who viewed it on the town’s websites misunderstood its conceptual purpose. One Nextdoor user who received an email notification from Eshoo posted the emailed link to the public draft in advance of the Town Council’s Aug. 21 meeting, noting their concerns that the specific amenities and locations were to be approved at the hearing, prompting dozens of comments. Ark staff participated in that online conversation to help clarify, while subsequent reporting from that meeting, published Aug. 28, further clarifies for readers that the council agreed to revise or eliminate that mockup from future drafts; the article notes it was “wrongly cited on … Nextdoor as planned developments that were being voted on that night.”

Nikfar was offered the opportunity to revise this answer, which he declined while making additional false statements, or have it appear with a fact check.]

I believe each neighborhood should have a say in what elements are near to them and be able to voice their concerns and be heard by their representatives.

The framework on how to choose projects and the priorities coming out of the master plan are clear and have been presented to Town Council and are available on tiburonparks.com. The next step is to understand the priority items and their costs/timeline and to start selecting projects that are a priority and that we can start in the next 12 months.

THIER: I will work closely with the community on the development and the location of our parks master-plan priorities as defined by our residents. The parks master-plan process is a process through which our residents have expressed their preferences for projects they would like to see move forward in Tiburon. I am very excited to work with the community throughout the process, and look forward to the final draft, more community input and the implementation.

I am very supportive of dog parks, a kayak launch, a community pool and a community center, however, I want to work with the community to decide where we locate these and other resident priorities.

Residents over 55 will account for 49% of the population by 2038. How would you balance the needs of the older population with the needs of younger parents and their children?

HORNBROOK: This is our challenge now, and in the future — 51% of the population will be under 55, and everyone wants to be active. The balance has some specific amenities for both age groups, a vast majority of which are not age-specific, and supplementing these amenities and spaces with excellent recreation and intellectual programming provided by The Ranch joint recreation agency and library.

For recreation amenity opportunities in our parks, I recommend that we provide an updated active play area for children at Cypress Hollow, a small nature-based play structure at Blackie’s Pasture and tot bicycle riding/training at Belveron Park. For both age groups, I would add shade structures similar to those recommended by the Tiburon Peninsula GreenTeam for some of the picnic tables at Blackie’s Pasture and allow those to become reservable by residents. I would also add multigenerational sports options such as bocce ball and sand volleyball at the sanitation ponds.

We continue to have open spaces in Tiburon for all ages. With these spaces to meet our community’s needs, I would include better signage and improve access and bench seating for those who want to enjoy the views. We can do this, Tiburon!

NIKFAR: In Tiburon we have a diversity of age that we must plan for. Aging is a fact of life, and my hope is that the programs that we have now and will put in place make everyone’s lives better.

Aging in place, ensuring access to amenities, access to transit are things that we can do at the town level. Additionally, I’ve been very vocal through both the parks master planning regarding planning for a diversity of ages and abilities and to ensure that we place pedestrian safety at the top of the list both in the form of splitting the mixed-use path to separate bikes from pedestrians, but also improving traffic flow and pedestrian safety along Tiburon Boulevard, for example intersections at Stewart and Gilmartin drives.

Education is also incredibly important both for town, such as National Night Out and emergency preparedness, but also for county and state programs like free Uber credits from the Marin Transit’s Catch-A-Ride program, which allows for 30 rides per quarter, and the Transportation Authority of Marin’s Emergency Ride Home program, which allows for rides up to $500 per year.

The Marin County Commission on Aging is another great resource we participate in, and our representative, Julie Hanan Friedman, gives regular updates to the Town Council.

THIER: We must serve all our residents here in Tiburon. We need to always look at services that will meet the needs of both the older population and of younger parents and their children. I believe we can do both.

THOMPSON: This is an important issue. I support the development of a senior-focused residential area downtown, which would include assisted living, memory care and affordable-housing options. A facility like this would have minimal impact on traffic while also bringing business to our downtown area. Additionally, I fully support the excellent services offered by the library, which caters to both seniors and younger residents.

Younger families, on the other hand, are rightly concerned about traffic congestion on Tiburon Boulevard, as well as safety issues for their children, such as the need for bike lanes and safe routes to school. They also want modern and appropriate recreation facilities. I believe all these needs can be addressed with the right focus and effort.

Lastly, as part of my Tiburon Together initiative, I’d love to see more interaction between our youth and seniors. This would allow our kids to learn valuable lessons from older generations while also helping seniors when needed.

If Tiburon were to receive an unexpected windfall of $1 million — and you had the ultimate, sole say in directing its usage — what would you earmark that money for, and why?

NIKFAR: $1 million could go a long way:

1. Needed updates to existing parks, for example playgrounds, picnic tables and landscaping.

2. Small improvements around town, for example, the bus stop at Ned’s Way.

3. New amenities, prioritized by town residents, like the standup paddleboard launch or nature-based/integrated park elements, like the Presidio Tunnel Tops park in San Francisco.

