Bruce Ackerman (Fairfax Town Council At-large, California, candidate 2024)

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Bruce Ackerman

Nonpartisan

Candidate, Fairfax Town Council At-large

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Personal

Profession

Engineering consultant

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Instagram

Personal LinkedIn

Bruce Ackerman ran for re-election to the Fairfax Town Council At-large in California. He was on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2024.^[source]

Ackerman completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Bruce Ackerman provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on October 10, 2024:

• Gender: Male
• Profession: Engineering Consultant
• Incumbent officeholder: Yes
• Campaign website
• Campaign endorsements

Elections

General election

General election for Fairfax Town Council At-large (7 seats)

The following candidates ran in the general election for Fairfax Town Council At-large on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Bruce Ackerman (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Barbara Coler (Nonpartisan)
		Chance Cutrano (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Frank Egger (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Michael Ghiringhelli (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Doug Kelly (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Cindy Swift (Nonpartisan)

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Endorsements

To view Ackerman's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Ackerman in this election.

Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Bruce Ackerman completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Ackerman's responses.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I have ben involved with Fairfax for two decades, beginning with the General Plan Advisory Committee (chair), serving on the Planning Commission, the Climate Action Committee (chair), and seven years on Town Council, one as Mayor.

Professionally I am an engineer, and bring this experience to town and county issues. My wife is a health care provider and community midwife, and my daughter farms organic vegetables; again these connections allow me a broad perspective.

More on my biography can be found on the campaign website, bruceackermanforfairfax.com

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• This election is largely about whether Fairfax will be able to rise above the misinformation and divisiveness that a few have brought to every Council meeting. My first priority is to do just that. As the election approaches I focus on walking the Town, as I did in 2017, listening and talking with people about issues. If I miss you at your door, I would still be happy to talk.
• As a scientist/engineer, I see the paramount importance of addressing our changing climate, and have been honored to do much work on this throughout the county, with Marin Clean Energy (MCE), Resilient Neighborhoods, our Climate Action Committee, and the many nonprofits in the county and beyond. One specific project of note is my work to make the Fairfax Pavilion a model of how the building can be powered cleanly during grid outages, so we can use it as a resilience center (my website gives more detail on this innovative project, which other jurisdictions are watching with interest).
• With what I have learned about the Planning landscape in Fairfax, having worked with every planning director for years, it is my priority to support housing, as much of it affordable as possible. Sixty thousand people drive into Marin each day to work here - teachers, firefighters, police, even our town staff - because they cannot find or afford housing here. This leads to traffic and parking, massive greenhouse gas emissions and pollution, and a diminished quality of life for so many. We've seen our community drained of so many of the artists, musicians and volunteers that make or town wonderful - because they simply cannot afford to live here.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

The energy transition, as we quickly move from an extractive to a truly sustainable and just economy. And planning, which is what broadly supports this and other goals as we live in this beautiful area.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

Working in our local community is a pleasure because we can actually talk directly.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Being kind, decent, honest, and truly motivated by public service - while studying the issues and continually learning.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The arms race, requiring us to practice hiding under our desks (great way to survive a nuclear war). And the moon landing.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

VERY first job? Paperboy in a very cold town in Ohio!

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

As Council members, we represent the Town on many powerful boards and commissions. For example I work with Marin Clean Energy (MCE), with the Marin/Sonoma Mosquito & Vector Control District, and with Flood Zone 9.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

It does take time to learn how things work and be effective, and the issues are quite complex. Our excellent staff is invaluable in understanding the legal, financial and technical landscape for our decisions.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

The Sierra Club, Marin Independent Journal, Marin Firefighters, 350.org Action, Marin County Young Democrats, North Bay Labor Council -- and local officeholders, leaders and citizens. See my website for more.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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