CATTPAC Releases Endorsements for November 3 Election

The Contractors Association of Truckee Tahoe Political Action Committee (CATTPAC) is proud to support these candidates and ballot measure for the November 3 general election:

North Tahoe Public Utility District Board of Directors – Sarah Coolidge, Tim Ferrell, Danielle Hughes
The CATTPAC Board realizes that voters of the North Tahoe Public Utility District have a tough decision to make in the upcoming NTPUD election this November.  The CATTPAC Board, after much consideration, has decided to endorse incumbents Tim Ferrell and Sarah Coolidge plus newcomer Danielle Hughes for the NTPUD Board of Directors.  The CATTPAC Board feels these candidates possess the unique skill sets needed to lead the constituents of the District into the future. Of special concern to CATTPAC was the candidate’s willingness to take a leadership role in providing adequate fire flow to protect residents and businesses from catastrophic wildfire. 

Truckee Donner Public Utility District Board of Directors – Jeff Bender, Bob Ellis, Kim Harris
CATTPAC is endorsing incumbents Jeff Bender and Bob Ellis plus newcomer Kim Harris for the TDPUD Board of Directors. The CATTPAC Board took the experience and forward-thinking abilities of these three candidates to make their choice.  The CATTPAC Board also considered the candidate’s knowledge of small business ownership. What was especially important and relevant to CATTPAC was the candidate’s willingness to allow online submittals of applications and provide advance notice to the construction industry of changes to procedure or requirements.

North Tahoe Fire Protection District Board of Directors
CATTPAC interviewed the two incumbents for the area-specific Director seats for North Tahoe Fire Protection District and declined to endorse either candidate.

Town of Truckee Town Council (two year seat) – Jan Zabriskie
Jan’s record on the Truckee Planning Commission and General Plan Advisory Committee demonstrates a clear commitment to careful consideration of issues and he supported CATT members’ right to vote on GPAC decisions, defining a solid belief in fairness in the governing process.  Jan prioritizes climate action policy, but wants regulation, like the recently adopted Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) threshold, to be clear and consistent. Jan has been a proponent of multiple solutions to solve our housing issues, including the preservation of mobile home parks and incentivizing ADUs.

Town of Truckee Town Council (four year seat) – Dow Costa, Frank Bernhard, Lindsay Romack
There are two open seats for the four year term.  CATTPAC felt three candidates earned an endorsement.

Dow recognizes the importance of small businesses that provide jobs and sustainability for full time Truckee residents to live, work and raise families here.  He also recognizes that wildfire mitigation is essential to the survival of the community and wildfire efforts will do more to limit carbon output than any other initiative. Common sense governs Dow’s thinking – and a proven record as a manager of large budgets and 175 Sprint employees in California gives him defined skills to make responsible fiscal and policy decisions for the Town.

As a senior partner in McKinsey & Co., Frank brings national level consulting and finance skills to Truckee Town Council duties to go with his avid interest in outdoor recreation as a member of the Tahoe Area Mountain Bike Association, Professional Ski Instructors Association and other community organizations.  He emphasizes the importance of the health of Truckee’s small businesses to provide jobs and a stable tax revenue for Town budgets.  Frank believes that strong small business can be an integral player in solving our affordable/achievable housing problems.

Lindsay’s enthusiasm for Truckee and work with the Squaw Valley Municipal Advisory Council, the Sierra Community House and other community organizations makes her an excellent choice for Truckee Town Council.  She is committed to solving transportation and traffic problems as tandem solutions to reducing carbon emissions, and supports initiatives to encourage the construction of more Accessory Dwelling Units as a solution to Truckee’s affordable housing problem.   Lindsay values CATT’s input as an important representative of a broad sector of Truckee businesses and workforce.

Town of Truckee Measure K (2% TOT increase) - SUPPORT
CATTPAC supports Measure K as a partial solution to the lack of stable funding for large and small affordable housing projects in Truckee. CATTPAC believes all monies collected as a result of the 2% TOT increase should go to affordable/achievable housing. An average of $700,000 per year in revenue from Measure K will not go very far when one roundabout, required for a commercial project with affordable housing, costs more than $1 million dollars. If a project can’t move forward due to costs, no housing is built. Similarly, an average of $700,000 per year in revenue from Measure K will not go very far when down payment assistance for first time home buyers is awarded in $50,000 increments.   Beneficiaries of Measure K revenue could be developers with large housing projects but also homeowners who want to build ADUs or convert a primary residence into a duplex.  Other uses of Measure K monies could be incentives for short term rental conversion to long term rental, a deed restriction program that pays owners to maintain housing for full time occupants, and payment of ADU or “tiny home” building permit or impact fees.  When studies indicate that the local housing shortage (to improve substandard conditions or build new units for commuters) is in the thousands of units, $700,000 a year will not go very far. However, Measure K is a new pot of money to help increase the supply of locals housing.  That is a new solution that will generate positive ripple effects.   Measure K deserves the support of Truckee voters.