4. Technology upgrades for the Tiburon Police Department, like cameras referenced in another question.

THIER: If we had an unexpected windfall of $1 million dollars, I would earmark that money to purchase the rest of the Richardson Bay Sanitation District property and add it to our open space.

THOMPSON: My approach is to foster collaboration and engage the community as much as possible. I would reach out to residents and neighborhood associations in Tiburon to identify where they believe the greatest benefit could be achieved. While $1 million is a relatively modest sum, I would prioritize upgrading our parks and improving our emergency-preparedness systems.

True to my track record, I would aim to accomplish these improvements for significantly less than the full $1 million, saving the remaining funds for a rainy-day emergency fund.

HORNBROOK: I would use additional funds to address our most challenging priorities that do not add to our operating expenses and give us flexibility for other medium-term goals.

The first priority is to reduce traffic on Tiburon Boulevard by expanding the Blackie’s dirt parking lot to support a carpool plan (see the plan on my website) for Tiburon and address weekend parking overflow into the neighborhoods. If we want to have flexibility to add improvements to Blackie’s Pasture, we need to show commitment to the neighbors on parking and fix it. I would also set aside money for any Tiburon Boulevard traffic and safety improvements not covered by Caltrans.

The second priority is safety, and I would use the funds to upgrade license-plate-reading cameras and increase their installations in other neighborhoods (see my plan).

The third priority is building community. I would set aside money for one or more of the playground upgrades and the shade structures for the picnic tables at Blackie’s Pasture.

Finally, I would use the remaining balance to add to the town’s public works corporation yard capital fund to help meet the goals of improving that facility seismically for our staff and community.

The Caprice is requesting to use public parking lots for valet parking in the evening, though there’s opposition from some who say those spaces should not be used by the restaurant during the evening. How do you propose solving this?

THOMPSON: I strongly believe in supporting Tiburon businesses while avoiding overly burdensome regulations. I’m not convinced the current valet system is benefiting either the restaurant or the residents. I would consider removing any mandated valet service and allowing customers to find parking on their own. The restaurant is an asset to our town, and I want to ensure its continued success.

From what I understand, the real issue stemmed from valet attendants telling the public they couldn’t park in public spaces, which is clearly unacceptable. If some customers are unable to walk from their car to the restaurant, the attendants could offer a simple solution, like using a golf cart to shuttle them from their parking spot.

HORNBROOK: First, I would talk to the owner and understand at a deeper level why they believe having free valet parking is necessary for their business model. Understanding motivations and intent is critical in developing winning solutions. Any sub-optimal solution would risk losing the business or having frustrated residents. Based on this conversation and following models used by other cities, I would address this in a few ways.

First, I would charge and limit the valet service using public parking spaces at the train museum and at the lot where drop-off occurs for their use. I would also allow the valet service to use the on-street parking along Mar West at no charge. If they require more parking, they should invest in a golf cart for easier access to the larger parking lots.

A solution, however, is not to penalize The Caprice for trying to drive business to their location but to find a solution that works for everyone. This solution may mean that The Caprice would need to charge for parking, which is a typical expectation of high-end restaurant patrons. The Town Council needs to make a decision and be familiar with their constituents’ needs; this includes residents and commercial constituents.

NIKFAR: Public parking spots are not available for private use. Restaurants downtown are required to make arrangements with the paid lots for parking spots. We need the restaurants to come into compliance with policy.

THIER: The Caprice is in the process of having amendments to its conditional use permit reviewed by the Planning Department. It is the Planning Commission that will decide this matter, and because it could be appealed to the Town Council, I cannot state my opinion or I would not be able to vote on this item on appeal.

For future urban plans or upgrades, will the town consider undergrounding as an important project that Tiburon should control, organize and coordinate with the respective utility companies — Pacific Gas and Electric Co., Comcast/Xfinity, etc.?

HORNBROOK: Undergrounding should be part of every solution that we move forward with. The town’s obligation for this should be in terms of planning and potentially collecting for any of those expenses related to the development’s efforts that may end up on the property-tax collection side. The town should be available and responsive to changes and questions to help value engineering any undergrounding solutions and move the project forward. However, the town should not be on the “planning or financial hook” in terms of being the central technical decision point or be expected to carry any financial expenses in managing or controlling any implementation and undergrounding. The town’s role is responsive planning and execution, not in ownership and operation.

NIKFAR: Undergrounding is a safety issue. Several neighborhoods, including Del Mar and more recently Hawthorne Terrace, have self-organized and self-funded undergrounding. I would support a program to help make undergrounding turnkey for neighborhoods with predefined processes to increase the velocity of these programs and working with the state, county and town to find available funding sources, similar to the work we did with the California Air Resources Board to secure $24 million in funding to electrify the Angel Island-Tiburon Ferry with Capt. Maggie McDonogh.

