Greg Lyman’s tenure on the El Cerrito City Council during the economic downturn of 2008 which led to the financial crisis that nearly bankrupted our city between 2012 and 2020 should be a stark reminder of the consequences of poor leadership. Despite these historical failures, it’s more than disappointing—it’s outright irresponsible—that Greg Lyman continues to wield so much influence over the El Cerrito Democratic Club.
Recently, the El Cerrito Democratic Club endorsed two well-connected insiders: Lisa Motoyama and Rebecca Saltzman. Rebecca has led her agency toward a fiscal cliff, yet both candidates received the club’s backing, with William Ktsanes finishing third in the endorsement process. Courtney Helion, the third insider and endorsed by both Lisa Motoyama and Greg Lyman, came in fourth.
With three seats up for grabs in November 2024, the choices before us are clear. El Cerrito’s government has consistently lacked financial transparency, as evidenced by the city’s $6 million deficit in FY 2024, a slashed general fund reserves goal (down from 17% to just 10% of expenditures), and an $85 million unfunded pension liability. To add insult to injury, city management refuses to disclose the current amount in the general fund reserves. This is a strong indication that the general fund balance has decreased.
Given these alarming fiscal realities, let’s highlight William Ktsanes. William teaches finance and ethics at the University of San Francisco, bringing the exact skill set that El Cerrito desperately needs right now. While Lisa and Rebecca will almost certainly be elected, the race for the third seat is a critical decision between William Ktsanes and Courtney Helion.
Courtney, though seemingly a nice person, submitted a candidate statement to the city clerk that failed to mention city finances altogether. Her performance at the Democratic Forum only heightened concerns—when questioned about city spending, she appeared out of her depth. Her endorsements from Greg Lyman, who was part of the council during the financial debacles, and Lisa Motoyama, who was mayor when the $6 million deficit budget passed, suggest that Courtney might not be the independent and financially savvy voice El Cerrito needs.
For the future of our city, we must prioritize competence and independence. The race for the third city council seat is between William Ktsanes and Courtney Helion. Given William’s background in finance and his commitment to ethical leadership, the choice is clear.
Let’s not repeat the mistakes of the past. Let’s vote for someone who can guide El Cerrito through these challenging times with the financial acumen and integrity we so desperately need.
For more details about the November 2024 candidates and the El Cerrito Democratic Club, visit the official websites.
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 
El Cerrito’s “Beggar-thy-neighbor” policies are on display in the Measure G ballot initiative which would cause other Cities to lose their access to sales tax receipts if the ballot initiative is passed. And City leadership has done a masterful job crowding out other Cities in claiming their share of property taxes.
It’s not a good look.
On Wed, Aug 28, 2024 at 9:13â¯PM El Cerrito Committee for Responsib
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