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Drew Fine Two MAC Seats Aug. 17th Officially, the race for two Oak Park MAC seats started Friday, Aug. 16th. There are four candidates this year for the two available seats. There are five seats held by Oak Park residents. Because Oak Park is an unincorporated city, there is no city government. Instead, there is an Advisory Council (Municipal Advisory Council), which advises County Supervisor, Linda Parks.

Stop Signs and Speed Bumps Aug. 20th Stop signs and speed bumps. I’ve heard this a few times when I have mentioned the Oak Park MAC. “Oh yeah, they do stop signs and speed bumps, maybe you can get one in front of my house.” My response is a smile and nod; any good aspiring “politician” learns quickly the smile and nod. But truthfully, it’s more than that, it’s more than speed bumps and stop signs, it’s about leadership, it’s about setting examples for our children, for our peers and friends, it’s about being apart of the community. If at the end of the day it is only stop signs and speed bumps, well, that’s okay with me. Mostly it’s okay because it means that there is nothing more serious that needs attention, which is why we live in Oak Park. Aug.22 Why One of the first questions that people ask me when I tell them that I’m running for a MAC seat is; Why? It catches me off guard every time. For some reason I don’t expect that question and I always stumble over my answer. I stumble over it because the answer really isn’t that simple, and frankly, I never struggled with the decision. As soon as I saw there were two seats opening I went and pulled papers that day. So the short answer to “why” is that I want to be a part of the community and it’s government because I love it here. That’s all true, but for sure it’s not that simple. I guess I worry about being complacent. It’s pretty easy to do in Oak Park. Most of us are pretty busy with our lives filled with work, the kids, and sports or whatever activity the kids are doing (if you got them, you know they’re always doing something). It’s all good, for sure, but who’s watching the store? This is a great place to live and I worry that maybe we, me, are sitting back and letting others do the heavy lifting. For sure there are many qualified people sitting in our government, but two are leaving. When I saw that I felt it was a perfect opportunity to step up and do my part. No doubt the complete answer is even more complex then the above. I’ll keep thinking about it. But like I said, I didn’t think twice about running for a seat, if I had I’d probably have a faster answer to the why. Sept. 4th Letter to Acorn Where Are The Women Coaches? I’ve been coaching youth sports for several years. The fantastic programs like WAGS, AYSO, and AYBA have dedicated boards of directors who are both women and men. I’ve often wondered, though, where are the women head coaches? Out of twenty (girl) U12 soccer teams in Region 4 this year, there are no female head coaches. I don’t think anyone can argue that there’s a significant difference between adult male coaches and young girl athletes in the way they approach sports. When AYSO surveyed their players and asked what was important to them, winning was not one of the top three answers. There’s a story I often tell about my daughter, Blake, and her first basketball game. Two hours after the game had ended, still dressed in her uniform and sitting on the couch at home, she looked at her mom and asked, “Did we win?” Recently, after the end of one game, I was sulking over a defeat when I noticed that the girls, after playing their hearts out, could now care less about the game’s outcome. I pointed this out to a couple of the dads and they, like me, were surprised. I then discussed it with some of the moms, and they were not at all surprised. They understood. When we male coaches don’t understand, however, there is a possibility that some girls will become disillusioned and stop playing sports altogether. Participation in sports is important in the development of our children, and to have any of them give up is unacceptable. The women I’ve talked with about sports and coaching are very busy. Many also feel that they don’t understand the game(s) well enough to coach the kids. There are ways to help solve those problems. Co-coaching, for example, could be a solution. Two busy moms could share the head coach position. I’d also like to see a training program open to all, not just women, who feel their lack of knowledge prevents them from coaching. I call it “building on our strengths,” and adding more women head coaches would be doing just that. Sept. 21. (editorial) Your Vote Does Count Every politician that I’ve listened to since I’ve been listening to politicians has told me that my vote counts. Yeah right, the election is going to be won by one vote, mine? No, of course not, and we all know it, so where’s the motivation to go out and vote? Civic duty, setting examples, if nobody voted blah, blah, blah. Heck, do the right thing because voting