THIER: I think this question refers to undergrounding utility lines. I support undergrounding, support the town helping to organize efforts and actually think it should be paid for by PG&E, Comcast or the owner of the infrastructure.

THOMPSON: The previous undergrounding projects in areas like Tiburon, Del Mar and Hawthorne have been complex and costly. Current estimates can be as high as $1,000 per foot. For these projects, bond measures have been established, resulting in additional costs being added to residents’ property taxes, often spread over 40 years. While the town works to coordinate with utility companies as much as possible, it does not — and should not — take on a project-management role. The decision to pursue undergrounding should rest with the residents of each neighborhood. However, the town can and should play a supportive role. When I was previously in office, I served as the designated utility-undergrounding liaison, helping neighborhoods organize and build consensus. I believe the town should continue providing this kind of assistance, ensuring residents have a thorough understanding of the project so they can make informed decisions about whether to move forward.

The 94920 area only has one broadband provider, Xfinity, which uses its monopolistic position to charge higher prices than other areas of Marin. Any installation of a fiber-optic line along Tiburon Boulevard is years away, and even once installed there is little to no practical or fiscal likelihood of it then being connected to most Tiburon residents. What immediate actions will you take to tackle Xfinity pricing and service issues that have been ongoing for years, and why has it not been already addressed by the incumbents?

NIKFAR: I’ve learned over the past year in office that each major provider to Tiburon has a representative that will meet with the Town Council or a designated member of the town staff. We have the ability to advocate for better pricing and a higher level of service with Xfinity among other providers, including PG&E, Mill Valley Refuse Service and many of the other utilities or quasi-utilities that service Tiburon.

My plan is to ensure the town is engaging with each service provider and that the town’s needs are met. A comprehensive plan across all service providers along with measurement of complaints, number of service requests and time to resolution is needed, and I commit to pushing that initiative forward.

THIER: During the pandemic, I saw that Comcast/Xfinity, which has a monopoly in Tiburon, did not have the infrastructure to support all the accounts it sold. Parents could not get online to work and children could not connect to school. No one could have imagined the scale of the pandemic or that everyone would be online at the same time. Comcast has a monopoly in Tiburon and the prices are very high. I went to our town manager with the idea of broadband and he said no, it’s too big of an idea. I said, listen, it’s a big idea, let’s just do a small study. And now he is the biggest champion of broadband. I created a partnership with Sen. Mike McGuire, and Tiburon won a state grant to fund it. The town will save more than a million dollars, as when Caltrans digs up Tiburon Boulevard, they will lay our fiber. Tiburon won $190,000 state grant to fund part of our work.

I am working to provide broadband to all our town residents, and we will be connecting everyone. Technology is changing every day, and I am confident that our plan to bring broadband will be successful in transforming the monopoly that Comcast has and allow our residents to choose from different providers at a lower cost with improved service.

Also, I have tried to work with Comcast to reduce prices and improve service for our residents.

THOMPSON: I believe we need to take a proactive approach in engaging with Xfinity. If there is data showing monopolistic pricing practices in the 94920 area, appropriate action must be taken, potentially involving the county, state or even legal measures. With Tiburon effectively having only one broadband provider, it’s crucial that residents receive fair pricing along with fast and reliable service. While other ISPs, such as AT&T, have shown little interest in extending fiber-optic connections from their trunk lines to residents, future technologies may offer alternative solutions. However, for now our focus should be on reaching out to Xfinity to address these concerns.

HORNBROOK: Given our population size, this is difficult because Tiburon has very little leverage with Xfinity. Based on this, this is my plan. First, through our relationship with the California League of Cities and Belvedere, we should seek ways to improve Xfinity’s service and pricing to our residents. Our problems are not unique within the entire state of California, which is the negotiating entity with Xfinity. There are also other commercial solutions available. The town should organize informational sessions for the residents.

Second, I would partner with Belvedere on the proposed fiber-optic line that eventually will go down Tiburon Boulevard in four years based on the Caltrans project timeline. By including Belvedere, we can increase the number of users on the fiber-optic line and bring some economies of scale to the development.

Finally, I would explore other solutions that towns such as Atherton and Palo Alto have pursued to create their own services. In reviewing these, Palo Alto was able to exercise a great deal of influence based on their location and size. On the other hand, Atherton required more of its wealthy citizens to pay for access from fiber-optic lines to their homes at their cost.

Crime and policing

The Ark reported that Tiburon has had record-low crime for three consecutive years. But when a string of crimes hits, residents will say crime is on the rise, even if it’s not. This reflects national perceptions — crime in the U.S. is near record lows but public perceptions are always that it’s rising. If elected to the council, what’s your plan to improve perceptions of safety?

