Moraga mayor will not seek re-election
By Lisa Vorderbrueggen
Monday, July 21st, 2008 at 12:07 pm in Contra Costa politics.
Moraga Mayor Lynda Deschambault announced over the weekend that she will not seek re-election.
In a press release, the mayor seems to be saying she has too many priorities and something has gotta give.
She may also have grown weary of fractured Moraga politics. Deschambault is a Green Party advocate in a relatively conservative town where party registration there just recently tipped slightly toward Democrats. The small town is mired in a controversy over a land-use ballot measures.
Read more for her press release.
=========PRESS RELEASE=========
July 19, 2008
Re: Mayor Lynda Deschambault announces that she will not seek re-election.
“When you love everything that you do, it is hard to choose which one to invest in” says Mayor Lynda Deschambault. “And it is harder still to decide which one to let go of. It’s with difficulty that I’ve decided not to run for re-election.”
With the candidate filing period opening today, interested candidates can file their intent to run for election until August 11th. Deschambault believes there are well qualified and interested residents, “it seems like the right time to volunteer in a different capacity. Moraga is loaded with talent and I’m sure capable individuals will step forward.”
Deschambault is an 18-year Moraga resident and no stranger to community service. She has served the Town of Moraga for 8 years in many capacities: “Lynda is one of those prime examples of volunteering in Moraga that we are very proud. Her work on the Moraga Youth Involvement, Parks and Recreation Commission and on the Town Council has demonstrated her devotion and un-exhaustible commitment to our community”, says former Mayor Mike Majchrzak who has dedicated more than 20 years of his own time. In past years, she also taught science at Moraga’s Los Perales elementary school, and visited Aegis regularly with her therapy pets.
Deschambault believes she has accomplished what she set out to do when she ran for Town Council. One of the things that motivated her to get more heavily involved was the need for a more open and transparent system that involved the public in the decision-making process. “I believe there has been a paradigm shift. Documents are now much more accessible to the public, the Town’s many community groups are respected and fully engaged in the town’s policy-making, and we rely less on closed meetings and ad hoc subcommittees”. Deschambault says she’ll continue to advocate for televising meetings, establishment of “norms & procedures,” and passage of a “sunshine ordinance” to ensure all meetings are open to the public.
Ellen Beans with the Moraga Citizens Network says; “Since Lynda has been in office there have been a lot of changes, allowing the community to be a lot more connected to town government. Agendas, minutes, the website, regular town criers and more, have all shifted the tone. The Town Council is now welcoming more public input”.
As a long-time advocate for environmental protection and open space, Deschambault is pleased with the protection of the Mulholland Ridge Open Space, excited about the town’s recent engagement in cost-saving energy efficiency opportunities, and happy with the compromise that was reached on the Palos Colorados development.
Former Mayor Cherie Grant says: “Lynda has provided enthusiastic and equitable leadership to the Town and has accomplished some wonderful things for our community. She has provided an opportunity for elected officials to engage in topics such as the long term sustainability of our community, and what type of legacy we want to leave for our children.”
With so many worthy projects, Deschambault has struggled with where best to focus her energies to ensure they have the most impact. She will focus on a broader county-wide effort. In keeping with her 2004 campaign message: “Preserving our past. Planning for our future”, she looks forward to upcoming project work on sustainability policies and best practices for Moraga along with the other 18 cities and Contra Costa County.
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July 21st, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Thank God
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Lynda will be missed. It has taken a lot of strength to stand up for her beliefs. Fortunately for Moraga, the state of California, and the world as a whole, Lynda is not the type of person to give up or sit back and relax. I know that she will continue to make people think and will continue to act on behalf of the environment and the human race.
I was pleased also to see that the State of California will be requiring Green Building standards. for all new construction starting in 2010. This includes Moraga of course.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-building18-2008jul18,0,2240874.story
And why would you not want a house that is more efficient, saving energy, money, etc?
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:51 pm
It is a great loss to the Town of Moraga. Unless you like closed door meetings etc, and developers calling their own shots.
