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City of Berkeley Mayor

If it seems like history is repeating itself, it's because it is-the same two candidates who squared off for the same seat six years ago are at it again. Tom Bates and Shirley Dean are both listed on the ballot as candidates for Berkeley mayor. But unlike the scene in 2002, let's hope stacks of newspapers don't disappear from their racks this time.

Undeniably, both Bates and Dean know their way around town by now. Experience won't be the sole determinant in this race. Instead, much of it boils down to leadership style, and the differences between the two candidates are evident.

Bates' interpersonal skills put him ahead of Dean in that regard. With the grab bag of personalities in this city, an effective leader has to be able to bring people together to reach compromises.

This knack for dealing with different viewpoints is especially important in light of the already-strained town-gown relations resulting from the recent controversy over the future athletic center near Memorial Stadium.

The actions taken by Dean in this case are perhaps tell-tale signs of her approach to "communicating" with the university: Rather than persistently trying to reason with the campus, she opted to join the tree-sit. Meanwhile, Bates anticipates forming stronger bonds with four main groups affiliated with the university: faculty, students, staff and administration.

However, Dean does demonstrate her deftness in managing the budget. She recognizes the consequences of departmental budgeting versus services budgeting and has given much thought to improving accountability and transparency in tracking where money is being spent.

When it comes to going green, Bates made Berkeley a leader in the fight against climate change under his pet Climate Action Plan. Indeed, when asked where she thought Bates was most successful in his past six years in office, Dean cited his expansion of the car share program, an environmentally-friendly achievement. Bates has always supported other minor feasible changes that make a big difference, from encouraging residents to install solar panels to simply walking to spare the air.

Keeping Bates in office will ensure Berkeley remains at the forefront of fighting climate change. Furthermore, getting things done efficiently in this city requires cooperation and communication. Vote for Tom Bates for Berkeley mayor.

Tags: ELECTIONS 2008 COMMENTARY, DAILY CAL ENDORSEMENTS