Marin Women's PAC Questionnaire

By Barbara Coler

Responses to Questionnaire

2. What is your stand on public funding for abortion and reproductive health care access? I believe that there should be public funding for abortion and reproductive health care access. 3. Do you support any legal restrictions on a woman's right to choose? NO.

2. If you support the concept of comparable worth, how will you implement it if elected to this office? Be specific. I am proud to currently be a Councilmember of Fairfax with our progressive politics and our leadership on social justice issues. The town of Fairfax adopted resolutions for payment of living wages for both Town staff and through its award of contracts (the latter was adopted in the late spring, 2013). In addition, we in the Council recently adjusted the pay and classification of one female staff person upwards in accordance with comparable worth goals. In keeping with these principles, if elected, I will work to identify other potential inequities, and if found, my objective will be to implement a program (within the parameters of the MOUs of the employee unions/groups) wherein the lower-paid group's (or staff person's) pay will be adjusted upwards and the pay of the higher-paid group (or staff person) will be allowed to grow more slowly than it would without a comparable worth system in place. During negotiations with employee unions/groups that serve Fairfax, comparable worth principles should be incorporated within MOUs. E. RAPE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. How would you address the issues of rape, assault and domestic violence if you are elected? Ensuring that our police force is able to appropriately respond to 911 calls for rape, assault and domestic violence (and has training to proactively identify situations of this nature). In addition, police and other Town staff should refer victims to the appropriate assistance agencies or advocacy groups to assist them beyond the initial criminal action response, e.g., Legal Aid, Marin Advocates for Children, Ritter House, Marin Abused Woman's Services (Center for Domestic Peace) so they can secure long protection and support in the long term. F. SEXUAL HARASSMENT 1. What does "sexual harassment" mean to you? Sexual harassment includes unwanted sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical harassment (touching, assault, impeding or blocking movements) of a sexual nature. It can include promises for promotion or other "perks" as a quid pro quo for sexual favors. It can also include offensive or derogatory remarks (slurs, epithets or jokes) about a person's sex, e.g., making offensive comments about women in general. It also includes leering, sexual gestures, displaying suggestive objects or pictures, cartoons or posters. The victim or the harasser can be either a woman or a man or be of the same sex. The frequency and/or severity of harassment can create a hostile work environment; in addition, adverse employment decisions (e.g., firing, demoting or transferring the victim) are examples of sexual harassment which are illegal. The harasser can be the victim's supervisor, a supervisor in another area, a co-worker, or someone who is not an employee of the employer, such as a client or customer.

2. What will you do to eliminate sexual harassment if elected? Ensuring we have prevention programs in place are our best tools: clearly communicating that Fairfax has zero tolerance for sexual harassment (including, but not limited to the definitions under Federal and State laws); providing sexual harassment training; establishing an effective internal complaint process; taking immediate steps and appropriate action when an employee complains; and monitoring to ensure that there are no opportunities for retaliation (and communicating a zero tolerance policy against retaliation) for persons filing complaints, and/or those testifying or participating in an investigation, proceeding or litigation. We must also provide the legal remedies and complaint process available through the California Department of Fair Employment & Housing (and directions on how to contact DFEH).
3. Which public or private programs do you feel have been most effective in addressing this issue? The Federal Title VII program, and the State of California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing laws, regulations, policies and programs for prevention and follow-up on sexual harassment claims. In my work for the State of California, I found that they had very effective programs in place.

G. GENDER BASED BUDGETING. Would you support investigating the annual budget review process in order to evaluate whether resources are proportionally allotted to women? Yes. H. ERA The Equal Rights Amendment states the "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State on account of sex". 1. Do you support the principles of the ERA? YES. 2. What have you done, or will you do, to promote the principles of the ERA? Equal pay and equal opportunities are key to promoting the principles of the ERA. In my years in State and Regional government, I have worked hard to provide equal opportunities for women for hiring, promotions and pay. At the State, I was responsible for promoting several women into management and higher level technical positions. I also actively recruited women to compete for many higher level positions. More recently, at the Air District, I promoted women to higher level supervisory and technical positions. Fortunately, at both the State and the Air District, pay levels have been equal for men and women in similar classifications.