THOMPSON: We are fortunate to live in a low-crime area, but this has led some residents to be less diligent in securing their homes and vehicles. Property theft, aside from traffic stops, is the most common crime in our community. Our crime tends to come in waves, with multiple incidents occurring in close succession, often by the same group, who then move on as enforcement steps up.

Our focus should be on local issues, with education playing a key role. Encouraging residents to lock their homes and vehicles, install security cameras and add outdoor lighting should be a priority. Residents can also register their security systems with the Tiburon Police Department, which helps law enforcement respond more effectively. Most of the crimes in our area are opportunistic, so making it as difficult as possible for criminals is essential. Neighborhood associations can be actively involved in this educational effort.

To further inform the public, we could have the Police Department produce an annual report summarizing crime statistics and trends over the years. This would provide residents with valuable insights and reinforce the importance of proactive security measures.

HORNBROOK: Fear, media amplification and personal experiences often drive the gap between crime perceptions and reality. The best way to address this is through transparent, proactive communication, data-driven public education and fostering stronger relationships between law enforcement and the community, including local news. The Tiburon Police Department is already doing this with their Nextdoor and Instagram accounts. This helps people feel safer and more confident in the ongoing efforts to keep crime low, even when isolated incidents occur. The Ark’s Sept. 18 front-page article could even contribute to some of this concern.

Frankly, all members of the Town Council should demonstrate empathy to any victim of crime regardless of how often it occurs. Compassion for a person who has been a victim of a crime overrides any convenience of knowing that this rarely happens. For people to understand and believe this, the police and town government must do this consistently with authenticity and conviction that personal property crime, no matter when it happens, is not good, and zero incidents are the goal.

NIKFAR: I applaud the work that the Tiburon Police Department, led by Chief Michelle Jean, has done to ensure Tiburon is one of the lowest crime cities and towns in the U.S.

Recently I met with Chief Jean and asked a similar question. She helped to educate me on the situation, and while it is our responsibility to ensure that doors are locked on our cars and homes, especially when on vacation, I believe we need to support and ensure that Tiburon police have the funding and the tools to prevent, stop criminals and clear crimes committed in town quickly.

By adding an updated camera system that allows for collaboration with nearby jurisdictions as well as jurisdictions in surrounding counties — Contra Costa, Alameda, Sonoma, Solano, San Francisco — Tiburon police will have the ability to share intel in real time and collaborate. We also need to increase the use of cameras in areas affected by crime and the use of mobile cameras that can be deployed to ensure any areas that are being targeted receive extra attention and a police presence.

THIER: Residents in Tiburon need to feel safe and need to take all precautions to ensure their safety. I am proud that Tiburon has had a record low-crime for three years and give credit to our Police Department. As the current vice mayor of Tiburon, my plan to improve perceptions of safety are to ensure the public knows how our crime statistics compare year after year, but also to publicize what individuals can do to ensure their own safety and the safety of their homes.

Most of the candidates did not answer the truncated version of this question asked by the League of Women Voters of Marin: The San Francisco Chronicle recently reported that while California officers were 2.3 times more likely to stop Black people than white people in 2023, Tiburon officers were 9.2 times more likely to stop Black people than white people. Tiburon’s website data for the first half of this year shows that’s increased, with local police 10.3 times more likely to stop Black people than whites and 5.3 times more likely to stop Hispanic/Latino people than white people. These racial discrepancies are greater than neighbors Mill Valley and Central Marin. Officers are also on pace to stop and detain nearly 1,000 people this year.

Since the Yema incident in 2020, Tiburon now has more police than ever in patrol cars, is on track for the most detentions of citizens and racial disparities in stops have grown to their largest levels, despite crime falling in each of those years. The police advisory committee, the diversity task force and the Town Council are not addressing this. What’s your reaction to these discrepancies, and what do you plan to do? Will you consult with any experts beyond the police chief?

HORNBROOK: I support the intent of reporting police stop data. Understanding the data and how they are standardized for comparisons is essential. In this case, the data are standardized by the race of residents in a location, but stops are identified regardless of residency. For Tiburon, only 0.5% of the town’s residents are Black, according to the general plan, and 76% are white, so any stop of a Black person will statistically be impactful due to the small resident population and overreport differences. The report’s authors for the data used here stated this statistical concern, making cross-race comparisons difficult. Even compared to Mill Valley this is a challenge, as their Black population is only 1.5%. On an absolute basis, Mill Valley detained 179% more people than Tiburon but is only 53% bigger by population. Does that mean Mill Valley is being too aggressive, or does it mean that Mill Valley has a lot of other activities like concerts, restaurants, bars and other commercial activity that draws people there? In conclusion, reporting this data is critical. I would like an open and honest discussion on the data to see how to use it for better policing given our demographics. It should be part of the town manager’s reporting, and the police chief can handle this.

