Thoughtful Leadership. Strong Community.
A Better Future for Ross.
Bob Herbst & Paul Roesler for Ross Town Council. Please mail in your ballot by November 3rd.
Why We’re Running
Ross is an extraordinary community and a place we are both proud to call home. Between us, we have spent decades raising our families here, supporting our schools, and working alongside neighbors on issues that matter to our town.
Ross is entering an important period, with significant decisions ahead about public safety, infrastructure, the Town Center, and the stewardship of taxpayer resources.
We’re running to bring thoughtful, collaborative leadership to those decisions while preserving the character and community that make Ross special.
Bob Herbst
Candidate for Ross Town CouncilFor over 15 years I’ve called Ross home with my wife Sally Shekou and children Grace and Ryan. Our closest friends are here and we truly love this community.
After graduating with an Economics degree from Harvard University and an MBA from UC Berkeley, I’ve spent the past 30+ years planning, building, and operating large commercial real estate projects. Notable examples include the Autodesk headquarters building and Flyte Sports Center at San Rafael Airport.
Ross faces numerous major construction projects over the next 4 years: flood control, Ross Common playground, PGE undergrounding, and of course the Town Center rehabilitation. I believe my construction experience and hands on approach will help us complete these projects in a cost effective manner.
I have demonstrated this ability as President of the Friends of Ross Firehouse and key member of the Citizens Advisory Committee. In collaboration with many talented Ross professionals, we have created a new vision for our Town Center that retains our state registered historic firehouse, thereby providing us with the opportunity to restore best in class fire and emergency medical response to Ross families.
If you vote for me, I’ll work to rely less on expensive consultants and more on the volunteer expertise, experience, and generosity of the remarkable people that call Ross home.
Ross has been my home for nearly three decades, and I have been fortunate to raise my family in this extraordinary community. My three older daughters grew up here and are now in their 20s. My wife, Natalie, and I are currently raising our two younger children in Ross and remain actively involved in our local schools and community, including Ross School, where I am honored to serve as the incoming President of the Ross School Foundation.
Throughout my career, I have built and managed businesses, focusing on fiscal responsibility, long-term planning, and bringing people together to solve complex challenges. As Ross faces important decisions about public safety, infrastructure, and the future of our town, I believe residents deserve transparent government, thoughtful leadership, and meaningful community engagement.
My priorities are straightforward: strengthen public safety and emergency preparedness, support our outstanding schools and Safe Routes to School, responsibly invest in and maintain our infrastructure and community assets, ensure fair and predictable permitting processes and exercise careful stewardship of taxpayer resources while ensuring Town decisions reflect the values and priorities of Ross residents.
I will listen carefully, work collaboratively, and always put the interests of our community first. It would be an honor to serve on the Ross Town Council.
Candidate for Ross Town CouncilPaul Roesler
A New Day for Ross
·
Mail in your ballot by November 3rd
·
Thoughtful Leadership. Strong Community.
·
A New Day for Ross · Mail in your ballot by November 3rd · Thoughtful Leadership. Strong Community. ·
Our Priorities
-

Build Town Center & Restore Fire Station
Complete the new Town Center on-time and on budget. Negotiate a fairer deal with RVFD to restore fire service.
-

Establish Town-wide Undergrounding Policy
Lead town-wide undergrounding efforts with a new comprehensive plan. Facilitate undergrounding with a streamlined process and more public resources. Explore PG&E and other grant funding opportunities.
-

Creek Resiliency & The Commons
Ensure that creek projects reduce flood risk to all residents: both upstream and downstream. Rehabilitate the Ross Common field.
-

Cut Red Tape & Add Parking
Update municipal code to approve more projects with less variances required while maintaining Ross’ small-town character. Rationalize project fees and speed up approval timelines. Add more parking downtown.
Restore Public Safety
After nearly 100 years in operation, the Town Council closed our beloved fire station in 2025. We can restore fire operations in Town, at a reasonable cost, to ensure Ross is protected for the next 100 years.
Reopening the Ross fire station is a win-win for everyone, including the RVFD.
Questions & Answers
-
Emergency response times don’t lie. Fire and medical response times are 40% longer since our station closed, and with only 9 active firefighters on duty, we are far short of the recommended 15–17. In emergencies, minutes matter.
-
That would amount to double paying for our station, and we would never agree to that arrangement. We need to renegotiate with RVFD so every town pays its fair share, something the Council has never done.
-
We can explore leaving RVFD (which requires 2 years’ notice) and joining Kentfield, San Rafael, or Larkspur/Corte Madera. We can also explore converting RVFD into a fire district, an option favored by the Firefighters Union. Most fire departments are structured as districts, where the budget is divided by parcels. That is the fairest way to split costs, and Ross would pay the least because it has the fewest parcels.
-
The other towns love the current Council because Ross has been their piggy bank for 14 years, paying too much and never asking for a better deal. The Council had its chance to negotiate and failed. It closed our station based on false assumptions that were challenged and ignored at the time.
-
The Grand Jury report discussed consolidating smaller districts into larger ones to achieve economies of scale and lower costs. We agree, and that is why Ross is already part of the RVFD.
Follow Us on Social