South Lake Tahoe City Council candidates answer the questions

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There are eleven people vying for a spot on the city council in South Lake Tahoe. With only three open spots, it is not easy to narrow down the choices.

South Tahoe Now reached out to all 11 candidates and received replies from just eight of them on two questions, and seven on the rest. Answers to those seven questions were not received from Cody Bass, Sherry Eddy, Nick Speal; and Brad Jacobson answered just the first two. Each day this week their answers will be posted. It will be different this election because of the crowded field and all answers to question number one will be posted on Monday, question two answers on Tuesday, and so on. The order will rotate each day.

Question #1: What are your qualifications for running for city council?

Tamara Wallace: I grew up in Tulare, Calif. where I learned the value of hard work. One of my first jobs was driving a tractor 12 hours a day on a farm. That work ethic has served me well. A few years later, I worked my way up to become the vice president of economic development for the Tulare Chamber of Commerce. I was twice nominated for Business and Professional Woman of the Year and was a Charter member of the Tulare Sunrise Rotary Club and President-Elect, before moving to South Lake Tahoe 23 years ago. I’m a Graduate of the U.S. Institute for Organizational Management at USD.

I became an active citizen as soon as I arrived in South Lake Tahoe. I am a past president of the Kiwanis Club of Lake Tahoe. Our family was the 2002 Kiwanis Family of the Year and the Foster Family of the Year in 2012. I have managed and marketed eight lodging properties In South Lake Tahoe. I was CEO of the South Tahoe Chamber of Commerce and served on the City of South Lake Tahoe Planning Commission from 2010 to 2014. I have volunteered in numerous school and community endeavors for church, children’s sports, music and theater groups among others in the community and county. I’ve spent my entire adult life being a community leader. I attended EVERY COUNCIL MEETING FOR 2+ YEARS before running for City Council. I was elected to South Lake Tahoe City Council in 2018 and served as mayor of the City of South Lake Tahoe in 2021 during the pandemic, dense smoke, and the Caldor fire evacuation. I currently serve on the boards of Clean Tahoe, the California Tahoe Conservancy, and am the chairperson of the Ambulance Joint Powers Authority, among others.

In addition to currently serving on the City Council, I work for the Presbyterian Church. My husband Duane and I own Wallace Business Services and have raised five children here, Ryan, Miles, Allyssa, Christopher, and Riley, as well as having foster parented. We have four grandchildren. That also qualifies me because I know and appreciate what it takes to raise a family here.

Kevin Brunner: My qualifications are that I am an active local and have worked as a community organizer for the Black Lives Matter movement and more. This has led me to develop rapport with the current council and city agencies to work on community-based solutions to issues.

David Jinkens: I have over 35 years experience as a city manager with management experience in all phases of municipal operations except electrical power generation. I served 8 years as city manager of South Lake Tahoe and have been a resident for 20 years. I have been active in the community as a past president of the Rotary Club of South Lake Tahoe. I am a former board member and legislative director and current member of the South Tahoe Chamber of Commerce. I participate on the City of South Lake Tahoe Multicultural Alliance, and I am proficient in the Spanish language. I am active in the League of California Cities, a former founding board member of the California Association for Local Economic Development, and I write a public policy newsletter on local, regional, state, and federal issues as a community advocate. I know the role of the city council is to set policy and staff carries out the policies (through the city manager). I care about all the people who live and work here, and I have no conflicts of interest in employment, investments, etc., that would cloud my judgment on city issues. I have a Master's Degree in Public Administration from UCLA with an emphasis in Urban Planning and a BA in Political Science from UC Berkeley with an emphasis in Latin American Studies. I earned a Certificate in Leadership Management from the University of Virginia.

Joby Cefalu: I am a lifetime resident of South Lake Tahoe. I have owned and operated multiple businesses for over 30 years. I spent two years on the City of South Lake Tahoe Planning Commission, two years on the City of South Lake Tahoe Parks and Recreation Commission, and eight years on the South Tahoe National Little League Board of which six I was the president. I have been a youth sports coach since the age of 18. Coached high school football and basketball for over 15 years including head freshman and JV basketball coach, assistant head varsity coach, and served as head basketball coach for seven years. During that time, I started Elevation Elite Youth Basketball Club for boys and girls in our community ages 6-18. Elevation Elite was a nonprofit that raised a great deal of money that was shared with all sports programs including art, music, and dance. I am currently serving my second year on the Tahoe Keys Property Owners Association Board through some of the most challenging times in the Keys, including lagoon water quality, drinking water, and management change.

Chantelle Schenning: I believe there are innate qualities and developed skills that position me as a unique candidate for city council. First, I am naturally curious, empathetic, hardworking, and collaborative. Growing up in a large, blue-collar family, you have to be!