NIKFAR: First off, I do not support racial profiling or any form of mistreatment based on someone’s race or background. In any form, there is no place for racism or antisemitism.

All members of the Town Council are also members of the 10-member Diversity Inclusion Task Force, which also includes members of the community. I joined when I was elected to the Town Council and was educated on how RIPA (Racial and Identity Profiling Act) data is gathered and represented. As a part of the task force, we adopted a strategic plan in January of this year that addresses this issue and that I support.

A few things to understand about the RIPA data. It is manually recorded by the police officer based on their perceptions of the person in the car, but no actual data is collected from the person on their race. Second, one of the issues that was discussed in the Diversity Inclusion Task Force is whether we should analyze the traffic stops against the demographics of Tiburon residents or whether we should analyze the demographics of all people that live or work in Tiburon. We chose to look at both, as we believed it was an important part of the analysis.

THIER: As your vice mayor, I am proud to have served as the chair of the Diversity Inclusion Task Force for the past four years. I am proud that Tiburon is among the first to create a Diversity Element in our general plan and wonderful community events like Juneteenth four years in a row, Nowruz, Diwali and Asian American festivals. Out of the Yema incident we have created the task force and improved Tiburon for generations to come.

We have a new police chief who has worked with us to diversify the police department, and we have implemented diversity training for all town employees, commissioners and volunteers. We are diversifying our employees as well as our police force, and just held anti-bias training for all town employees, managers, staff and commissioners. We will be celebrating Diwali on Nov. 2 from 2 to 5 p.m., and I want to personally invite you all.

THOMPSON: The YEMA incident during COVID was indeed regrettable, but I am confident that the Tiburon Police Department, under its new leadership, has taken steps to prevent a recurrence. Providing a detailed response regarding traffic stops would require significantly more data, as the population of Tiburon increases daily with construction and service workers, which could greatly affect any analysis. I trust that the combined efforts of the Tiburon police and various community groups are ensuring that traffic stops are unlikely to be influenced by racial profiling. These groups are actively monitoring the situation. If elected, I would commit to conducting a thorough analysis of the relevant data to ensure transparency and accountability.

Tiburon recently added more license-plate cameras, has added a police captain, has increased the number of patrol officers and has filled all vacant officer positions, yet police cleared just one of 64 property crimes last year, a 10-year low of 1.6%. Crime in 2023 was at its lowest point in more than 40 years, while the recent vehicle thefts and break-ins were almost entirely preventable, with nearly all cars unlocked and many with keys left inside. Nationwide, only about 10% of all reported property crimes are ever cleared, regardless of police staffing and technology.

What actual crime data, empirical evidence and statistics are you relying on to determine that adding even more police and technology will solve crime, especially given Tiburon’s increase in racial disparities in detentions and total number of detentions as it has added more police amid record-low crime?

NIKFAR: [See previous answer.]

THIER: Ensuring the safety of our residents is our top priority. Tiburon recently added three more license-plate cameras, which have been very effective in deterring crime. In addition, with our new police captain and new patrol officers, we now have a fully staffed Police Department. We need to educate our residents that it is very important to lock car doors, remove valuables from their cars and lock the doors to their homes. Many of the break-ins are preventable by taking these small steps.

THOMPSON: License-plate cameras have proven effective in preventing crime and apprehending several criminals. I believe they serve as a strong deterrent and hope to see them upgraded not only to combat property crimes but also to enhance road safety. Property crimes are notoriously difficult to solve, as criminals often sell stolen goods quickly or dispose of them to avoid detection. License-plate cameras are instrumental in identifying false or stolen plates, making them a valuable tool in our crime-prevention efforts. Additionally, educating residents on securing their properties and vehicles, as well as encouraging the installation of cameras and security lights, will help further reduce opportunistic crimes.

HORNBROOK: According to the police chief, the technology we have on our police license cameras is old and outdated, resulting in a high error rate. Improving that technology and making it industry-leading is a good step toward improving data integrity and license-reading capabilities. Other budget items would allow the Police Department the ability to leverage cameras owned by individuals around town. This step is necessary to keep pace with technology, integrate other distributed technology owned by homeowners and help the police solve more crimes. Updates for new license-reading technology to assist in apprehending criminals are a critical deterrent. Keeping up with technology improvements for lower operating costs and more effective use of labor is also part of the adoption of new technology for our police and a standard process. I support it. See my safety plan at hornbrook4tiburon.com specifically on this topic.

Public safety

In case of a serious emergency, Tiburon Boulevard would be a difficult, if not impossible, way to evacuate. How would you go about exploring alternative plans, possibly by water?

