BY NORAH SHEPPARD-HUTCHINS
Daily Post Staff Writer
A lone challenger is running against three incumbents on the San Carlos City Council, saying the city needs more financial discipline.
Meanwhile, the three incumbents, Adam Rak, Pranita Venkatesh and Sara McDowell say they want to continue improving the city’s downtown.
Newcomer Mark Iwanowski, 70, was a chief information officer at Oracle, where he said he helped save over $1 billion by combining 95 regional data centers into one global center. He volunteers as a mentor for veterans who want to go into business, and also mentors startup businesses.
“San Carlos does not have a revenue problem, it has a fiscal discipline problem,” Iwanowski said in a questionnaire from the Post.
He intends to bring his decades of finance experience to help the city cut back on wasteful spending, such as the reconstruction at Harrington Park.
Measure G, a proposed half-cent sales tax on the November ballot, would help the city generate $6 million annually to fund projects, including downtown revitalization. However, Iwanowski said the city has not done a proper cost-benefit analysis on the downtown plans and needs feedback from people most affected, such as business owners.
“I have offered much lower cost alternatives that have so far been ignored, Iwanowski said in a questionnaire.
Rak, 55, has served on council since 2018 and works for a Massachusetts-based technology-focused management company.
Rak was on the San Carlos School Board, San Carlos Chamber of Commerce and was a congressional aide on Capitol Hill for six years.
“Many of the decisions that affect San Carlos, from transportation funding to shoreline protection, are made at the regional, state, and federal levels. I know how to work at those levels and bring results home,” Rak said in a questionnaire from the Post.
Rak’s top priorities include supporting more housing, improving parks and improving infrastructure.
Rak said he supports the plan to revitalize downtown, and believes it will bring real benefits to San Carlos. “The downtown plan came out of years of work, dozens of public meet-ings, and significant community input,” Rak said in a questionnaire.
Rak endorsed Measure G, and said although nobody likes taxes, it’s necessary to protect local services. “Measure G also keeps this revenue local. Most cities in San Mateo County have their own local sales tax, but San Carlos does not. Measure G ensures these dollars are controlled locally and spent on San Carlos services,” Rak said in a questionnaire.
Venkatesh, 59, has served on council since 2022 and is the current mayor. She said her experience as an educator, small-business owner, mother and immigrant has helped shape her into the leader she is today.
“My top priority is protecting San Carlos’s quality of life. That means strong public safety, responsible financial manage-ment, well-maintained streets and infrastructure, thoughtful growth, thriving local businesses, and protecting the parks and community spaces that make San Carlos special,” Venkatesh said in a questionnaire.
Venkatesh said the city has a long-term infrastructure problem, and supports Measure G to fix the issue.
“I want a downtown that is safer and more inviting for pedestrians, supports our small businesses, creates welcoming gathering spaces and remains accessible for families, seniors and people who need convenient parking,” Venkatesh said in a questionnaire.
Venkatesh said ensuring transparency and accountability on how additional revenue from the tax is spent is a priority for her.
McDowell, 49, has been on council since 2018 and has experience on the federal level, working for the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington, D.C., for nearly five years.
“I want to continue putting my experience in gov- ernment and public policy to work for San Carlos, serving as a strong voice for our community and taking a proactive, pragmatic approach to today’s needs while preparing to meet the challenges ahead,” McDowell said in a questionnaire.
McDowell said she is proud of San Carlos’ downtown revitalization plans.
“The plans are based on three years of outreach, including more than 30 public meetings and feedback opportunities with residents and businesses alike, and our community was clear that it wanted the 700 block of Laurel Street to remain (closed to cars),” McDowell said in a questionnaire.
McDowell supports Measure G because every dollar will stay in San Carlos and audits will show residents how the funds are spent.
“As a council, we have consistently passed a balanced budget, and maintaining fiscal responsibility is a priority of mine. Even so, San Carlos needs new, reliable local funding,” McDowell said in a questionnaire.
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