City and Town Council Endorsements
November 5, 2024
Fairfax Town Council
Barbara Coler - Fairfax Town Council
Barbara Coler is an incumbent on the Fairfax Town Council serving the last 11 years and as Mayor in 2015, 2019 and currently 2024 (Vice Mayor in 2018 & 2023). She was appointed May 2013, elected November 2013, reelected in 2017 and 2020. She is a scientist with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in biological sciences. She serves on several important Boards and Commissions as the Town’s representative.
Barbara is committed to protection of public health and the environment – with 20+ years running statewide hazardous waste site cleanup/permitting for Cal/EPA and 5 years enforcing air quality regulations for the Bay Area Air District. As a consultant, she was Administrator of a significant climate change program for the 35 California Air Districts for several years.
Website: https://www.barbaracoler.org/
Chance Cutrano - Fairfax Town Council
Chance Cutrano is an elected Councilmember and former Mayor of Fairfax, California. His leadership spans transportation infrastructure, housing affordability, and emergency preparedness. Chance represents Fairfax as a regional transportation commissioner at the Transportation Authority of Marin, director of Ross Valley Fire Department and Marin's Emergency Radio Authority, and co-chairs a countywide homelessness committee.
Professionally, Chance directs programs at the Resource Renewal Institute, leading national environmental campaigns on land conservation, biodiversity restoration, and climate action. His work has earned regional and national awards in agricultural sustainability and conservation leadership.
Chance holds a BA in Philosophy and Political Science and a Master's in Public Administration focused on Sustainable Management. He serves on the boards of the Sierra Club's SF Bay Chapter and International Rivers.
Website: https://www.chanceforfairfax.org/
Mill Valley City Council
Caroline Joachim - Mill Valley City Council **
Caroline Joachim serves on Mill Valley City Council, leveraging her legal background, balanced approach, and consensus-building skills to navigate complex issues and position Mill Valley for a stronger future. She has launched key initiatives fostering inclusive, accessible, and responsive city government: Neighborhood Chats, Live Well Mill Valley, and the Beautification Brigade. Caroline addresses critical challenges including affordable housing, environmental sustainability, and long-term city planning. A 20-year Mill Valley resident, she balances her roles as a community leader, practicing attorney, and mother, while volunteering with Marin Villages, St. Vincent de Paul, and Mill Valley Rotary Club. Caroline holds a J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law, where she served on Law Review, and a B.A. in Political Science from Wellesley College.
Urban Carmel - Mill Valley City Council **
Urban has been Mill Valley’s Mayor the past year and a Councilmember since 2020. He’s a former Chair of our Planning Commission and, as a Councilmember, led the development of our housing plan and new affordable housing. He’s served on the board of our Chamber of Commerce and led our efforts to keep downtown Mill Valley vital, especially during the pandemic. He’s an Executive Board Member on the countywide Transportation Authority of Marin that provides funding for our roads and bike/ped infrastructure. He’s led our sustainability actions, including the development of our Climate Action Plan. With a degree from Wharton, he’s led our efforts to create a long-range plan to keep Mill Valley financially strong. He’s led our efforts to ensure our infrastructure keeps our residents secure and is committee leader for Measure L. Mill Valley has an excellent but young Council; If re-elected, Urban would be the only Councilmember in his or her second term.
Novato City Council - District 1
Kevin Jacobs - Novato City Council - District 1 **
I am running for Novato City Council in District 1 because I believe this is a great opportunity to give back and serve our community. I have been actively attending City Council meetings for many years, which has provided me with a deep understanding of our city's history and the various issues that have been brought to the council's attention.
My experience and dedication to our community equip me to effectively address the challenges we face and advocate for solutions that benefit all residents. With my background in management and knowledge of the construction industry, I am prepared to put my skills to good use for the betterment of our city.
I am committed to working collaboratively with residents and fellow council members to ensure a vibrant, inclusive, and prosperous future for all of us in Novato.
San Anselmo Town Council
Chantel Walker - San Anselmo Town Council **
Chantel Walker is a small business owner, community volunteer, and experienced executive focused on policy and organizational administration. She has learned to listen to lead, solve problems, and build relationships that cultivate excellence. She has over 25 years of experience in government, philanthropy, and nonprofits as a foundation program officer, library system assistant director, human resources principal, community development division head, and housing development technical assistant provider. She has fostered intergovernmental collaborations and community conversations at the countywide, Ross Valley, and San Anselmo levels.