THOMPSON: Each major emergency — be it an earthquake, wildfire, or flood — requires a tailored response from Tiburon police’s emergency coordinators, who will provide guidance, including updates on SNAP 840 AM. Due to typically slow-moving traffic on Tiburon Boulevard, vehicle evacuation should not be the first option unless specifically advised. Residents should be prepared to shelter in place for several days with extra food and water, as recommended by emergency response agencies. Residents can access resources like GetReady94920 and the Marin Public Emergency Portal to stay informed and understand evacuation alternatives.

Contrary to claims made by other candidates, we have more than one road in and out of Tiburon; Paradise Drive offers an additional route. We have the only deepwater port in San Francisco Bay, which of course is San Francisco State University’s Estuary & Ocean Science Center. It’s just hard to get a lot of people moving on Paradise Drive.

In extreme situations, we should have contingency plans to utilize Golden Gate ferries or other large vessels for evacuating significant numbers of people. As a last resort, we can rely on personal recreational boats at our yacht clubs, similar to Dunkirk, when boat owners helped rescue soldiers across the English Channel. Of course, not everyone in Tiburon can swim like me and my masters swimming buddies, who could manage a reverse Tiburon Mile from Tiburon to Ayala Cove on Angel Island!

HORNBROOK: In coordination, Tiburon and Belvedere should, once every two years, hold an evacuation drill to determine the best evacuation modes, including opening Tiburon Boulevard to have two outgoing lanes in the narrow section. Based on results from this work, it will help planners identify gaps and amplify improvements to both municipalities. To supplement planning, in the southern part of the town, there are two water options that the municipalities could leverage in the case of an emergency. One is the standard dock off of Main Street. An additional deepwater port is located at the San Francisco State University site. This site could also be used for evacuation and should be looked at in coordination with the Main Street ferry location. Both locations, the direction of the threat, and the necessary analysis will assist in the strategy of using these two resources.

NIKFAR: Tiburon was annexed into the Association of Bay Area Governments’ Local Hazard Mitigation Plan in 2010. This was Tiburon’s first known set of plans around natural-disaster mitigation, including shoring up the riprap at Shoreline Park and making improvements to Paradise Drive.

The association also has existing evacuation plans that Tiburon can adopt and communicate to residents and formalize through our most recent commitment to mitigating disasters and our newest appointee, Colin Crawford.

Additionally, my understanding is that via Senate Bill 99 and Assembly Bill 747, housing elements must include evacuation plans, so the housing element may also need to be updated to reflect an evacuation plan.

THIER: I serve on the Belvedere-Tiburon Disaster Advisory Council, and we work hard to create plans and to train residents how to safely evacuate in the event of an emergency. I am very proud to have been selected by Marin’s 11 cities and towns to serve as our representative on the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District board. I would work directly with the district, as well as our own Tiburon ferry system and Capt. Maggie McDonogh in order to make alternate plans to get our residents to safety, including by water if it is safe.

Undergrounding utilities has become a safety issue to avoid fires and power outages. Do you believe this to be a public infrastructure effort and, in your opinion, should construction be paid by the town and not delegated to individual homeowners?

HORNBROOK: Undergrounding helps prevent wildfires with energized lines and in high wind events. However, the town should not be accountable for this cost. Undergrounding expenses are the responsibility of the electric utility and other utilities using overhead utility lines to deliver their services. The town should continue to assist those neighborhoods that want to underground through the tax-collection measures afforded to them. The town should not get into the business and set the precedent of paying for utility undergrounding in the town of Tiburon.

NIKFAR: [See previous response to undergrounding question.]

THIER: I have a long public record in support of undergrounding utilities to improve safety, and to avoid fires and power outages. I believe the owner of the infrastructure, PG&E, should pay for undergrounding its own utility lines. The current state law needs to be changed to have PG&E pay, rather than homeowners, for undergrounding of utility lines.

THOMPSON: While there may be special circumstances that require town involvement, I generally believe that decisions about undergrounding should be left to residents and local neighborhood associations, with the town aiding in consensus-building, as I mentioned earlier. Each neighborhood would also be responsible for financing the undergrounding through a bond. I support changing Rule 20A of the Public Utilities Commission to increase the funding that PG&E provides to towns for undergrounding utilities. During my previous term in office, I was elected by Marin County towns to represent Marin and advocate for adjustments to Rule 20A.

While this change would result in a slight increase to your PG&E bill, it would allow Tiburon to underground utility poles in common areas much more quickly. Unfortunately, when this issue was debated, it was overshadowed by the major California energy crisis, causing the utilities commission to put the proposal on hold.

I am concerned about flooding at The Cove and in the lower Bel Aire neighborhoods. The combination of sea-level rise, heavy rain and/or an issue with storm pumps could lead to significant property damage. All of Tiburon’s downtown businesses and government services would also face extensive damage from flooding. What ideas do the candidates have to protect neighborhoods, businesses and public services from flooding due to climate change?

