Alameda is at a crossroads. Our leaders must make crucial decisions with far-reaching consequences on:
- Housing supply, affordability and homelessness,
- Traffic and transportation,
- Climate change and sea level rise,
- A sustainable city budget.
To address these challenges our city needs a Mayor who takes leadership seriously. Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft is the kind of hard-working, forward-thinking leader Alameda needs.
As your Council Member, she has proven to be an effective consensus-builder who makes decisions with the best interests of our city in mind. Her depth of experience and focus on solving problems has helped:
- Stabilize housing costs,
- Prevent displacement of residents,
- Improve transit opportunities,
- Increase parks and open space,
- Initiate long-awaited renovation at Alameda Point.
But more needs to be done to continue to meet the challenges Alameda is facing.
Too many Alameda families are struggling to pay for housing. Rising costs are driving seniors and young people from our city. New leadership is needed to create jobs and housing for people at all income levels and better transit opportunities for residents and commuters. With Marilyn as our Mayor, Alameda will be represented by someone who knows how to get results.
As Mayor, Marilyn would provide the dignity and dedication the office requires. During her 16 years of community service and leadership, followed by her service on the City Council since 2012, Marilyn has demonstrated a thorough understanding of critical issues and a deep commitment to Alameda.
As a Planning Board Member for 6 years, including 2 years as Board President, Marilyn helped stimulate economic growth and bring high quality jobs and sustainable development to Alameda. On the Alameda Hospital Board of Directors, she worked to support patients and staff, improve healthcare outcomes, and achieve a balanced budget. Marilyn also served on the Economic Development Commission, volunteered in our schools, and chaired successful campaigns to build the Main Library and keep Alameda Hospital open.
Marilyn grew up in Alameda and graduated from our public schools — Edison, Lincoln and Alameda High. She and her husband, Howard Ashcraft, are the proud parents of 26 year-old twins who were raised in Alameda.
Marilyn currently serves on the League of California Cities statewide policy committee on Housing, Community and Economic Development and represents Alameda on the AC Transit -Alameda Liaison Committee, Alameda Unified School District - City of Alameda Subcommittee, and the Executive Board to the League of California Cities East Bay Division.
In her work as a professional arbitrator, helping individuals and businesses resolve disputes, Marilyn listens carefully to each party to understand their viewpoint and achieve an equitable outcome. She demonstrates these same qualities on the City Council as she makes decisions that are fair, balanced and in the best interest of our city and the people who call Alameda home.
Alameda residents and businesses expect and deserve a Mayor people can trust - a strong, principled, independent leader who will promote ethical city government, and ensure that Alameda remains a vibrant, livable community. Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft is that leader.