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Newly installed Mayor Candace Andersen encouraged the crowd at Tuesday night’s community service awards ceremony to get involved and let their voices be heard — a call to action that she will be taking in earnest.
“I hope people become more aware that the Town Council is here to serve,” she told the Express. “We value the input of our citizens.”
This is Andersen’s second term as mayor and, alongside Vice Mayor Newell Arnerich, the eight-year council veteran plans to find the best ways to communicate with residents about town programs, events and projects. Andersen will also continue reaching out to the community at Mornings with the Mayor breakfast meetings.
Like outgoing mayor Karen Stepper, Andersen’s first Friday breakfast meetings will feature town officials who will answer questions on a variety of topics such as commercial recycling, traffic safety and business development.
“Economic indicators show that we’re getting out of this recession,” Andersen said, adding that the town will continue to hold social media workshops and give out development grants. “Economic development is staying ahead of the game.”
In addition to the very successful workshop and grant program, Andersen hopes to draw new businesses to the area by highlighting the town’s business concierge program. Headed by Economic Development Manager Jill Bergman, the program provides direction to prospective business owners by providing all necessary information about timelines, permits and costs.
Although she won’t be spearheading any major projects or programs, Andersen said she is dedicated to maintaining a high quality of life for Danville residents. While she considers “quality of life” to be a composite of different things — from youth safety to drug abuse and road improvements — Andersen plans to be highly involved in maintaining the town’s ridgelines and downtown aesthetic within the General Plan 2030 and upcoming residential developments.
“Last time I was mayor it was our sesquicentennial anniversary and we were reflecting a lot on the past. This time, as I look at it, it’s not creating new programs, but enhancing the ones we have,” she said.
Councilmember Mike Doyle described Andersen as dedicated, funny and possessing a great sense of humor. An attorney, she sits on various committees and commissions, has never missed a council meeting and has six children.
Dear Mayor Andersen,
With the exceptional impact of Danville government decisions on Alamo, it becomes a defined issue to find interactive communication with Alamo neighborhoods as well as the majority of Danville voters in Danville, Diablo and Blackhawk voters impacted by Danville council decisions.
Please explain your planned engagement and communications with impacted neighborhoods.
Please?
I say focus on Danville employees limts of excessive comp, come on Candice, you know these jobs we are funding are lucrative to the point our top employees make more than 99% of the rest of us taxpayers. We do not want Joe to be the next Herb Moniz on the national news, and he is close to being so. Also limit the social engineering, David Harmer lost, let’s not carry that baggage forward because the people have spoken.