NIKFAR: As a former resident of Bel Aire, on Leland, our family experienced this firsthand in 2014 when the Bel Aire pumps failed and caused significant flooding.

We are lucky to have a great Public Works Department led by Patrick Kerslake. Upgrades to the pumps, warning systems and monitoring leading up to and during significant weather events are needed for areas impacted by flooding and sea-level rise.

THIER: I am known as an environmental champion. That is why I received the early endorsement of the Sierra Club. I stopped the town from spraying Roundup in our parks, around our picnic tables and playgrounds in one of my early efforts.

Earth recorded its hottest day on July 22. Flooding and sea-level rise are directly related to climate change. According to Marin County’s analysis, we have 341 housing units, 2.4 miles of roads, 135 acres of land and over $400 million of at-risk buildings on Main Street downtown. The ideas I have to protect our neighborhoods include adaptation choices, such as shoreline hardening; nature-based strategies; adapting transportation; adapting development; building sea walls; protecting above and underground critical infrastructure; and restoring marshlands to reduce physical impacts of rising waters.

THOMPSON: Yes, I vividly recall the incident when the pumps at The Cove failed during heavy rainfall, causing several homes in Bel Aire to take on an inch of water. The impacts of climate change could be significant in the years ahead, particularly concerning severe flooding in low-lying areas like Bel Aire.

While it may be physically impossible to install barriers that completely prevent sea-level rise in all areas, there are opportunities to mitigate its effects through solutions like storm pumps. Although climate change is a global issue, I strongly support local actions to reduce our contributions to global warming. This includes reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and transitioning to renewable energy sources.

HORNBROOK: The town of Tiburon continues to focus on upgrades to its stormwater system. We must continue to spend at least 25% of our capital improvement projects budget on hardening these systems and managing the increased storm surge during high tide events. The town should also work proactively with the different flood control entities, Zone 4 in this case, to ensure their pumps and storm-drain infrastructure are sufficient to address the higher amounts of stormwater and to increase pumping rates in the bay.

The town also has complete ownership over investigating and propagating some of the following solutions to address the increase in stormwater flow, including rain gardens and bioswales; permeable pavements; green roofs; floodplain restoration, which is going on now at Blackie’s Beach; and the expansion or establishment of retention and detention ponds. These are thoughtful approaches the town should also be pursuing and including in town planning guidance for hardscapes.

Campaigning and finance

If you were to vote for two other candidates and not yourself, who would they be?

THOMPSON: I support collegial candidates who prioritize the interests of residents and are not beholden to outside influences. I believe it’s inappropriate to name specific individuals during an election cycle. My focus will be on collaborating with whomever is elected for the common good of Tiburon.

HORNBROOK: I’m running for Town Council because I believe I am the most qualified of the four candidates. Each of the candidates has their own strengths and weaknesses. I look forward to serving with whomever is elected.

NIKFAR: No comment.

THIER: I will be voting for my colleague and fellow Town Councilmember Isaac Nikfar.

How do you feel about local governments taking a stand on international affairs?

HORNBROOK: The prevailing wisdom suggests that local governments should focus on international issues when those issues have a clear local impact — like climate change, LGBTQ+ rights or economic policy — align with the community’s values for inclusion, or complement national and global efforts. However, small towns like ours should also be cautious of overextending, taking up time and detracting from local issues. As a member of the Town Council, I would suggest that taking a stand on international issues be very rare and to ensure they are aligned with our core values and those of the entire community.

NIKFAR: Expressing a community’s opposition and taking a stand is an important right, and while the impact may not be felt internationally, the show of support when joined with many other communities can be very powerful, especially around issues like taking a stand against racism, antisemitism or injustice in all of its forms.

THIER: The Tiburon Town Council has traditionally not taken positions on items pertaining to international affairs.

THOMPSON: I believe that local government primarily serves its residents and their specific needs. If an international issue directly impacts our town, I will address it, but generally, there are more effective avenues for tackling such matters.

I hold a degree in international affairs and economics and initially studied to become a diplomat with the State Department. However, after college my mother was diagnosed with cancer, and I returned to California from Washington, D.C. Diplomacy and international affairs remain significant in my life, and many of my editorials can be found in the Marin Independent Journal and the Marin Voice library of Andrew Thompson.

The Ark published fundraising totals for each of you — except Isaac Nikfar. Do the candidates believe they have an obligation to comply with legal and ethical requirements to file necessary forms related to their campaigns? Also, how much money do you think is an appropriate amount to raise when running for a small town council? How much from out-of-town donors? What are you using the money for?

