San Rafael Election: 3 Compete For Council District 4

SAN RAFAEL, CA — San Rafael is in the midst of its first district-based City Council election, and District 4 is the only post that has drawn multiple candidates.

Three candidates, John Gamblin, Rachel Kertz and Greg Knell are competing for the District 4 seat which encompasses the northwest region of the city, including Terra Linda, Smith Ranch and Mont Marin neighborhoods.

The Northgate mall, which has reportedly been struggling for some time, potential plans for Costco to move into an old Sears building, and supporting business that have struggled or closed down during the COVID-19 pandemic are among the top priorities for the candidates and their platforms.

Knell, 71, is a graphic designer who runs a printing business and has also been a trustee for San Rafael City Schools for 17 years. He opposes opening a Costco, and wants to transform the Northgate mall.

READ MORE: Candidate Profile: Greg Knell For San Rafael City Council

"We must have a town center that includes affordable housing which is the model for malls that are now profitable and will be into the future," Knell told Patch in early October. "I also will promote equity in government as a leader in equity in education, as a small business owner."

Kertz, 53, also a San Rafael Board of Education trustee, has built her platform on the challenges San Rafael has faced during the months of the COVID-19 pandemic. If elected, she says she intends to work with businesses on safely reopening, more specifically, she plans to work with the city to help businesses adapt to changing safety measures.

"For example the permitting process for outdoor dining could be streamlined," she told Patch in early October. "We don't know when we will begin to recover from the pandemic. It may be 8, 12, 24, 26 months. We just do not know. We need to work with the medical experts to provide the necessary level of guidance on how to proceed. There is no timeline so we need to be proactive in our strategies and plans to support our whole community."

She also plans to work to improve the appearance of the Las Gallinas Watershed and the surrounding open space areas. Kertz also said she supports the San Rafael 20140 Strategic Plan, which aims to restore the northern parts of the city by erecting a town center.

SEE ALSO: Candidate Profile: Rachel Kertz For San Rafael City Council

Gamblin, the only incumbent running, was appointed to the San Rafael City Council in December 2014 and has lived in Marin County for 23 years.

He has served as a commissioner on the San Rafael Parks and Recreation Commission in 2014 and works as a licensed life insurance agent, according to the City of San Rafael.

Gamblin did not immediately respond to Patch's request to fill out a candidate profile.

According to his campaign website, Gamblin will prioritize economic development, housing and an "aggressive approach" to addressing diversity, inclusion and equity.

The incumbent told the Marin Independent Journal that the Northgate mall is "a huge asset to the city" and would like to focus on moving the mall into "its next phase."

READ MORE: Marin County Voters Guide: General Election 2020

Stay tuned to Patch on Election Day for results.

Still need to cast your vote? Find the closest absentee ballot drop box or polling place in Marin County.

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Find more Patch coverage from California 2020 election here.