My name is Virginia Chang Kiraly, and I am running for the Menlo Park Fire Protection District Board because I want to keep our families and community safe. With my finance and business background and extensive community and civic leadership, The Daily Post rightfully noted in their endorsement of me that I am "open-minded," "will bring a fresh voice to the board," and am "truly interested in hearing all sides of an issue."

Did you know that 16% of property taxes fund our fire district? That 70%-75% of the approximately 8000 calls our district gets is medical emergencies? That, as of 2008, 50% of the school districts w/in MPFPD had no direct or indirect fire alarm connection to an emergency response organization, such as our fire district?

Honestly, that was the tipping point for me to run for the fire board was when I learned, while volunteering at my children's school, that its fire alarm was not connected to any emergency response organization, after the fire alarm was triggered and it was not a false alarm.

As a mother and volunteer, disaster preparedness became a priority for me when I managed Survive Alive House, teaching children about fire safety, emergency response, and survival skills. As a Silicon Valley Red Cross Board member, I want to help improve our fire district's community outreach efforts. If elected to the fire board, the goals I want to achieve are:

• Financial stability, sustainability, and accountability
• Better strategic planning for more efficient operations
• Installation of school fire alarms in portable classrooms and connection of school fire alarms to fire stations
• Fire safety education for children, using the Survive Alive House, to teach emergency response and survival skills

I look forward to a lively discussion tonight and thank the League of Women Voters for their hard work in organizing tonight's candidate forum.

Thank you to those who are here tonight and for caring about OUR fire district. 

I want to talk about the bipartisan and broad community support and endorsements I have.

I am the only candidate who has received endorsements from the leadership team that led the pension reform initiative in Menlo Park last November -- Measure L -- and from organizations, including our firefighters, who are uncertain about and may be afraid of pension reform. I have accepted the firefighters endorsement but declined all financial contributions to my campaign, which they have offered.

I am proud of these endorsements, and there is no reason for me to apologize for wanting to listen to all sides of an issue, and I have made that clear. That's why I will talk, I will listen, and then I will decide.

Being honest, open and transparent is crucial, and there should never be false expectations set. I will not duplicate the grid lock mentality that seems to be popular now days. We are all in this financially challenging time together, so we must all work it out together.

I have the business and finance background plus extensive community outreach experience needed on the board.

It would be my honor to serve you on our fire board. I would appreciate your vote on November 8.