League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA June 6, 2006 Election
	David Pandori Answers Questions Candidate for Mayor; City of San Jose

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. There are proposals to add 30,000 houses and more office space in North San Jose, thousands more homes in Evergreen and to build a new community in the Coyote Valley. There has been no in-depth study of how these plans will affect one another or services throughout the city. Should San Jose complete a thorough, public review of its general plan for growth before approving any more major development plans? Silicon Valley needs more housing, but San Jose needs more jobs to strengthen its tax base. How would you balance those conflicting pressures?

I want a city that is better, not just bigger. Yes, we absolutely need a Citizen's review of the General Plan before approving any major changes in the development of San Jose. We know from the EIR done for North San Jose that there are considerable impacts that are not possible to mitigate, specifically in traffic. A summit meeting of affected Cities must be convened to negotiate development criteria, environmental impacts and mitigations so that we don't have mutual destruction of the economic base of the region. Increasing housing densities is the easy answer,a thoughtful and analytic approach to what kind of housing, affordable for whom , and where it should be, all have to be part of the General Plan review.

2. San Jose has a council/manager form of government. Over the past few years the balance of power has shifted toward the mayor and there are some elected officials who support this stronger role for the mayor. Should San Jose move to a strong-mayor form of government or have a strong professional administrator? What kind of city manager will you look for?

I believe in a strong Mayor and a strong City Manager; one to be the leader in policy and vision and the other to be the leader in professional administration and quality city services. I will seek a secure proven professional City Manager with experience in delivering a high quality level of services to citizens. One that has exhibited judgement and ethical behavior in working with elected officials and one that is not loath to speak out when necessary for the good of the City.

3. Safety often includes services such as homework centers and code enforcement for neighborhoods, but the city budget now being prepared could cut much needed services. If there is no other source of funds to maintain safety-related centers and gang prevention, would you consider reducing the funds going to support the police and fire departments? Can the growing costs of police and for pensions be covered without depleting funds for other community service in the future?

I agree that after school programs and code enforcement are part of the safety related services we should fund. I cannot promise that these laudable programs are untouchable, but they would not be preferred choices for cuts. Since police and fire are the most essential services the budget consequences have to be carefully evaluated and most likely other services will suffer first. Unless our economic health rebounds, the choices are limited and the cuts will hurt.

4. Money to maintain and operate the city’s public facilities such as parks and libraries is in shorter and shorter supply. So while new or expanded community centers have been proposed previously, the city is looking at closing or privatizing up to 30 existing centers it cannot afford to operate. Should the city re-examine its plans to add parks and other public facilities? Are there services the city could cut to find money for these highly valued ones?

There is nothing more galling to residents than to build facilities only to close them due to lack of operating funds. But, the future can anticipate better economic times and creating new parks is absolutely in that future.

We can cut lower priority services to provide more funding for parks and libraries. The budget for the mayor and the city council has increased 31.6% in the last two years ($5,965,000 to $7,854,000). I would roll-back spending for the mayor and city council offices back to the 2001-2002 levels, which will save $1.8 million.

The budget for the city manager's office has increased 40% in the last two years ($6,168,000 to $8,645,000). I would roll-back spending for the city manager's office to 2001-2002 levels, which will save about $2.5 million.

The budget for the city attorney's office has increased 11% over the last two years ($10,442683 to $11,694,252). I would roll-back spending for the city attorney's office to 2001-2002 levels and reduce litigation expenses, which will save about $1.3 million.

We can also increase revenue by attracting more businesses and jobs to San Jose. In looking at new growth, we have to be aware that bad planning is bad for business as well as residents, and if we are to attract new business we have to do it right so they come and stay. It is with economic growth we will afford our amenities.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League. 

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: May 6, 2006 17:23
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