As a Councilmember, I continue to support and promote the principles of the ERA. Recently we promoted a female staff member to a higher classification with higher pay to ensure comparable pay in line with a male staff person with a similar level of responsibilities. We do have very few staff working directly for the Town, however, to the extent that positions become available, I will work to ensure we provide equal opportunities for women to compete for these positions, and upon hiring, to provide equal pay. PART II. CAMPAIGN ISSUES 1. What do you see as the major issues in this campaign? Protecting our Ridgelines and Open Space + Fairfax is defined by its vast open space and beautiful ridgelines. We must protect our open space, our ridgelines, wildlife corridors, ecology and the visual landscape. We must preserve and protect our biological and cultural resources. We must prevent any development or construction on our ridgelines and open space or any projects which could mar or otherwise impact our visual landscape. We will continue to acquire open space and preserve our existing open space for our Town. Living within our Budget + To do so, we will: seek opportunities to increase revenue while preserving our small town qualities by attracting businesses which complement and enhance existing businesses; identify and obtain grant funding; and increase revenue without overburdening residents. We should reduce revenue expenditures only when we are assured services will not be negatively impacted. My highest priority is ensuring we achieve long term economic vitality and that we provide high quality, locally-controlled public services to all Fairfaxians. Maintaining and Improving our Aging Infrastructure + We can achieve this goal by implementing critical disaster and other hazard mitigation projects in the near term. Ensuring that we have adequate lighting, roads, pedestrian walkways and other projects conducted which may pose safety concerns for our residents. We must proactively plan for the future by identifying needed public works projects, funding and grant opportunities. Supporting and Enhancing our Environmental Sustainability Ethics + We can achieve this by preserving and acquiring open space, providing biking and adequate pedestrian trails and promoting other low carbon modes of transport (telecommuting, encouraging use of internet tools, buses and other non-single occupant commuting). We must adopt a climate change plan and promote zero waste by living by our motto "reduce, recycle & reuse." Preserving the Uniqueness and Small Town Qualities of Fairfax while ensuring we have Adequate Housing + We must protect our existing cost-effective housing stock and seek opportunities to add additional appropriately scaled units. We must ensure that we have adequate housing for young families, seniors and our workforce which can be achieved using approaches which do not change the character and look and feel of our Town. We can do this allowing grandfathering of existing second units, approving low scale multi-unit smaller complexes, and utilizing other infill approaches, all within our local control.

1a. What question would you most like to have answered by your fellow candidates? Q. How will you ensure that Fairfax can maintain and improve our aging infrastructure? 2. What qualities or experience make you particularly qualified for this office? I am a scientist with a long term commitment to protection of public health and the environment. I have Bachelor's and Master's degrees in biological sciences. I have decades of public service + I formerly lead statewide hazardous waste site cleanup and permitting programs for Cal/EPA (Department of Toxic Substances Control, DTSC) and I currently enforce air quality laws and regulations for the nine Bay Area counties for the BAAQMD - Air District. I am also involved in major climate change initiatives for the District and the state. I have drafted and negotiated numerous types of legislation for statewide programs. I testified in Congress (Senate EQ Committee) on behalf of the then Governor and the National Governor's Association for 2 days on "Superfund" matters. I have lived 24 years in Marin County with 17+ in Fairfax. Prior to my Council appointment, I served on both the Fairfax Planning Commission and the Open Space Committee. My education, and my many years of public service with state and local government has given me not only a good understanding of how government works, but also the ability to understand what doesn't work and how to get things done. For the last several years, I have also volunteered as an election poll officer, as a Chief Inspector for 2 precincts in Fairfax. 3. Whom do you consider your base of support and why? Environmentalists, social justice advocates, community advocates, women and some local business owners. I believe my gender and background, my environmental and social justice ethics appeal to these groups. Additionally, my work on the Planning Commission and my more recent service on the Council have demonstrated my commitment and sense of fairness for businesses and projects that fit within the small town character and qualities of Fairfax while I was able to find equitable and fair solutions to complex problems.

4. What is your projected campaign budget? $13,000 5. If endorsed/recommended by MWPAC, will you use this in your campaign literature? YES. Please attach a list of your endorsements, both groups and individuals. See attachment.