Fairfax voters will choose two members of the Town Council on Nov. 3 from a field of four candidates, with the race unfolding after a contentious year of political debate over housing and development that ended in a failed recall election.
Lisel Blash and Mayor Stephanie Hellman, who were targeted in a failed recall campaign in 2025, are not running for reelection.
The recall dispute was over a proposal from Florida-based developer Mill Creek Residential for a six-story, 243-unit building in the School Street Plaza downtown.
“Nothing is happening with it, and we haven’t heard anything from the developer,” said Blash in a recent interview. “They would need to file a demolition permit, and they have not done so yet, as far as I know.”
Under the state’s housing laws, Fairfax must plan for at least 490 new residences by 2031, with a buffer of extra zoned sites bringing the total to 583.
Four candidates, two seats
Larry Bragman, 72, is a retired environmental attorney, as well as a former council member and mayor. He is also a former Marin Municipal Water District director. He said it is an essential responsibility of the council to listen to residents and provide a respectful forum where all voices can be heard. He supports affordable housing that fits Fairfax’s infrastructure and environment, as well as greater local input over planning and zoning.
Susan Denise Adams, 76, who is also a retired environmental attorney, said she wants to preserve Fairfax’s character and environmental qualities. She has more than 30 years of public-sector experience, including work with the California Coastal Conservancy, the City of Emeryville, the State of Maine, New York City and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. She also served on the Fairfax Open Space Committee and is endorsed by several Fairfax public officials including Fairfax planning commissioners PJ Feffer and Daniel Cardozo, as well as Blash and Hellman.
Matt Da Cunha, 56, a retired firefighter who has lived in Fairfax for 46 years, is making emergency preparedness and public safety central to his campaign. He also wants stricter fiscal oversight, with more town revenue directed toward streets, buildings and infrastructure. He said he hopes to bridge political divisions and bring residents and businesses together. His endorsements include the Fairfax Police Officer’s Association and Cindy Swift, chair of the Fairfax Planning Commission.
Doug Kelly, 69, is a restaurant technology sales and service professional who serves on the Ross Valley Sanitary District board. A member of the county-wide Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers, he emphasized fiscal responsibility and transparency. Kelly has also criticized the amount of taxpayer money spent on attorneys, rather than road repairs, and said residents should be treated with respect.
The five-member Town Council is elected at large, with members serving four-year terms. Elections are held every two years, with three seats contested in one election and two in the next. The council sets and adopts town policy, ordinances and budgets, and makes land-use decisions.