About the CATTPAC process
These endorsements are the result of a rigorous process established by the CATTPAC Board to insure that a fair and thorough review is done before a decision is made.  Not only were individual candidate interviews held, but background research was done on the issues and candidates. All CATTPAC board members watched the live candidate forums.  CATTPAC used a list of criteria to evaluate all candidates.  Some of those criteria include: is the candidate business-friendly, willing to work with CATT on a collaborative basis, knowledgeable about the district or jurisdiction, understands the role of staff vs elected official, has the time to put into the job, considers the big picture, is objective, and has connections to other people and organizations. CATT members were invited to participate in the interview and endorsement process. Once a decision is made by the CATTPAC Board, the CATT Board is notified and a seven day waiting period begins so the CATT Board can provide comment to the CATTPAC Board.  For more information, contact CATTPAC Administrator Pat Davison at 530.550.9999 or  cattpac@ca-tt.com

Content for this news article was created by CATT for CATTPAC. This article was not authorized by a candidate, ballot measure committee, or committee controlled by a candidate.  To download a copy of the CATTPAC press release with these endorsements, click here.

REGISTER TO VOTE!

The November 3 election will be here soon.  CATT members, their employees, friends, and associates should all be registered to vote.  Voter registration is easy and can be done online:

CALIFORNIA – go to https://registertovote.ca.gov

NEVADA – go to https://www.nvsos.gov/SOSVoterServices/Registration/Step0.aspx

WATCH LIVE CANDIDATE FORUMS ON DEMAND 

CATTPAC was one of the sponsors of live candidate forums broadcast on Suddenlink Channel 18 September 9 and 10.  The forums were also streamed live over the internet.  Thanks to Tahoe Truckee Media (TTM) for providing the technical expertise and camera operators to make the forums a reality! Other forum sponsors included the Truckee Chamber of Commerce, Tahoe Sierra Board of Realtors, and media partners Sierra Sun and Moonshine Ink. Thanks are also due to CATTPAC Chairman Mitch Clarin for helping with the logistics both nights.  TTM has a video of the forums on their website.  Go to https://ttm.open.media/?category=457 to watch the forums on demand.

WHAT IS CATTPAC?

CATTPAC is an acronym for the Contractors Association of Truckee Tahoe Political Action Committee.  CATTPAC is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization sponsored by the Contractors Association of Truckee Tahoe. CATTPAC was created in 2002 to address the need for better representation of the construction industry in all levels of government. CATTPAC is a CA-registered Political Action Committee focused on candidates and ballot measures, FPPC # 1247901. CATTPAC is funded by CATT General Fund monies and member contributions.

CATTPAC Goals for 2020:

1. Refresh the website
2. Increase donations in general
3. Co-Sponsor a Candidate Forum prior to the November 2020 election
4. Continue candidate recruitment and interviews/endorsements
5. Review and modify the Interview/Endorsement SOP
6. Hire an intern for research purposes
7. Add one member to the CATTPAC Board
CATTPAC's MISSION is: The CATT Political Action Committee will raise funds and industry and public awareness in order to support political candidates, initiatives, measures, and campaigns that support the best interests of the building industry in our region.

2020 CATTPAC BOARD OF DIRECTORS

(L to R): Jim Easterbrook, Mitch Clarin, Mike Rodarte, Mick Horn, Kristine Keck, Peter Greenberger, Joan Jones, Meghan Behm.  Not pictured: Jim Porter, Nate Farnell.

Officers
Chairman: Mitch Clarin/Mitchell T. Clarin
Vice Chairman: Peter Greenberger/Pacwest Construction & Development, Inc.
Secretary-Treasurer: Mike Rodarte/TNT Materials

Directors
Meghan Behm/Sierra Crest Cabinets
Jim Easterbrook/Easterbrook Painting, Inc.
Nate Farnell/Charles Schwab
Mick Horn/The Michael Horn Co., Inc.
Joan Jones/ Jones Corda Construction, Inc.
Kristine Keck/ Truckee-Tahoe Lumber Co.
Jim Porter/Porter Simon, P.C.

For more information about CATTPAC, please check the webpage:  www.ca-tt.com/cattpac  or contact CATTPAC Administrator Pat Davison at 530.550.9999 or cattpac@ca-tt.com.