Question 1

Community-First Leadership

Accepted Answer

Curtis Aikens believes the government should work for the people. District 5 residents shouldn’t need to hire a lobbyist or know the right people to have their voices heard. Curtis will make Marin County government accessible, responsive, and accountable to every neighbor. Too often, local government feels distant and disconnected. Curtis will bring it back to you—the people who live here, pay taxes here, and deserve to be heard.

As Supervisor, Curtis will:
 • Hold Monthly Neighborhood Listening Sessions throughout District 5
 • Host Open Office Hours where you can meet Curtis without an appointment
 • 48-Hour Response Commitment to constituent concerns
 • Provide Quarterly Progress Reports showing what’s done, what’s in progress, and what’s next
 • Post a Public Vote Tracker making all Curtis’s votes and positions easily accessible online

Question 2

Safe, Sustainable & Connected District 5

Accepted Answer

Protecting what we love–from wildfire prevention to flood control, from traffic congestion to water reliability—District 5 faces infrastructure challenges that require both immediate action and long-term planning. Curtis will prioritize safety, sustainability, and connection. These aren’t theoretical issues—they’re about whether your family is safe during fire season, whether you spend hours stuck in traffic, whether your neighborhood floods, and whether we have clean water to drink. Curtis will tackle them all with the urgency they deserve.

Wildfire Prevention & Safety:
 • Fully support and expand Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority projects in District 5
 • Maintain defensible space on county property and push for residential compliance
 • Ensure adequate staffing and equipment for fire protection
 • Coordinate with local fire departments on evacuation planning

Transportation & Mobility:
 • Champion SR-37 improvements and regional solutions to reduce congestion
 • Advocate for better public transit connections to San Francisco and the North Bay
 • Improve local road safety and maintenance
 • Support bike lanes and pedestrian infrastructure where community wants them

Flood Control & Sea Level Rise:
 • Protect Bel Marin Keys and Hamilton with proactive flood management
 • Invest in shoreline protection and wetland restoration
 • Plan now for long-term sea level adaptation
 • Ensure transparent communication about infrastructure projects

Water Reliability:
 • Invest in water system infrastructure and drought resilience
 • Support conservation programs that keep rates affordable
 • Protect our watersheds and groundwater supplies
 • Plan for climate change impacts on water availability

Open Space Preservation:
 • Protect the open spaces that define Marin’s character
 • Enhance trail access for recreation and emergency fire breaks
 • Balance development with environmental stewardship
 • Support agricultural land preservation

Question 3

Fiscal Responsibility & Transparency

Accepted Answer

Your Money, Your Right to Know–Marin County manages a $700+ million annual budget funded by your tax dollars. You have the right to know exactly how that money is spent and whether it’s delivering results. Fiscal responsibility isn’t about cutting everything—it’s about making smart choices that deliver maximum value for taxpayers. You deserve to know where your money goes and whether it’s making a difference. Curtis will bring unprecedented transparency and fiscal accountability to the county.

The Community Budget Open Book:
 • Launch an online dashboard tracking county spending in plain English
 • Show every major project’s budget, timeline, and progress
 • Make budget documents accessible to non-experts
 • Provide quarterly financial reports by district

Accountability Measures:
 • Conduct annual efficiency audits of county programs
 • Eliminate duplication and waste without cutting essential services
 • Ensure competitive bidding on all county contracts
 • Require measurable outcomes for every program

Community Engagement:
 • Host budget workshops in District 5 before budget adoption
 • Explain trade-offs and priorities in accessible language
 • Seek community input on spending priorities
 • Report back on how feedback shaped decisions

Value for Money:
 • Prioritize projects with clear community benefit
 • Ensure long-term maintenance is budgeted, not just construction
 • Invest in prevention over expensive crisis response
 • Protect essential services while finding savings in administration

Question 4

Equity, Education & Opportunity

Accepted Answer

Building a Future for Everyone–District 5 is home to people from all backgrounds, income levels, and life stages. Curtis will ensure county government serves everyone—from young families starting out to seniors on fixed incomes, from recent immigrants to longtime residents. Opportunity shouldn’t depend on who you know or how much money your family has. Curtis’s own story—learning to read at 26 and building a successful career—proves that when we invest in people, everyone benefits.

Housing That Works:
 • Support thoughtful affordable and workforce housing that respects neighborhood character
 • Prioritize housing for teachers, nurses, firefighters, and essential workers
 • Ensure new developments include community benefits (parks, services, infrastructure)
 • Stand up to poorly designed projects that don’t serve District 5 residents

Educational Partnerships:
 • Strengthen collaboration between Marin County and local school districts
 • Support after-school programs and youth services
 • Invest in library programs and literacy initiatives
 • Create pathways from education to local employment

Workforce Development:
 • Partner with businesses to identify skills needed for quality jobs
 • Support training programs connecting residents to careers
 • Help small businesses find qualified local workers
 • Ensure county jobs reflect our community’s diversity

Access & Inclusion:
 • Provide county materials and services in multiple languages
 • Ensure county facilities are accessible to people with disabilities
 • Support childcare access for working families
 • Maintain services that help seniors age in place with dignity

Question 5

A Healthier Future for All

Accepted Answer

Nourishing Community, Body, and Spirit–As a chef and educator, Curtis knows that healthy communities start with healthy people. Food access, preventive health care, environmental quality, and mental health support aren’t luxuries—they’re foundations of thriving neighborhoods. Curtis has spent his career teaching families that good nutrition and healthy living are accessible to everyone. He’ll bring that same commitment to ensuring District 5 residents have what they need to thrive—not just survive.

Food Security & Access:
 • Expand local food programs serving District 5 families
 • Increase farmers market access in underserved neighborhoods
 • Support food banks and community meal programs
 • Connect local farms with institutional buyers (schools, hospitals, county facilities)

Sustainable Agriculture:
 • Protect agricultural land from development pressure
 • Support local farmers and ranchers with practical policies
 • Promote sustainable farming practices
 • Maintain Marin’s agricultural heritage and economy

Public Health:
 • Strengthen preventive health programs focused on early intervention
 • Support maternal and child health services
 • Expand access to mental health and substance abuse treatment
 • Ensure public health services reach all communities

Environmental Health:
 • Protect clean air and water through strong environmental standards
 • Address climate change impacts on public health
 • Reduce exposure to harmful chemicals and pollutants
 • Preserve natural spaces for physical and mental well-being

Watch Curtis's Campaign Updates

curtis's 5 commitments to district 5