in a democracy is the right thing. Okay, that all works for a lot of us. But what about those that just don’t vote? You know, the ones that fear jury duty (jury duty comes from your driver’s license renewal by the way). Then there’s those who never registered; too busy, move a lot, whatever. Well, I’m running for public office and I want to tell you as a person who is depending on votes, your vote does count! I’m running for Oak Park MAC (Municipal Advisory Council). I don’t want to waste my 300 words telling you why I’d be perfect for the job, so just check me out at drewfine.org. What I do want to say is vote. Get out there, stand in line, grin and bare it and vote. Vote for me if you live in Oak Park, please. I have to say that it’s a different view sitting on this side of an election. I never realized the importance of each and every vote until I was the one that needed them. There is an incredible value of you, as an American citizen. When you step behind that curtain and extend your right to choose the people that lead us (again, me please, if you live in Oak Park) is priceless. Seriously, absolutely priceless because what price can you really put on that power to vote? Imagine for a minute that you’re running for office, would my vote count? Drew Fine Candidate for Oak Park MAC Drewfine.org Candidate brings community experience to MAC race By Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com Drew Fine Drew Fine's motivation for running for the Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council is a desire to set an example for his 10-year-old daughter, Blake, and to support the community he loves. Fine is running for one of two seats being vacated by longtime MAC members Deena Parry and Todd Haines. Derek Ross and Alon Glickstein are also seeking election to the MAC on Nov. 4. Michael McReynolds dropped out of the race due to injuries he suffered in last month's Metrolink train crash, too late to remove his name from the ballot. Being involved in the community is not new for Fine. He is a volunteer coach for the American Youth Soccer Organization, Westlake Agoura Girls Softball and the Agoura Youth Basketball Association. He is currently the AYBA third-grade girls division director. Fine's goal is to teach the kids to work together as a team and to learn the importance of commitment and involvement. "As a coach, my No. 1 priority is to have the children of all the teams, not just ours, feel good about themselves. Regardless of the final scores, if they leave with a strong sense of self-esteem they still are winners," said Fine, 47, whose ex-wife, Mya, also lives in Oak Park. Before moving to Oak Park in 2004, Fine lived in Toluca Lake and before that in Marina del Rey, where he served as a volunteer sheriff's deputy. A former Boy Scout, Fine was a volunteer sailing instructor for the Scouting program in Marina del Rey. The welfare of children in the community is one of Fine's concerns. He worries about the lack of activities available for young people on Friday and Saturday nights. "We were all teenagers once, so each of us knows quite well how easy it is to get in trouble," Fine said. "I think these kids need a place to go. I have seen how participation in community affairs can really help kids and the community." He'd like to see a communitywide mentoring program between teenagers and younger kids, similar to the buddies program at the local elementary schools that pairs upper- and lower-grade students. "Our kids aren't always going to come to us or go to their teachers. To have an older kid who they can look up to would be beneficial, not only for the younger ones but for the older ones as well," Fine said. Creating a community policing program is another of Fine's interests. As a volunteer sheriff, he rode his bike through Marina del Rey, keeping watch. He'd also like to see more residents involved in local government, learning the process and how they can contribute. "I want to make it easier for people to get involved. There's so much talent in the community," Fine said. He is sorry to see Parry and Haines end their involvement on the MAC, leaving "a void that will be difficult to fill." "They've done a great job, and we can build on their strengths . . ." Fine said. "With my love for this community and my continued commitment and participation in it, I feel that I am well qualified to be a member of the Oak Park MAC." Fine is a wholesale car dealer whose business, Fine Motors, is based in Thousand Oaks. A native of Marblehead, Mass., Fine attended the Stella Adler Acting School in Hollywood and studied English at UCLA. He is a published poet and novelist. Connie and Ben Balke have coached basketball and softball with Fine. Their daughter, Hannah Rose, is a close friend and classmate of Fine's daughter. The girls are in the fifth grade at Brookside Elementary. "Drew is a real family man who loves this community and just wants the best for it," Connie Balke said. "He believes in mentoring, leadership and setting by example. He's a good guy."