Brian McCarthy
Candidate for City Council Member, Marina, District 1 · City of Marina Councilmember
Brian McCarthy has been involved in Marina civic life since 2010, when he began attending Marina Coast Water District board meetings, and by 2014 was regularly attending City Council meetings as well. He served four years as a Marina Planning Commissioner, building a record of support for affordable housing projects, and was elected unopposed to the City Council's District 1 seat in November 2022, taking office that December. As a longtime water-issues watcher, he helped negotiate a nearly 50% reduction in monthly water bills for residents with home fire sprinklers, work he has described as saving both the city and ratepayers a large amount of money.
Positions in brief
McCarthy focuses on managing Marina's rapid growth without straining city services, funding long-term upkeep of roads and parks, and continuing to back affordable housing while preserving local review of development.
McCarthy says the biggest challenge facing Marina is managing rapid growth while preserving and expanding existing city services, and he wants more disciplined long-term planning for infrastructure like parks and roads. With new development underway at the Dunes, he supports investing in and recruiting businesses, including a grocery store, to revive downtown in line with the city's existing downtown plan. He backs continuing to build affordable housing but wants to preserve the city's local control and discretionary review of projects. On regional water issues, he says no single community should be disproportionately burdened by the impacts of water infrastructure projects. He has also pushed for better ways for residents to weigh in on city decisions beyond traditional evening council meetings.
On the issues
Supports continuing to build affordable housing while preserving local control over development review.
“will continue to champion affordable housing projects while at the same time favor local control and discretionary reviews allowed by the law”
Source →- Housing & Homelessness
Wants stronger long-term planning so infrastructure like roads and parks keeps pace with Marina's rapid growth.
Source → Wants regional cooperation on water projects so no one community bears an unfair share of the negative impacts.
“no jurisdiction should be disproportionally burdened by negative project impacts”
Source →Wants to expand how residents can weigh in on city decisions beyond traditional evening council meetings.
Source →Supports targeted city investment and recruiting businesses, including a grocery store, to revive downtown Marina as growth continues at the Dunes.
Source →
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