October 10, 2008

TimesElection 2008

Matt Walker wants to make a difference

By Jeanne C. Carbone
Editor

City Council candidate Matt Walker, 28, moved to Campbell five and a half years ago and has never looked back.

Walker, a fifth generation Californian, grew up in Oakhurst near Yosemite but his ancestors farmed the Santa Clara Valley for decades. His grandfather, Keith Walker, wrote for the Mercury News. His father moved to the mountain community of Oakhurst when he witnessed the population explosion of the 1950s and 1960s.

Candidate Matt Walker wants to keep the small town feel of Campbell. Photo by Jeanne C. Carbone

“My love for Campbell and comfort in the community originates from this upbringing and continuity between communities,” said Walker. “Campbell’s culture has survived the times and, though we live in a city, Campbell has been able to retain its small town feel. I have chosen Campbell as my home because this is a place where my life can make a difference to the people around me.”

When Walker was 18-years-old, he ran for Honorary Mayor of Oakhurst, a community of nearly 14,000 residents, and won. His accomplishments included participating in new development, business openings, community building events and attending civic and government meetings. He wrote editorials for the newspaper and helped create a mentorship for the Future Business Leaders of America at a local high school. He was a contributor to the Madera County’s Oakhurst Area Plan that included the concept of a downtown cultural and market center along the riverfront which was incorporated in the final plan. Walker’s service continued when he was the Constituent Field Representative and Secretary for then California State Assemblymem-ber Dave Cogdill.

“There’s a young man about town who has demonstrated most admirable qualities,” wrote Sierra Star Columnist J. R. Froelich. “He came to ‘most everyone’s attention when he ran for Honorary Mayor of Oakhurst and won. Watch this guy! He’s going places and all of them will be good.”

Walker has always volunteered - from producing and promoting community concerts in Oakhurst, to coaching baseball for the San Jose Police Activities League and teaching snowboarding lessons, to registering voters and supporting candidates.

Walker would support Campbell’s small town feel, advocate for more community activities, economic redevelopment, and for making the downtown area to the Pruneyard more pedestrian friendly. He also supports Measure O, the one quarter sales tax increase.

“Under normal circumstances I would oppose a tax increase measure,” said Walker. “One of the great things about our country is that we the people get to define it. A community can come together and choose.”

Walker is a property manager and father of five. He believes in life long learning and is currently attending classes for his real estate broker license.

For more information visit matt4campbell.org.

Editor’s Note. The fourth City Council Candidate Mike Kotowski was interviewed in the September issue of the Campbell Times. Visit www.campbelltimes.com to read his views.