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LWV League of Women Voters of California Education Fund

Smart Voter
Santa Clara County, CA November 7, 2006 Election
Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues
Mayor; City of Morgan Hill


The questions were prepared by the Leagues of Women Voters of Santa Clara County and asked of all candidates for this office.     See below for questions on Experience, Concerns, Balancing Needs

Click on a name for candidate information.   See also more information about this contest.


1. What experience related to city government would you bring to the City Council?

Answer from Dennis Paul Delisle:

I have been a resident of Morgan Hill for over 30 years. I have been around to watch our city go through its growth cycles. My business experience for over 41 years will help me to operate, manage, plan and budget for the city's future. I will bring the same success principles used to create my businesses and apply them to the budgeting and operations of Morgan Hill

Answer from Steve Tate:

I've served eight years on the City Council preceeded by seven years as a planning Commissioner. I had a 38-year IBM career that sharpened my leadership skills. My involvement in the Morgan Hill community has been very extensive, giving me further experience to prepare me for the mayor's role.


2. What concerns are of particular importance to the city and how would you address them?

Answer from Steve Tate:

I think fiscal responsibility is an issue because we have been in a budget deficit situation in the last several years and need to be sure we rebuild our reserves now that we are in a surplus again. We have very strong safety services - both police and fire - but our staffing is marginal for our growing population and needs to be addressed. Our residents truly love living in Morgan Hill and keeping its identity as a great place to live with a rural, friendly atmosphere is very important to them.

Answer from Dennis Paul Delisle:

My main concerns for our city is budgeting to take money out of our city's reserves to pay for the deficit in the yearly budget. We have built many great capital improvements that have to have their operating expenses paid out of the general fund. Our general fund has been in the negative for past 3 out of 4 years and is projected to be negative by $400,000.00 this year. I feel before we committ to more expansion, we need to solve current problems first.


3. How would you balance the needs of the City as a whole with groups' interests?

Answer from Steve Tate:

Ever since I joined the Planning Commission in 1991 I have had to deal with special interest groups and have been able to do so very well. While we do not always agree and I cannot always support all of their issues, we have developed a great deal of mutual respect and find ways to cooperate most of the time. I think everyone I interface with knows and respects the fact that I will always do what I believe to be in the best interests of the city.

Answer from Dennis Paul Delisle:

Everyones interest is to first of all have a safe city. We have to have the right staffing of our police and fire departments. Then we need to protect the intra-structure of our city, our citizens need roads, water, sewer, garbage and power. These become main issues when they are not available. Its the job of the city council to make sure these are covered. Then we look at the recreational availabilities to our City.


Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' responses are not edited or corrected by the League.

The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.


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Created: January 4, 2007 09:38 PST
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