Candidate for
Member; Menlo Park Fire Protection District

4) I have the honor of having the endorsement of Ollie Brown, Del Krause and Bart Spencer -- the three Fire Board Directors who have served with me over the last four years. As elected officials and colleagues who have had the opportunity to observe my efforts as a Director very closely, their endorsement is a powerful statement of the contributions that I have made to the Fires District during that period.

5) The Almanac

6) San Mateo Times

7) Palo Alto Daily News

8) Some voters have enquired why I have not been endorsed by the Union.
Here are the Union's letters to me and my responses on this issue:

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  a) Union's letter:

District 10 of Local 2400, I.A.F.F
P.O. Box 534 Menlo Park, CA 94026-0534
(800) 218-9081

08JUN05

Peter Carpenter
1 Larch Drive
Atherton, Ca 94027

Director Peter Carpenter,

Since your appointment to the Menlo Park Fire District Board of Directors you have been successful in retaining your position in an election. In your tenure you have been noticeably involved with our US&R Team, our CERT program, the implementation of an improved District Sprinkler Ordinance and have served on standing committees of the District Board. Your leadership in these areas as well as your candidness regarding the Educational Revenue Augmentation Fund (ERAF) has guided the District with professionalism, conviction and clarity through rough times.

On August 25th, 2005, a sub-committee of the Association Board met with eight candidates and found that there were several qualified candidates that would potentially serve as excellent Directors. Through our established candidate interview process the Menlo Park Firefighters have elected to endorse three other candidates for District Board of Director.

In a recent District Board meeting you stated that if enough qualified candidates were running for the Board, you would feel as if you would be able to graciously remove yourself from the election. At this time the Association Board respectfully requests you follow through with that statement. The title "Incumbent" carries a weight with the voters that will be difficult to overcome. An example of such weight was found in the previous election. Incumbent Steve Kennedy, was only narrowly defeated after being censured three times by the District Board of Directors and having no support of the Firefighters' Association.

Knowing that you are unavailable for a personal meeting I wish to speak with you regarding this matter via telephone prior to September 9th. I am available by cell 650.924.0361.

Respectfully,

Tom Neylan
President of the Menlo Park Firefighters
Vice President of District 10 of IAFF Local 2400

cc.
District 10 of IAFF Local 2400
file

b) -My response:
Peter F. Carpenter

11 September 2005

Tom Neylan
President of the Menlo Park Firefighters
Vice President of District 10 of IAFF Local 2400

Dear Tom,

I am in receipt of your letter of 08JUN05(sic) and I thank you for your acknowledgment of my contributions to the Fire District during my current term. As I told you in our 7 September phone call, I am running for re-election and I hope to serve at least one more full term.

However, in your letter you state that the Association requests that I remove myself from the election because the Association has chosen to support other candidates and "the title `Incumbent' carries a weight with the voters that will be difficult to overcome". Since there will be a new firefighter's contract negotiated with the Board during the forthcoming term, I can understand that it is in your Association's interest to have Directors who will serve your interests. I shall be satisfied to continue to serve the interests of the citizens of the District, so I decline your request to withdraw. In a democratic society the choice of elected officials is properly the responsibility of the voters and not that of a small special interest group such as yours.

I am confident that the voters will share the view that you have expressed in your letter that my " leadership in these areas (US&R Team, our CERT program, the implementation of an improved District Sprinkler Ordinance) as well as your candidness regarding the Educational Revenue Augmentation Fund (ERAF) has guided the District with professionalism, conviction and clarity through rough times".

Sincerely yours,

1 Larch Drive, Atherton, CA 94027-2125

650/323-1162 FAX 650/326-6419

c) My response to Labor Council's letter:

Peter F. Carpenter

18 September 2005

Shelley Kessler
Executive Secretary
San Mateo County Central Labor Council
1153 Chess Drive, Suite 200
Foster City, Ca 94404

Dear Executive Secretary,

Thank you for your letter of Sept. 13, 2005 indicating that I did not receive the Labor Council's endorsement. When District 10's Board of Directors requested that I remove myself from the election because they have chosen to support other candidates and "the title `Incumbent' carries a weight with the voters that will be difficult to overcome", I declined their request to withdraw. As I told Tom Neylan, since there will be a new firefighter's contract negotiated with the Board during the forthcoming term, I can understand that it is in the labor union's interest to have Fire District Directors who you think will serve your interests. I shall be satisfied to continue to serve the interests of the citizens of the District. In a democratic society the choice of elected officials is properly the responsibility of the voters and not that of a small special interest group.

Similarly, an endorsement by a labor union for an election that will be immediately followed by labor negotiations carries with it the appearance of a conflict of interest. You state that, if I am reelected, "we hope for a good working relationship with you during the term of your office". Let me be clear, my responsibility as a Director of the Fire District is to serve the citizens of the District; labor relations are, quite properly, the responsibility of the Fire Chief.

I am confident that the voters will share the view expressed in the letter from District 10 which stated that my " leadership in these areas (US&R Team, our CERT program, the implementation of an improved District Sprinkler Ordinance) as well as your candidness regarding the Educational Revenue Augmentation Fund (ERAF) has guided the District with professionalism, conviction and clarity through rough times".

Sincerely yours,

1 Larch Drive, Atherton, CA 94027-2125

650/323-1162