Clayton City Council candidate questions: Frank Gavidia
The Concord Clayton Pioneer newspaper presented a list of questions to the candidates running for Clayton City Council in the 2020 election. To read other candidate answers, click here. For our story on all the candidates running in this race, click here.
Frank Gavidia
Why are you running for the city council? The people of Clayton and their interests have not been well represented over the past several years. What they want, and what the city wants have been very far apart on some key issues. I am running to better represent all citizens of Clayton. Over the past year, I have been approached by many Clayton citizens who have urged me to run. These citizens feel as if their voices don’t matter.
What are your professional/personal qualifications? Professionally, I run a small business that helps people manage their wealth and plan for retirement. I am a former United States Marine with strong leadership skills.
How long have you been a resident? I have lived in Clayton since the year 2000. I have lived in this wonderful town for 20 years.
What other civic positions have you held? I am currently serving my second term on the Clayton Planning Commission, I am a member of the Mount Diablo Soccer Association Board, and also a coach.
What experience do you have that qualifies you for the city council? Since becoming involved in 2018, I have become acutely knowledgeable about our city government as well as the overreach by Sacramento into local issues. I have served on the Planning Commission through one of the most controversial projects in Clayton since the gas station.
Do you believe Clayton has a problem with racism that needs to be addressed? If so, how would you address the issue? Racism is an issue that is complicated. My parents are from Central America. I am a person of color and first generation American. The Bay Area was much different when I was younger. Growing up Hispanic I have dealt with racism in many forms. We were the only Spanish speaking family at the last grade school I attended. In high school, it was common to have fights sparked over kids calling each other all kinds of racial slurs. Over the years, things have improved and I have seen less and less racism. I have lived in Clayton for 20 years and many of my friends are also Hispanic. We speak Spanish out in public and I have never experienced anything like I did when I was younger. I am concerned that issues of race that I have dealt with my entire life may be hijacked out of political convenience. One thing that recently disturbed me is when a citizen stated that Council Member Diaz, who is also Hispanic, was not worthy to be on the Public Safety Committee. What they inferred was that although Council Member Diaz is Hispanic, because he had been police officer, that he would never question anything done by police. In other words, Council Member Diaz is no longer a person of color. Council Member Diaz grew up in an era when Hispanics, in particular Mexican Americans did not teach their kids to speak Spanish for fear of not fitting in. Did anyone stop to ask what it was like for him? I am deeply concerned that the discussions around race are actually window dressing, more virtue signaling than actual caring about people of color. There is not one sole view from people of color when it comes to addressing issues of race and racial justice. Disagreement does not equal racism and it’s unfortunate that so many are willing to label others as racist in order to shut down discussion.
Before George Floyd, and before the issue with Canesa, where were all these politicians and candidates on race? I have sat through two webinars from Clayton Speaks. Both were notably void of any Hispanics. Hispanics constitute just under 11% of Clayton’s population yet were not included. Many use the word inclusivity in their dialogue. But it seems to me that you are included only if you agree with them. Diversity and inclusion is more than just skin deep. It’s about respecting people’s differences, and understanding where there may be common ground. Diversity of thought and ideas is just as valuable as understanding that we are all really just one race. This is how the problem gets solved. Racism is wrong, I agree with that statement 100%. But calling someone you disagree with a racist or virtue signaling by claiming you are inclusive doesn’t help solve the problem.
The governor has made the housing crisis a number one priority for the state. Cities are being mandated to provide more housing units than has been required in the past and it’s likely yet even denser housing plans will be required in the future. How should Clayton address these mandates? First, this question rests on a faulty premise. Cities are not mandated to provide housing units. Cities are required to zone for housing units. This is a critical point and it should not be misstated. First, we should comply with the law. In areas that are clear, there are little options. But the law is not always clear, that’s why there are so many lawyers! In those areas that are grey, we should do what is most advantageous for Clayton residents.
Clayton needs to do a better job letting Sacramento and the Governor know that one size does not fit all! I have been living in Clayton for 20 years. Past city councils have stated repeatedly that Clayton is 98% built out. The solutions coming from Sacramento from folks like State Senator Scott Wiener are that we eliminate single family residence zoning altogether and allow duplexes and four-plexes, and if we listen to Scott Wiener, 10 story buildings to appear all over Clayton. We are not near public mass transit nor are we a job center. For too long, the City Council makes statements such as we must “smartly” implement what Sacramento decrees (in other words obey Scott Wiener!) and we must only issue “constructive” criticism as opposed to openly telling Sacramento how it is we really feel. I don’t think what we’ve been doing has been working.
We need to band together with other cities similarly situated. Places like Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda have all banded together to increase their influence. Pleasanton, Danville, and San Ramon have done so as well. Why hasn’t Clayton? We need to leverage our numbers and speak clearly with a unified voice. Waffling or giving tepid resistance only empowers people in Sacramento to keep doing what they are doing. If we keep doing the same thing, we’re going to keep getting the same result.
Clayton has historically been very fiscally conservative with a limited budget. What are your spending priorities in keeping with a commitment to a balanced budget? Fiscal conservative is a new term this election cycle. Suddenly everyone claims to be a fiscal conservative. In other words, let’s never spend a dime to keep the gem’s character ever! Also, let’s not spend of the tax payer’s hard earned dollars on things like Clayton Community Park, or anything else for that matter. These funds belong to the taxpayers, not City Council members. Before deciding what to do with taxpayer’s funds, I think anyone serving on the City Council should listen to the public to see what they want.
What do you see as the single biggest challenge for the city going into 2021? The single greatest challenge for Clayton in 2021 and every year going forward is State Senator Scott Wiener who has openly declared war on single family residences and small cities like Clayton.
What is your vision for Clayton in the next 4 years? Long term? Over the next 4 years, I would like to end the division in Clayton. I would like to revisit our General Plan and our Town Specific Plan. And more than anything, I want to ensure that these plans preserve the character of this small town. Over the long term, Clayton as many cities will be dealing with an aging population that may be looking to leave the state. More and more of my neighbors are leaving California. Economically, California and Clayton will need to address this because the level of growth our state has seen cannot continue forever. We never want to see Clayton suffer economically.
What role will you play in realizing that vision? I will work tirelessly to get the City Council to revisit the Town Center Specific Plan.