It is election season in San Mateo. Time to use the ballot box to save our San Mateo ice rink! As you are aware, the San Mateo City Council will ultimately determine whether SPI Holdings LLC of San Francisco will be able to move forward with its plan to demolish the rink. Thus, it is enormously important for voters to understand the Council candidates' positions and plans if they are elected. A General Municipal Election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2015 for the purpose of electing three Council members. They will fill the offices now held by Jack Matthews and Maureen Freschet to serve 4-year terms, and the office now held by Rick Bonilla to serve a 2-year term, all commencing December 7, 2015. Four candidates are running for the two 4-year slots: Maureen Freschet, Thomas Morgan, Diane Papan, and Karen Schmidt. Rick Bonilla is running unopposed for the 2-year slot. To help you with your decision making, we have asked all City Council candidates to write a statement to rink supporters, detailing what they will do upon taking office. We suggested that the candidates address the following questions: - What specific actions will you take to ensure that there is an operational ice rink in San Mateo? - Do you believe that SPI is acting in good faith, having closed the rink without having approval on alternatives uses for the property? - Do you believe that there are sufficient recreational opportunities for children and adults given the increase in housing stock? - For current officeholders - What have you done to save the rink? Why is the rink still closed? - For potential officeholders - What do you think about the actions of the current Council in attempting to save the rink? What would you do differently? We will be forwarding the candidates' responses as we receive them. We will not be editing them or providing immediate commentary. In the meantime, you can help save the rink by registering to vote: https://www.shapethefuture.org/registertovote/. The voter registration deadline is October 19 for this election. If you are already registered, please keep an eye on your mail for your ballot, which was mailed on October 5. Here is more information on how to vote by mail: https://www.shapethefuture.org/votingoptions/votebymail/myballot/#votemyballot. Voting in person is also possible, although locations are limited as the State is encouraging voting by mail: https://www.shapethefuture.org/elections/2015/nov_mailedballot/upp/ Thanks again for your support of the rink and don't forget to vote by Election Day, November 3. Sincerely, Mike Swire & the Committee to Save the San Mateo Ice Rink