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In a crowded race this fall for the Livermore Area Recreation and Park District Board of Directors, seven candidates presented their goals and perspectives in an effort to gain voters’ support during a forum this week hosted by Livermore Vine.
The competition features incumbents Maryalice Faltings and Philip Pierpont, and challengers Tim Barry, Larry Bird, Matt Bogdanowicz, Mike Ralph and Laureen Turner. Departing director David Furst did not run for reelection.
During the forum, the candidates disagreed on which buildings and facility issue was the most important to resolve during the upcoming four-year term. They were also split on whether a term limit should be placed on LARPD directors.
Nevertheless, the hopefuls found common ground in support of the park district’s childcare program and in opposition to a tax-sharing agreement currently being litigated with the East Bay Regional Park District.
Three winning candidates will secure at-large seats in the Nov. 3 general election to govern over the special district for a term running into 2030.
Held on Monday, (Sept. 21) the forum took place at the Robert Livermore Community Center. Livermore Vine moderators created questions based on community input and their own research.
Candidate lineup
The approximately two-hour forum kicked off with opening statements from each of the candidates.
Retired LARPD general manager Barry was first at the mic.
During his 45-year career, Barry worked for several park districts and departments of parks and recreation, he said. He holds a degree in recreation and public administration.
Since retiring from a 15-year post at LARPD, Barry said he has missed the park district’s camaraderie and his passionate work for it.
Retired police sergeant Bird is a founding member of the Tri-Valley Pickleball Club and a longtime softball coach at Livermore High School.
While working in law enforcement, Bird managed the community policing division, which meant overseeing the Junior Giants program, 200 volunteers and a multi-million dollar budget, he said.
Bird also said he has coordinated events with entities such as the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District.
He is currently a pickleball instructor and liaison for LARPD.
Bird holds a bachelors in criminal justice and has completed graduate courses in recreation. He is endorsed by departing director Furst and current director Jan Palajac.
Recreation manager Bogdanowicz said he has been working in recreation, fitness and sports for over 30 years.
“I care about the community and I believe it’s about perspective,” Bogdanowicz said. “I’m not young. I’m not as old as well. I still have energy.”
He ran unsuccessfully for the board in 2024, placing third in a four-person race for just two seats.
Bogdanowicz holds a masters degree in recreation.
Veteran director Faltings has served on the board for 32 years.
Faltings said she is a knowledgeable and effective policy-maker, given her longtime experience in parks and recreation, administration, budgeting, and master planning.
“I want to be reelected so I can keep doing what I’ve done from the start, which is to do my best to ensure all LARPD residents have access to top-notch recreation programs and facilities, no matter their age or capabilities,” she said.
Fellow incumbent Pierpont is the current chairperson of the LARPD board.
He has served on the board for a decade and is a business owner downtown Livermore.
As a parent and LARPD facility user, Pierpont said he has personal experience with the park district offerings.
During his tenure, LARPD has expanded its programming, improved its finances and prepared for the future, Pierpont said.
Pierpont expressed his interest in continuing this work.
Bike shop manager Ralph is a longtime Livermore resident who has served on the LARPD Foundation for the past four years.
He ran an unsuccessful campaign for the LARPD board in 2020.
Ralph holds a degree in recreation administration with an option in resort and lodging management, he said.
Turner is a nursing professional, former LARPD director and Livermore City Council member.
She holds a doctorate in education as well as masters in organizational management and nursing education.
Turner said while serving on the LARPD board, she was asked to run for city council and was elected.
“I had to leave my seat early and I’ve always had some regret that I didn’t complete that term that the voters voted me in for because I had a lot that I wanted to accomplish”, Turner said.
Turner is endorsed by the Alameda County Democratic Party.
Issues for debate
Incoming directors are set to serve under an updated Parks, Recreation and Trails Master Plan. This document outlines LARPD’s vision and goals for the next 10 years.
The plan includes the priority levels of projects, Pierpont said in response to a question regarding the top building or facility issue in need of fixing during the next four years.
There are pressing issues at the May Nissen Swim Center, the Robert Livermore Community Center and the Bothwell Arts Center, Pierpont said.
Of the Bothwell, Pierpont said, “That building is probably the most ready for addressing, but that’s not going to be the simplest spot to deal with.”
Ralph pointed to Camp Shelly, a site located near Lake Tahoe, as needing district attention.
“It is a once-in-a-lifetime magical place that a lot of families and Livermore residents have visited over the years”, Ralph said.
Camp Shelly has potential to be the “crown jewel,” but LARPD needs to figure out how to make sure Camp Shelly is not a financial burden in the future, he said.
Turner said LARPD needs to focus on the Robert Livermore Community Center as well as May Nissen, which she said serves a unique population.
Bird expressed the same priorities and added the Bothwell to the list.
Without identifying a specific facility or building, Bogdanowicz said maintenance is not always possible.
“If there’s a building that’s so old and it’s not making any money, it’s gonna cost you a ton to maintain, sell it to another user who can turn it around,” Bogdanowicz said.
On the subject of new activities or programming, Faltings expressed an interest in expanding the adaptive recreation at LARPD.
“If I had all the money in the world and I could pick one facility, it would be a truly universal access playground,” she said.
Garnering support from all candidates was LARPD’s extended student services.
The ESS program provides licensed care for children TK through fifth grade at school sites including Altamont Creek Elementary School, Arroyo Seco Elementary School and Croce Elementary School.
The programming is provided before and after school hours during the school year and from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. during school breaks and summer.
Many of the school site programs hold a waitlist due to high demand, according to the LARPD website.
At least three of the candidates have used ESS, including Turner, who suggested expanding the program to avoid waitlisting families.
“When I first moved to Livermore, ESS was my lifeline,” she said. “I was a nurse. I made a decent wage, but as a single parent, it just wasn’t enough. ESS allowed me to work. It gave my daughter a safe place to be.”
The candidates also found unanimity in wanting to get out of long-standing tax-sharing agreement with EBRPD.
Through the 1992 agreement, LARPD agreed to give EBRPD a portion of property tax dollars from the Livermore service area, known as Murray Township. In exchange, EBRPD would invest those dollars in facilities located within the jurisdiction, according to a legal claim from LARPD.
LARPD filed a lawsuit last May against EBRPD in attempts to sever the agreement and regain tax revenue the regional park district has allegedly misspent. EBRPD officials have denied all wrongdoing.
“I’m very optimistic that we’re going to win,” Bird said. “I feel that we should have done this a long time ago.”
“East Bay Park District is the big brother of park districts and we have some of their parks around us,” Barry said. “We want to maintain a good partnership and communication with them, but we also need the money. So let’s go get the money if we can.”
During the forum, candidates also responded to questions regarding the park district’s finances, maintenance and individual methods for transparent communication with taxpayers and facility users.
A recording of the forum will be available soon.
The event was moderated by Livermore Vine associate publisher and editorial director Jeremy Walsh and publisher Gina Channell Wilcox. LARPD provided the venue. Amos Productions provided video and live streaming. The Livermore Valley Chamber of Commerce and Livermore Indivisible supported the event.
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