Mayor Deschambault has brought change, integrity and open government to Moraga. She has championed open space and is a person that practices what she believes in. She was never afraid to stand her ground when the Town Council was 4 to 1 against her
Mayor Deschambault has been a breath of fresh air to the Town of Moraga. I wish her much success in her future.
July 22nd, 2008 at 3:17 pm
You have accomplished many improvements for Moraga in spite of what you have had to endure. I am sorry that you will not run for re-election but I can certainly understand why you would not want to return to the ugliness, vituperation and meanness toward you that began on the night you and Mike Metcalf were inaugurated. You have handled yourself with dignity and patience under the constant barrage of attacks from Council members and community members. I hope that you will keep working for projects that will make our world a better place in which to live and breathe. I wish you all the best.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Reading this article about Mayor Lynda Deshambault makes me proud on a number of levels. I am proud of her as a woman in a major leadership position. I am proud of the work she has done to bring democracy back alive in the Moraga community, taking it out of the hands of those who make profits by encouraging democracy to go to sleep. And even those her position is non-partisan, we are very proud of her as a Green living the beliefs of the Green Party. As a party that does not take donations from corporations or developers, we can act for the best of the people and the best for the earth. Bravo Lynda! Encore in another position!! Rev. Sandra Decker
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Lynda has motivated a lot of people in our community to become involved and stand up for change. I for one was very excited but also extremely apprehensive to speak before the Town Council. Lynda helped me see that one person truly can make a difference.
Thank you Lynda for sharing your time, dedication and stoic perseverance! Best wishes, you will be missed.
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:42 pm
I am saddened to learn that the Mayoress Deshambault will be stepping away from the center of hurly-burly politics in Moraga. Of course, she lacks the indomintable center of gravity that a political warlord might wield, and maybe that characteristic makes her more vulnerable to the onslaught of ugly behavior instinct in Moraga politics these days. However, it also, in my opinion, makes her all the more a part of the solution rather than a part of the problem. Her respect for others and determination to solve problems are elements needed in Moraga all too much.
Ever since I moved to the Lamorinda area almost 20 years ago, Moragans in general have had a reputation of caring for no one but themselves. Judging by the fratracidal tenor of recent political battles, they now don’t seem even to care much about themselves. Disrespect and entitled selfishness are almost de rigueur. Public displays of respect and unselfishness are greatly needed, I would say, and I do hope that Lynda is replaced by someone equally capable of such. More caring and wisdom are needed, less maneuvering and heavy-handedness.
~Jonathan Goodwin
Canyon, Calif.
July 22nd, 2008 at 7:18 pm
We are proud of the work Lynda has done on the Town Council and as Mayor of Moraga, and her decision not to run for re-election will leave a void. Even though her office was nonpartisan, she brought the Ten Key Values of the Green Party to her work.
While the Town will be poorer for her absence, another group will be richer for her presence in due course. I hope someone will step up to fill her shoes.
Christy Gale
County Councilmember/Treasurer
Green Party of Contra Costa
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:42 pm
The news that Mayor Deschambault will not be running again brings both sadness, in that the citizens of Moraga will no longer have her vision and considerable talent helping them go forward, and pride as a registered Green in what she has accomplished in the time she has been in office.
It is my hope that her example of what an honest, dedicated individual can do to change government for the better will inspire others to run for office and continue her work for the people.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:36 pm
I voted for Lynda because I respected her balanced platform. I became even more impressed with her at a specific moment: As a matter of course, I had submitted an e-mail favoring putting in a traffic light at Ascot and Moraga Rd because my daughter and I cross Moraga Rd on foot daily. A few days later I received a personal e-mail from the Mayor (Lynda) explaining where the process was and thanking me for my input.
I couldn’t believe the responsiveness and openness. As I’ve come to know her and her decision-making process a bit more, I admire her patience, wisdom and clarity. This is a loss for Moraga.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:39 pm
I am saddened by Mayor Deschambault’s decision, but have been delighted to observe that Lynda has proven that Greens can govern, and govern well. Therefore, my sadness is tempered — somewhat — with feelings of great admiration and pride.
Many thanks, Lynda!
Sharon Peterson
Councilmember
Green Party of Contra Costa County Council
http://www.coco.cagreens.org
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Time for Rochelle Bird to be Mayor!!