The Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers (CST) periodically endorses selected candidates for public office. Our endorsements focus on candidates in whom we have high confidence that their approaches and priorities overlap with ours and the positions that they will fill are important.

For the November 2024 ballot we are proud to endorse:

• Supervisor District 2 – Brian Colbert
• Tamalpais Union High School District Board – Amos Klausner
• Marin Municipal Water District Division 2 – Dave Keatley
• Marin Municipal Water District Division 5 – Diana Maier
• North Marin Water District 1 – Mary Stompe (CST Director)
• Fairfax Town Council – Frank Egger, Mike Ghiringhelli, Doug Kelly (CST Director)
• Corte Madera Council – Jim Andrews
• Marin County Board of Education Trustee Area 4 – Nancy McCarthy

Supervisor District 2 – Brian Colbert has the experience to hit the ground running.  He served 8 years on San Anselmo’s Town Council and before that on its Economic Development Committee. Like the Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers, Brian is committed to protecting the affordability of living in Marin and invigorating local businesses.  We have found him very accessible and responsive to our concerns.

Tamalpais Union High School District – Tam Union needs Amos Klausner onboard.  His campaign tagline says it all: “Not Another Rubber Stamp.”  Parent of an Archie Williams student and former K-8 school board director, Amos says Tam Union’s board must do a better job of fiscal oversight and reducing reckless spending.  This would free up money to focus on the real problems of declining academic performance and a stubborn achievement gap.  If Tam Union’s proposed bond Measure B passes, strong board oversight will be critical.

MMWD D2 – Dave Keatley –  Dave’s extensive experience in long-term planning – in business and as a water board director elsewhere – is a huge plus.  He will look closely at expenses to ensure that rates don’t rise more than necessary to deliver clean, reliable water in the face of climate change.  A relatively young father, Dave will be a steward of our watershed for the next generation.

MMWD D5 – A professional mediator, Diana Maier brings to the party her skills at building compromise solutions to complex problems like those facing Marin Water: how to achieve a more reliable water supply without unbearably high water bills. MMWD’s board has been male dominated for decades, with only one (past) female Director.  Marin Water will benefit from the perspectives and collaborative skills of a female Director.

North Marin Water District 1 – Mary Stompe brings a portfolio of valuable skills to NMWD.  She has real financial, organizational leadership, and public service chops.  A CPA and MBA, Mary recently retired after two decades as Executive Director of PEP Housing, a $10M nonprofit organization that builds affordable senior and veterans housing. A CPA and MBA, Stompe is a former Petaluma City Council member.  Mary has gained insights into Marin’s Water Districts from relatives who have worked there over the decades. NMWD hasn’t had a woman on its board in 21 years.

Fairfax Town Council – While not a slate, challengers Frank Egger, Mike Ghiringhelli, and Doug Kelly all bring decades of experience in elected office and a commitment to refocusing the Council on providing essential services at a price that is affordable to all.  Current council’s mission creep into controversial endeavors has proved divisive and expensive.  Egger and Ghiringelli contribute decades of Fairfax residency and town leadership experience. Kelly, a renter recently transplanted from San Anselmo to Fairfax, has a talent for finding compromise solutions.

Jim Andrews – Corte Madera Council – In Jim’s prior service on Corte Madera’s Council, he demonstrated unusual commitment to doing his homework before approving expenditures or voting on a controversial matter. He contributes decades of experience in financial oversight and as a chief financial officer.  He is committed to ensuring that Corte Madera runs a fiscal tight ship so that taxpayer dollars go far and are focused on important, essential services and infrastructure.

MCBOE TA4 – Nancy McCarthy has served over 20 years on multiple Citizen Bond Oversight Committees in Marin and has expertise in labor negotiation and financial oversight of local school expenditures.  Ensuring school funds are spent efficiently and go to the right priorities means more money available to improve academic performance, direct additional resources to students needing extra academic support, and enhance safety to support a positive learning environment. These are Nancy’s goals, which we share.