Fairfax’s pro-change faction forced to recall

Last November, Fairfax held an election for three seats on the Town Council. At that time, a majority of local residents were determined to change the town’s direction by removing three incumbent council members in order to establish a new voting majority on the council.

Local activists managed to persuade former council members Frank Egger and Mike Ghiringhelli to become candidates in order to rescue the town from what both men agreed was a dire civic crisis.

The two former members did well. Egger tallied 22% and Ghiringhelli received 19%. Significantly, the three incumbents each managed a nearly identical percentage of the votes: slightly above 13%., which made it fairly obvious that the pro-incumbent faction had voted as a block. It should be noted that, at 13%, the faction’s combined votes represented less than 40% of the total votes cast.

Unfortunately, the pro-change group failed to present a united three-candidate block. Candidates Cindy Swift and Doug Kelly — both aligned with pro-change — split the third pro-change vote (Swift with 12.4% and Kelly with 7.7%). If one or the other had not run, I suspect the third-vote total for pro-change would likely have reached 20% — exactly in line with the totals for Egger and Ghiringhelli.

With a margin of about 150 votes, incumbent Barbara Coler was reelected and a majority for the remaining members of the council was retained. Those three now have an ability to block any attempts by Egger and Ghiringhelli to initiate change.

An honest observer with basic math skills would acknowledge that the intention of the pro-change movement was derailed by a poor campaign strategy. Unfortunately, the only correction now available is a costly and no-doubt divisive recall election, but at this point it is the only way to validate the political will of the residents of Fairfax.

— Robert Brennan, Fairfax

Our role right now is to stand up and resist

Recently, several state governors, congressional representatives and U.S. senators have challenged President Donald Trump and his administration on some of the mistruths being told. Unfortunately, it appears that their voices have been overwhelmed by the chaos emanating from Washington.

Combating the threats and lies amid what I consider to be incompetence requires a willingness to stand up to Trump’s bullying tactics at a time when some of us may have become discouraged and disengaged. Several months into his presidency and the chaos has not diminished, nor has sanity been restored.

Now is the time to act. Not doing so is to be complicit. The rule of law, independent judicial oversight and constitutional guidelines have been callously discarded. I think we are witnessing citizens and allies bullied and treated as “less than.”

The Declaration of Independence is clear about our responsibility as citizens in a republic: “when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.”

It is not too late to push back against bullying, oppose racism, embrace inclusion, return to democratic values and join hands with elected officials who stand against Trump.

— Rick van Adelsberg, Novato

State Farm should sue PG&E for carelessness

According to recent news reports, State Farm is ready to increase our homeowner insurance rates up to 22%. Ricardo Lara, the insurance commissioner of California, said he would approve it for this emergency rate increase only if the company could justify its need at a public hearing.

On Feb. 3, State Farm leaders asked for the increase based on its need for financial help following the catastrophic fires in Los Angeles. Lara wants State Farm to appear on April 8 to make its case.

Considering that the Pacific Gas and Electric Co. has been responsible for some of the California fires in the past and that claims in the billions have been sent to State Farm and others to reimburse clients for their loss, State Farm should sue PG&E for the amount of claims created based on PG&E’s carelessness. I hope this aspect is discussed on April 8.

Renewals paid out should be based on 2024 yearend premiums and capped. We should not have to pay increased premiums for what I consider to be PG&E’s carelessness.

— G.M. Gioglio, Greenbrae