Attend RCPC’s virtual Candidates’ Forum via Zoom to learn about who is running for election to our Board of Directors! We have 9 candidates vying for 6 slots, each with their own perspective on the direction of our neighborhood. All candidates will answer questions from our moderator and from the audience.
Candidates’ Forum audience Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84102106423?pwd=WXFkNjBwaFcwWTNHY3ozRWR3alBUZz09
The form will also be livestreamed via the RCPC YouTube channel: bit.ly/RCPCYouTube
Video of the Forum: to be uploaded on bit.ly/RCPCYouTube
Alysoun Bonde, Lawton Avenue: Greetings neighbors; I’m running to support our community to be inclusive, family friendly, economically vibrant, and safe during these challenging times.
A thriving Rockridge has diverse neighbors, successful small businesses, and activated streets and parks that are walkable, welcoming, and safe. I feel privileged to live in our wonderful community and want to make sure that others have that opportunity regardless of income, race, or status.
As an East Bay native, I’ve spent my life working to lift up small businesses, provide housing opportunities, and advocate for equitable economic development in Oakland. I’m a graduate of U.C. Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy and a member of Oakland’s Head Start Advisory Board, and serve as a board member for local and international nonprofits.
I believe that communities and families carry the wisdom and solutions to our
challenges that policymakers need, not the other way around. I’d be honored to be your representative.
Casey Farmer (Incumbent), Carlton St: I’m running for re-election to continue advocating for an inclusive and thriving community. My family has lived in Rockridge as renters and homeowners for nearly 12 years. Ten years ago, I moved to Old Oakland, but soon thereafter deeply missed our vibrant neighborhood and moved back.
During my service on the RCPC Board for the last four years, I have led our Redistricting Ad-Hoc Committee, managed our fundraiser for the new residents at Clifton Hall’s transitional housing, and enhanced participation at our RCPC town halls.
I’ll continue to advocate for four specific issues: 1) I want Rockridge to be inclusive for everyone, regardless of income; 2) I want Rockridge to be the most family friendly neighborhood in Oakland; 3) I want College Avenue to thrive with fewer vacant storefronts; 4) I want our neighborhood to feel safe for everyone. Thank you for your vote.
Annette Floystrup (Incumbent), Birch Ct: I have served on past RCPC boards where I co-chaired the Rockridge DVD project, which raised $13,000 to double the number of DVDs for the library. I also write for The Rockridge News.
After renting in Rockridge for 7 years, I became a homeowner where I set up and ran my own business. I have also worked as a retail manager. I’m a past President and Board Member of the Bay Area Small Business Development Corporation where we provided loan guarantees to women-owned and minority-owned businesses.
I’ve worked on RCPC Kitchen Tours and other fundraising so that the nonprofit can continue to contribute to Oakland and our neighborhood in tangible ways like the Library and FROG Park, and environmental improvements at Claremont and Chabot schools.
As for my personal priorities, I will continue to work on fundraising, emergency preparedness for wildfire and earthquake safety, and the economic vibrancy of College Avenue businesses.
Ben Friedman, Colby St: After almost 5 years as a resident of Rockridge, I excitedly announce my candidacy for the RCPC board. I work in environmental philanthropy and advocacy, and will use my conservation and government affairs experience to effectively share our community’s needs with local, state, and federal decision makers as well as government funded neighborhood grant programs.
As a contributor to The Rockridge News, I’ve covered our community’s natural
values and current events, as well as my own process of “Choosing Rockridge”
as a place to call home. The RCPC can play a leadership role in addressing three
significant issues our community faces today: our housing crisis, undeveloped
lots within our community, and poor air quality, exacerbated by climate change.
How can Rockridge be a model for addressing these pressing issues in the Bay Area and California? RCPC must address these questions so that our neighborhood can remain the spectacular community that it is — and I want to help.