NIKFAR: I raised funds from a few sources local to Tiburon, Belvedere and Marin, but have not spent any funds on the campaign outside of commitment to an Ark ad. I’ve focused my campaign on meeting and hearing from Tiburon residents, making myself available for homeowners’ associations and groups within Tiburon.

My supporters include the downtown businesses including Sam’s Anchor Cafe and Zelinsky Properties, as well as A&C Ventures.

Endorsements include: Reed Union School District board members Liz Webb, Afsaneh Zolfaghari and Shelby Tsai; Planning Commissioners Daniel Amir and Jeff Tsai; Parks, Open Space and Trails Commissioners Angela McInerney, Mike Moon, Liz Judge and Tim Burr; the Marin IJ editorial board; the Democratic Central Committee of Marin; the Marin Professional Firefighters; Councilmember Jack Ryan; former Mayor Emmett O’Donnell; Assemblymember Damon Connolly; and well over 400 residents!

THIER: Fundraising is a sign of support and demonstrates that the community is supportive of a candidate. I am deeply proud of the overwhelming support I have received, and I am very grateful to all contributors for their confidence in my candidacy for reelection to the Town Council.

I have been supported by the Marin Professional Firefighters, the Marin Women’s Political Action Committee, the Sierra Club, Assemblyman Damon Connolly, my mother and many Tiburon residents, including former mayor and current Town Councilmember Jon Welner, Tiburon Open Space Founder Jerry Reissen, Pamela Green and many more. I will be using the donations to get my message out to the voters.

THOMPSON: Yes, I believe all candidates should adhere to the Fair Political Practices Commission’s legal and ethical requirements. I support modest fundraising efforts to effectively communicate candidates’ positions on core issues and highlight how their experience and leadership skills can make a difference.

I am strongly opposed to contributions from outside special-interest and political groups, as these can compromise a candidate’s commitment to the best interests of Tiburon residents. This principle is not just rhetoric; I have consistently upheld it throughout my career. When I ran for the Board of Supervisors, I refused all special-interest money and endorsements, which was significant for that office. While I won the primary, I ultimately lost in the general election. I can’t say if my refusal of those endorsements and funds affected the outcome, but I was determined not to compromise my principles.

HORNBROOK: I agree candidates have an obligation to comply with legal and ethical requirements. I hope to raise $4,000-$6,000 to use for ads in The Ark, a postcard mailer, lawn signs and software to send a few emails and host my website, hornbrook4tiburon.com. I have been fortunate to have some great friends and local neighbors who have donated money, as well as contributing my own funds.

The only out-of-town money I received was $450 from my family in Colorado — thank you, Mom and Dad! I am also grateful to those who have volunteered. I feel blessed by this. Local volunteers are the backbone of local elections.

For an appropriate amount, I am not one to determine that. If a candidate wants to win at all costs, they will want to raise as much as they can. In our election, for an incumbent to raise more money than all the other candidates combined, it makes me wonder what the motivation and end goal is for that candidate. The size and source of funds is also something to note for any candidate.

While you all want to stand out among your fellow candidates, giving credit where it’s due is an important part of collaboration. What would you credit each of your opponents for accomplishing in town?

THOMPSON: I commend all candidates for dedicating their time to support our community. A Town Council should function as a collegial and cooperative group, so I prefer not to single out any individual contributions. Throughout my campaign, I have expressed my belief that all candidates have the best intentions. However, I bring a unique skill set that will enhance the effectiveness of this council.

HORNBROOK: I give Isaac a lot of credit for supporting youth sports by stepping up as a coach and manager of the CYO leagues. I appreciate that he is willing to meet with people in town and get out on Main Street. I appreciate that Holli has kept a “light on diversity issues” and other hot-button topics that are important to her. What would complement her enthusiasm for her priorities is an understanding of implementation and working with her fellow Town Council members to gain their trust. Andrew’s contributions back in the ’90s are well known. I appreciate his past service, that our Town Hall is in the heart of downtown and the Tiburon Ridge Trail is connected across much of the peninsula.

NIKFAR: Coming onto the Town Council last year, I’ve had the opportunity to work with Holli on the parks master plan as well as the integrated pest-management policy during my time on the parks commission. She knows how to get things done and cares a lot about the community, evidenced by her work on the Diversity Inclusion Task Force as well.

I worked with Chuck during my time on the parks commission, and we worked together on a few initiatives like the pest-management policy, where I appreciated his focus on execution and attention to detail.

In my 12 years in Tiburon and time on parks and the Town Council, Andrew and my paths only crossed recently, but I understand that he has given a lot to the town during his time on Town Council.

THIER: I would credit my colleague Isaac Nikfar with helping me stop Tiburon from spraying Roundup and other toxic pesticides in our parks and playgrounds. I’m known as an environmental champion and am pleased to be the only candidate endorsed by the Sierra Club.

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