The Altadena Library District election is Tuesday, November 5. There are three candidates vying for two seats on the Board of Trustees, and Altadenablog is presenting profiles of the candidates in their own words. Part I , Steven S. Lamb, is here. Part 3, David Tuck, will appear Friday.
Find your polling place by going to lavote.net.
Candidate: Meredith McKenzie, 60, College Professor, Cal Poly Pomona & Realtor, Podley Properties
Years Altadena Resident: Three years
What are the challenges that the library district will face in the coming years?
The Altadena Library District faces three major challenges in the years ahead: sustained revenue flow and financial management for sound fiscal accountability, disability accessibility to Library facilities to ensure access for all, and expansion of Library services to meet the changing needs of our community, especially in the areas of technology.
What do you bring to the table to meet those challenges?
As a newer Altadena resident, I bring ‘fresh eyes’ in looking at Library issues and strategic planning. I have significant community and non-profit leadership experience, having served as Secretary of the Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council and as a Trustee on the Pasadena Community Access Corporation Board, among others. (PCAC televises the Altadena Town Council Meetings.)
As a Cal Poly urban planning professor, I have been very active in local Altadena environmental efforts, especially related to Arroyo Seco stream restoration and water conservation projects and, as a local Realtor, I have helped many new families make Altadena their home. I am also a local equestrian and can often be seen riding my buckskin, Lobo, down Loma Alta Drive. These activities inform my broad perspective on Altadena community concerns. I have excellent communication skills and interact regularly with Altadena’s terrific, diverse population.
I am known as a positive collaborator who is able to bring a diverse coalition of stakeholders to consensus on issues facing our community. Most importantly, I have an excellent track record in organizational fund development, including successful grant-writing, event planning, and donor/membership campaigns. I believe these are critical skills that will help our Library in this time of economic uncertainty.
I look forward to having the opportunity to serve our community as an elected Altadena Library District Board Trustee.
Candidate’s Statement
The Altadena Library serves as the heart of Altadena’s civic and cultural life. Many residents do not realize that the Altadena Library District is not part of the Los Angeles County Library System. This means our Library is community-owned. Thus, the Board of Trustees has an important fiduciary role in assuring that the tax revenues that support our Library District are well-spent.
I am a candidate for the Altadena Library Board of Trustees because I believe that free access to books, learning, technology and related community services is vital for strong communities and a strong democracy.
While the Altadena Library is currently well-managed, we face challenges in the years ahead: providing for disability access, expanding library services, including our vital literacy program, and continued solid financial management.
I am an Altadena resident whose diverse life experience helps me bring many critical leadership skills to our Library: a college professor who knows that access to libraries fosters lifelong learning; a Realtor who understands that a local library makes Altadena a desirable place to live; an environmental activist who believes that education is key to protecting the natural beauty that makes Altadena so special. I am known as a consensus-builder and take an inclusive, collaborative approach to problem-solving. You can learn more about me at www.smartvoter.org/vote/mckenzie.
As your new Altadena Library Trustee, I pledge my commitment to help our Library thrive as our top community resource.
Campaign Office: 626-696-3824
Email: meredithforaltadenalibrary@gmail.com
www/smartvoter.org/vote/mckenzie
