As the deadline to run for office neared, incumbent insider Tessa Rudnick decided not to seek re-election. In response, the insiders quickly rallied behind Courtney Helion as their candidate. However, Helion’s lack of financial expertise is alarming, especially when combined with her unwavering support for the city manager, despite the glaring issues facing El Cerrito.

If you’re satisfied with the city being on the state auditor’s high-risk list for over 3.5 years, holding a troubling BBB credit rating, the lack of a senior center, and the absence of meaningful debate at council meetings, then Courtney Helion might be your choice. But for those who see a need for change, finance professional William Ktsanes is the clear alternative.

With Lisa Motoyama and Rebecca Saltzman likely winners of two of the available seats, the third comes down to a decision between Ktsanes and Helion. Ktsanes, with his financial expertise, offers a much-needed change to address the city’s pressing financial issues. Helion, on the other hand, continues to praise a city manager under whose leadership spending has soared, services have been cut, and El Cerrito’s financial health has worsened.

In fact, Courtney Helion’s recent email campaign presents contradictions. During the League of Women Voters forum, she opposed the idea of a senior center, but now she claims to support it. She’s also suddenly talking about transparency—after hearing these very concerns from other citizens and co-opting them into her platform. She’s also still firmly supporting the $300 “forever” tax for library.

El Cerrito voters, don’t be misled. Courtney Helion is aligned with those responsible for closing the senior center, and she stands firmly behind the city manager, whose leadership has contributed to the city’s financial crisis. El Cerrito is currently ranked 13th out of approximately 400 California cities most likely to go bankrupt. The city manager has failed to provide clear answers on these troubling finances, and if Helion is elected, it’s likely she will continue to follow the same failed path.

ElCerritoElections #VoteForChange #WilliamKtsanes #ElCerritoTransparency #SeniorCenterNeeded #CityManagerCrisis #NoMoreInsiders