By David Rolland
Bolinas resident Stephen Simac, a candidate for Bolinas Public Utility District, last week positioned himself as a distinct alternative to the two incumbents he is challenging in Tuesday's election.

During a candidates' forum at the BPUD building, Simac differed greatly from incumbents Vic Amoroso and Jenny Pfeiffer on issues such as taxes, storm drainage, and the role of the utility district in solving town problems.

Simac, who supports himself with a variety of jobs including writing for The Coastal Post, claimed the BPUD board is unresponsive to views different from their own.

Citing a meeting on the Big Mesa's drainage and septic problems, Simac said the board was impolite to him and other townspeople and was unwilling to listen to their ideas.

"I've never been treated like that [before]," Simac said. "I've never treated anybody like that. I was interrupted, and I was never heard." The meeting prompted Simac to run for a BPUD seat, he told a crowd of 30 Bolinas residents.

However, Simac added, if he were elected, he would be "willing to make enemies by standing firm. I can live with that."

Simac, a Bolinas resident since 1985, said he doesn't like the way Bolinas seems to be changing. He complained specifically about people migrating who live in Bolinas but work and shop elsewhere.

Simac rejected BPUD's assumption that saturated soil on the Big Mesa is causing many septic systems to fail and that improving drainage neighborhood-by-neighborhood will help solve the problem.

The challenger promised to fight any attempts to tax Bolinas residents further by creating special assessment districts to maintain roads, septic systems, or drainage ways.

Incumbents Amoroso and Pfeiffer meanwhile agreed on most issues. Both vowed to help complete tasks such as the Safe Drinking Water Project and various chipping, mulching, and recycling programs.

Pfeiffer, a woodshop teacher and girls soccer coach, is seeking her second full BPUD term. Amoroso, who owns and operates Bolinas' Grand Hotel, has been on the board since 1981.

The incumbents, who make up BPUD's Finance Committee, said they would support formation of assessment districts for specific improvements if townspeople agree to tax themselves.

Amoroso said maintenance of roads and drainage may not require new taxes, adding he is less convinced that septic system problems on the Mesa can be fixed without a septic district, which he called a "long-range goal." Amoroso is the only current director not living on the Mesa.

Pfieffer said she would like to try creating a work program for property owners unable to pay more taxes.

Each candidate was asked if they would make a pledge not to vote for any new taxes that fall outside of BPUD's central jurisdiction - roads, water, and sewage - without a vote of townspeople.

Pfeiffer agreed to the pledge, saying she supports soliciting views from the community. Amoroso could not make the pledge, adding that he might agree to small taxes without popular votes.

Simac took the pledge and said taxing people for services other than sewer and water should require a two-thirds majority vote.

Pfeiffer also pledged her support for a community swimming pool, and said she wants the town to continue its efforts to create an affordable housing project.

"I think legalizing second units is a very important question here," she said. "It's a powerful issue, and I think we need to address it."

Pfeiffer, an avowed women's-rights advocate, drew laughs when she said she initially ran for BPUD to create "a less testicular board and more of an ovarian board." She added, however, that her candidacy this time is less gender-based.

All candidates said they tend to look the other way when it comes to illegal living situations, as long as people aren't creating health hazards or angering neighbors.

"I have no problem with living situations if you can get away with it," Amoroso said, "and the way you get away with it is by taking care of your neighbors."

Pfeiffer acknowledged her "anarchist side" says people should be able to live on tiny lots. However, she added, Bolinas may be too small a town to be built out completely with neighbors crowded together.

The incumbents' comments referred in part to a controversy between Simac and his neighbors that blew up during the candidates forum. See accompanying story.

Simac said BPUD should not be an arena where neighbors go to settle disputes while Amoroso and Pfeiffer agreed that townspeople should feel welcome to air their gripes and concerns at district meetings.

"It is a place where neighbors can come and talk about their issue," Amoroso said. "It's the only place you can go before you go to the county."