Media Contact: Edward Vento
Contractors Association of Truckee Tahoe
530.555.9999

CATTPAC announces endorsements for Truckee Town Council
Truckee, Calif. (Oct 17, 2022) – CATTPAC, the Contractors Association of Truckee Tahoe Political Action Committee, has decided to endorse Anna Klovstad, David Polivy, and Jan Zabriskie as incumbents running for Truckee Town Council seats. CATTPAC formally interviewed all candidates running for Truckee Town Council.

The following criteria was considered for endorsements: business-friendly, sympathetic to the construction industry and willingness to work collaboratively, knowledge about district or jurisdiction, responsible work ethic, balanced perspective, and supports sustainable growth in the community.

“After an exhaustive interview process it was abundantly clear that the three Town Council incumbents were more closely aligned with CATTPAC housing priorities.  They have the experience and dedication to meet the challenges relating to anticipated Truckee growth in the next four years. We look forward to working hand in hand with them on issues facing our community,” said CATTPAC Board Member Joan Jones.

CATTPAC has an involved interview process whereby all candidates for a particular office are asked similar questions by a panel of three CATTPAC representatives. Following the interviews, CATTPAC Board Members meet to discuss the responses of each candidate and then decide whether to make an endorsement and/or donate money to that candidate.  A similar process is conducted for propositions and local ballot measures.

September 23, 2020
For Immediate Release
Contact CATTPAC Administrator Pat Davison (530.550.9999 or cattpac@ca-tt.com) or CATTPAC Chairman Mitch Clarin (530.308.9124 or Mitch@mitchclarin.com)  for more information.

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.

Content for this news release was created by CATT for CATTPAC. This release was not authorized by a candidate or committee controlled by a candidate.

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PAC Endorsements 2005-2019

The following list of endorsements represents candidates the CATTPAC interviewed and decided by committee to endorse due to among other things their stance on small business & construction industry issues.  Also included are CATTPAC stance on measures & propositions the PAC stood either for or against depending again amongst other things their stance on small business and construction industry impacts.

*Won the election

2019

CA State Senate District 1
*Brian Dahle

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2018

Nevada County Sheriff
*Shannan Moon

Tahoe City Public Utility District Board of Directors
*John Pang
*Dan Wilkins

Truckee Donner Public Utility District Board of Directors
*Christa Finn
Paul Warmerdam

Truckee Donner Recreation & Park District Board of Directors
*Jason Hansford
Dan Kates

Truckee Tahoe Airport District Board of Directors
John Jones
*Jim Morrison

Placer County Supervisor District 1
*Bonnie Gore

Placer County Supervisor District 2
*Robert Weygandt

CA State Assembly District 1
*Brian Dahle

*YES on Measure AA – Tahoe Truckee Unified School District

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2016

Truckee Fire Protection District Board of Directors
*Gerald Herrick

Tahoe Forest Hospital District Board of Directors
*Randy Hill
*Alyce Wong

Truckee Donner Public Utility District Board of Directors
*Bob Ellis
*Jeff Bender
Jim Hemig

Truckee Tahoe Airport District Board of Directors
*Rick Stephens
*Lisa Wallace

*YES on Measure A (Nevada County Libraries)
*NO on Measure M (Placer County Roads)

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2014

Nevada County Treasurer-Tax Collector
*Tina Vernon

Tahoe City Public Utility District Board of Directors
*Dan Wilkins
*John Pang

Truckee Fire Protection District Board of Directors
*Victor Hernandez
Gerald Herrick
*Paul Wilford

Town of Truckee Town Council
Jamie Brimer
*Patrick Flora
*Carolyn Wallace Dee

Tahoe Forest Hospital District
John Falk
*Mark Spohr
Greg Jellinek

Nevada County Superior Court Judge Seat 1
*Robert Tice-Raskin

Nevada County District Attorney
*Cliff Newell

*YES on Measure E – (Tahoe Truckee Unified School District)
YES on Measure U – (Tahoe Truckee Unified School District)

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2012

Truckee Town Council
*Joan deRyk Jones
*Alicia Barr
*Patrick Flora

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2010

Truckee Town Council
*Richard Anderson
*Mark Brown
*Carolyn Wallace Dee

Truckee Fire Protection District Board of Directors
*Victor Hernandez
*Gerald Herrick
*Paul Wilford

Truckee Donner Public Utility District Board of Directors
*Tony Laliotis
Josh Susman

*Nevada County Treasurer – Tax Collector – Tina Vernon

Nevada County Assessor – Rolf Kleinhans

*Nevada County Clerk – Recorder – Greg Diaz

YES - Proposition 23/CA Jobs Initiative

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2008

Truckee Town Council
*Joan deRyk Jones
Josh Susman

Truckee Donner Public Utility District Board of Directors
*Jeff Bender
*John Hillstrom
Bill Thomason

NO - Truckee Fire Protection District Benefit Assessment

*YES - Measure V – Truckee Road Sales Tax

*YES - Measure U – Tahoe Truckee Unified School District Facilities Bond

North Tahoe Fire Protection District Board of Directors – Division 5
*Rich Loverde

Placer County Board of Supervisors – District 5
Bruce Kranz

California State Assembly – District 3
*Dan Logue

California State Senate – District 1
*Dave Cox

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2007

California State Assembly – District 3
*Dan Logue

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2006

Truckee Town Council
*Richard Anderson
*Mark Brown
*Carolyn Wallace Dee

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2005

*YES - Measure A –TTUSD