Throughout my 15-year healthcare career, I've developed many skills such as systems-thinking (i.e. the ability to see the complex, big picture and the many details), operations management expertise, and strategic leadership. Through my Ph.D., I have built skills to quickly gather information, understand themes/issues, and develop data-driven conclusions. This is critical expertise for gathering and understanding community input and analyzing city data to guide decision-making of the city council. In addition, it isn't a secret that I am a newer resident of our city. I don't think it should be overlooked by voters that I can provide a fresh lens on city council. Unlike some candidates and incumbents, I do not have any personal/ business agendas or deep relationships that would cloud my judgment. I'm dedicated to learning from the community and making data-informed decisions to bring common ground for the most common good. I am loyal, altruistic, and believe in utilitarianism theory (i.e. a view that the right action is the one that produces the most good). In the case of city council, the blend of loyalty, altruism, and utilitarianism means I will be loyal to our community and work hard on city council to arrive at the best conclusions that will result in the most good for our city. Lastly, we need to remember that women representation is needed at all levels of government now including our city.

Scott Robbins: Since making South Lake Tahoe my home, I’ve volunteered with the Warm Room, Search and Rescue, and Tahoe Neighborhoods Group, advocating for Measure T, eliminating vacation rentals in our neighborhoods. I’ve advocated and written extensively for affordable housing, lowering local taxes, and fully funding our fire department. Tahoe is the home I’ve made and the family I’ve chosen, and I believe in giving back to the places that give to us. I believe that local government should prioritize the needs of the local community. Professionally, I’ve spent the last twenty years in the national security field supporting the mission of our men and women in uniform.

Nicole Ramirez Thomas: My life and career provide the necessary perspective and breadth of experience that qualify me to run for a South Lake Tahoe City Council seat. I will tell you a little about myself here.

I grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where the primary economic engine for the city is tourism. Santa Fe is one of the oldest cities in the United States and is known for its arts and culture. My father is a Mexican immigrant. He and his family moved to Santa Fe when he was nine years old. In the late 1970s, and after he and my mother served in the US Army, they moved to Santa Fe to raise me and my brother.

I understand the economic realities that residents face. My father was a contractor and a small business owner in a city subject to the same economic ebbs and flows as South Lake Tahoe. I came of age working in restaurants and retail establishments in this same environment.

My love of history, culture, and community identity come from being raised in a multicultural setting. This led to my choice to study Anthropology. For the past 20 years, my post-college career has focused on cultural resource management. In these 20 years, I have worked for federal, state, and local governments, as well as the private sector, and, have helped with licensing, compliance, and entitlement for a variety of projects.

Over the last seven years, I have primarily worked for or with local governments. I have served city councils, boards, and committees as staff and have presented projects to them as an applicant under the consulting company I currently own and operate. I am well versed in local government policies and codes. I also have knowledge in how cities operate to serve the community and how city budgets work.

Setting policies that endure and consider equity, diversity, and maintain and promote a sense of place for the community are essential. Growing up in a bicultural household and a multicultural city have provided me with perspective on the need for inclusive and equitable policies at the local government level.

Brad Jacobson: I am running for city council because I feel that I will bring a fresh perspective, a renewed sense of energy, urgency, and accountability to the council and local government affairs – while, respectfully and dutifully maintaining the core concepts and principles that make SLT so uniquely special. How? First and foremost, by listening. Then, developing clear and concise plans, and fully executing those plans. Transparency builds trust. Results matter. Together, through honest and constructive conversation, we can identify the areas of necessary development, protection, and improved quality of life, while ushering SLT into the future. Progress is accomplishable without compromising who we are.

I’ve lived in mountain towns most of my adult life - I love and cherish the setting, activities, and all of the people that bring it to life. You’ll find me skiing, biking, running, hiking, camping, boating, walking my dog “Larry” and enjoying many of the same things and values that have brought us all to this incredible town.

I have a unique business background and acumen. I owned and operated a world-leading ice cream cone manufacturing company for nearly two decades. Our business was based in a small town in rural Iowa, and we had another facility in Mexico. We treated all of our employees as family - empowering them through self-directed work teams, sharing equity appreciation rights, and providing limitless opportunity for upward mobility - all accomplishable by inviting open and honest communication and collaboration, while always striving for continued improvement. This same modeling can be applied to local SLT matters.

We live in an ever-diversifying community made up of people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and economics. Those diversities are what make SLT so dynamic and unique. Though, it is critical to clearly understand how different experiences and opportunities can be for our fellow townspeople. We must be open-minded, and forward-thinking to properly engage with folks from every corner of the community, realize their needs and work together to improve all of our quality(s) of life. I believe I have the skillset and personality to champion these efforts.

I look forward to meeting all of you, sharing ideas, and ushering us into the future together. While never losing our authenticity.

Here are the websites and contact information for each of the eight candidates who answered the questions above (in alphabetical order):

Kevin Brunner - mrbrunner1212.wixsite.com/kevinbrunner4sltcity, kevinbrunner1991@gmail.com
Joby Cefalu - voteforjoby.com, jobycef@gmail.com
Brad Jacobson - bdjacobs2002@gmail.com
David Jinkens - www.david4slt.com, djinkens4council2022@gmail.com
Nicole Ramirez Thomas - nicoleforcouncil.com, nicole@nicoleforcouncil.com
Scott Robbins - www.scottforslt.com, scott@scottforslt.com
Chantelle Schenning - chantelle4citycouncil.com, chantelle4citycouncil@gmail.com
Tamara Wallace - www.facebook.com/wallace4sltcitycouncil/, wallace4sltcitycouncil@gmail.com