Robin McDonnell (Incumbent), Auburn Ave: My husband and I moved to Rockridge in 2018. We made Rockridge our home because of its unique combination of urban life and sense of community. My background includes 25 years in county government with responsibility for community development, housing programs and economic development. It also includes volunteer work and nonprofit board membership.
Soon after moving here, I volunteered to help with the Kitchen Tour. I enjoyed seeing the kitchens and meeting homeowners, RCPC members and docents alike.
Since joining the RCPC Board, I have chaired the Community Grants program, assisted with communications, and filled the position of Vice Chair along with helping with various community events.
RCPC has always worked to enhance the quality of life of all the residents and business owners in Rockridge. We have done this by supporting public facilities such as the library, advocating for Rockridge to the City and County, and promoting community events. I think it is important to continue these efforts to keep Rockridge a place we can all be proud to call home.
Diana Mitchell-Chavez, Shafter Ave: My purpose in running for a seat on the RCPC Board is very simple…it’s to give voice to all Rockridge residents and represent them in decisions regarding housing, business, and safety in the neighborhood. I wish to listen to them and implement their desires and needs by working with fellow Board members as well as City representatives.
I’ve lived in Rockridge for 42 years. Rockridge has experienced the Oakland Firestorm, the Bay Bridge Earthquake, and the Covid-19 lockdown, and throughout each event, neighbor helped neighbor, and the neighborhood has managed to continue to grow. I will continue to work with my neighbors to implement their goals for the direction of Rockridge.
I want to make sure the people who live, work and pay their taxes here don’t have their needs ignored or bypassed.
Thank you for your consideration.
Brett Moyer, 51st St:
My name is Brett Moyer and I’m excited to run for the RCPC. My wife and I moved to the neighborhood as renters near Trader Joe’s five years ago, moving to a house on 51st Street 18 months ago. We love walking around the neighborhood with our standard poodle and one-year-old son, Miles, named after the street we used to live on.
I’m excited to run for RCPC to help with a few major issues facing the neighborhood – how do we keep businesses in the neighborhood and how can we ensure the neighborhood continues to welcome neighbors with housing and quality of life improvements for everyone.
I work as a Financial Analyst for a bank, and I’m excited to see how I can bring my skill set to help the neighborhood.
Eric Neville, Thomas Ave: Who is government? It seems “activism” is a term used by folks thinking political impact is rightfully outsourced, that personal involvement is a deviation. I call it “participation,” and it’s the way nearly everything good in government has been achieved — from the Revolution to Abolition, from protecting wildlife to stemming pollution.
Is Rockridge livable? Will it be for another generation? If Oakland’s population has grown 10 percent in 20 years, why has the cost of housing risen 150 percent? What’s going on when 18 percent of Oaklanders live in poverty and we have the worst income inequality in 100 years?
The money problem leads, and space follows. How much livable square footage is sitting vacant on spec, deducted as a business loss? Where are the stats? Are they even collected?
If POTUS gets a Presidential Daily Briefing, how’s the common citizen supposed to make sense of things? Who sees? Who troubleshoots? Who’s government? We all are, and that ain’t easy.
Kirk Peterson (Incumbent), College Ave: I was born in 1951, on Pill Hill, at which time I inherited Italian citizenship; and I studied at U.C. Berkeley and the Rhode Island School of Design.
I’ve been practicing architecture on College Avenue for a few decades. I love the Oakland cityscape and its neighborhoods, its parks, its eclectic architecture, and of
course the interesting sorts of people who call this area home.
I hike our great regional parks, make sculpture, and sing in a choir. I like to participate in civic activities, and volunteer for the Oakland Museum and the Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board. As a board member, I have written for,
and distributed The Rockridge News and helped organize RCPC Halloween and
clean-up events. I am active on the Land Use Committee and serve as co-chair for
our fall Kitchen Tour.
Rockridge elected me to the Board in 2020, and I am asking the neighborhood to elect me again for another term.