Chantel is the Board President of the Marin Forum, Vice President of Wednesday Morning Dialogue, Secretary of the Marin County Library Foundation, and a founding Board Member of both the Marin Environmental Housing Collaborative and the Marin Promise Partnership.
Website: www.Chantelforsannselmo.org
San Rafael Mayor
Kate Colin - San Rafael Mayor **
In 2020, Kate Colin became the first female elected as Mayor of San Rafael. She was previously a Councilmember for 7 years and a Planning Commissioner for 8 years. “Mayor Kate” recognizes the evolving role of local government and repositioned the City goals into four policy areas - economic growth, homelessness/housing, sustainability, and social justice. Mayor Kate is Chair of the San Rafael Sanitation Agency and represents San Rafael on TAM, SMART, BayWAVE and the BCDC Elected Official Task Force. She is a strong advocate for gun safety and participates in the Marin County District Attorney’s Gun Safety Collaborative.
Mayor Kate has an MBA from Kellogg at Northwestern University and a BA from Dartmouth College. She and her husband raised their now-adult children in San Rafael.
San Rafael City Council - Area 4
Rachel Kertz - San Rafael City Council. **
Sausalito City Council
Melissa Blaustein - Sausalito City Council **
Melissa Blaustein was first elected in 2020 and served as Sausalito’s youngest-ever Mayor in 2023. She is a Commissioner for TAM and was President of the MCCMMC in 2023/2024. Melissa previously served on the Sausalito Sustainability Commission, the Rotary Senior Housing Board, the General Plan Advisory Committee, the Sausalito Chamber of Commerce Board, and the Marin County-Wide Business DEI Task Force. She has worked at every level of government from the Obama White House to the UN to then-Mayor Gavin Newsom’s office and for former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Melissa has a BA from Cal, a MPA from Sciences Po in Paris, France, and is completing another Masters in Homeland Security at the Naval Postgraduate School. She is also a world record holding marathon swimmer.
Tiburon Town Council
Isaac Nikfar - Tiburon Town Council **
Isaac was first elected to the Tiburon Town Council 1 year ago and in that short time has championed efforts for the Parks Master Plan to improve Tiburon Parks and Open Spaces, Improve Traffic, Improve Safety (including pedestrian safety), Continue the great work of revitalizing Downtown Tiburon and Emergency Preparedness.
Prior to Town Council, Isaac served as a volunteer Parks Commissioner for the Town of Tiburon for over 7 years. In his role as Chair, he fought to eliminate the use of harmful pesticides and co-authored changes to the Town of Tiburon Integrated Pest Management Policy. Isaac also led the Parks Master Plan process which will set to improve Tiburon’s most precious shared resources (parks and open space).
Additionally, Isaac has served as the volunteer Athletic Director for St. Hilary CYO for the past 9 years, a sports program offering volleyball, basketball, and track & field programs to children (4-8th grades) from all income levels. Isaac also volunteers at Del Mar Middle School as a basketball and volleyball coach.
Isaac has worked in technology for over 20 years, the past 16 at Google where he led Business development efforts for Connected TV applications and most recently at Adobe.
Isaac is a Bay Area native, attending business school at San Francisco State University. He has lived in Tiburon for the past 12 years with his wife Jessica and their children (Victoria, Isaac, and Arianna).
Holli Thier - Tiburon Town Council **
Holli Thier moved to Tiburon in 2013. As a single mother of two small children, she was attracted by the welcoming and safe community, and Tiburon’s natural beauty.
Holli has served on the Tiburon Town Council since 2017 and is currently Vice Mayor. During her time as the town’s mayor in 2021, Holli nimbly steered Tiburon’s recovery and reopening after the unprecedented Covid pandemic years. Holli has gained a reputation for getting things done, solving problems, and always keeping her door open. She has delivered results and boasts a long list of accomplishments during her tenure.
Earlier in her career, Holli served as President of The League of Women Voters, on the Consumer Attorneys of California Board, and worked as a civil rights attorney. As a Deputy City Attorney in the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office, she helped keep neighborhoods safe.
Website: https://www.hollithier.com/