Forum addresses Oak Park issues

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers DISCUSSION—MAC candidate Drew Fine takes the microphone. The Communifty Foundation of for Oak Park hosted a forum Oct. 14 for the candidates running in the Triunfo Sanitation District, the Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council and the Oak Park Unified School District Board of Education races.

Three candidates in the MAC contest support Oak Park's oversized and recreational vehicle ordinance, however Derek Ross supports examining cases individually.

Alon Glickstein is concerned about school traffic and Drew Fine suggested a communitywide 35 mph speed limit.

Fine also suggested forming a volunteer policing group.

"We don't have a lot of cops driving around here," the challenger said. "The more eyes, the better. I've been a volunteer sheriff and it really makes a difference."

Ross, a member of the Oak Park volunteer disaster team, supports strong relationships with fire, ambulance and California Highway Patrol staff and creating a junior community emergency response team involving the high school.

Glickstein vowed to encourage community involvement and developing the relationship between the MAC and county supervisors.

School board candidate Jan Iceland said she's proud of her record and the success of Oak Park schools.

"We keep the welfare of all children uppermost in our minds," Iceland said.

Incumbent Barbara Laifman and challengers Edward Kaz and Philip Bonoli support a policy that prevents excessive homework.

"I've heard that parents are doing their children's homework and that's not right," Bonoli said.

"Kids should read for enjoyment's sake," Kaz said.

Laifman addressed the thorny issue of out-of-town students coming to the local classrooms.

"In a perfect world our schools would be filled with Oak Park kids," she said. "Interdistrict transfers are viable at this time to educate our kids the way we want them to be educated."

In the Triunfo Sanitation District race, challenger Mike Paule favors changing the current fivemember board, which includes only two elected positions, to an all-elected body. Two current board members who don't live in the district are setting the rates for those who do, Paule said.

On the issue of adding fluoride to the water system, incumbent Ron Stark explained that Triunfo purchases its potable water indirectly from the from Metropolitan Water District, the agency adding the fluoride.

"We don't have any other water sources. We have no wells, rivers or lakes," said Stark, a member of the TSD board for the past 28 years.

Paule said he respects differing opinions on fluoride.

"I don't think we have control to stop the fluoride but it's important for us to provide information to the public," Paule said.