League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Sonoma County, CA June 3, 2008 Election
	Tom "Manure Man" Lynch Answers Questions Candidate for County Supervisor; Sonoma County; Supervisorial District 5

The questions were prepared by the the League of Women Voters of Sonoma County and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. In your opinion, how would the proposed SMART commuter railroad impact Sonoma County?

If we can get the Sonoma and Marin voters, during a recession, to approve additional taxes for SMART (Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit). We will have a wonderful opportunity to avail people along the urban corridor an alternative to driving automobiles. Rail travel is 1/600th that of air travel and 1/25th of automobiles with green house gas emissions. We send 100's of millions of dollars from Sonoma County abroad every year for foreign oil; if we can keep those dollars in the local economy we would see them recycle 2 to 7 times. Vote for SMART!!

2. How can Sonoma County improve mental health services in the county?

More resource needs to be applied to prevention not reaction; more gains from contributors, less the liability of our failures. We have criminalized poverty, and ignorance and mental illness. With 5% of the World's population we now have 25% of the global prison population in the United States. We cannot arrest ourselves out of our problems. It is not right to burden law enforcement with the care of our mentally ill...we must restore cuts to Human Services and Mental Health programs.

A recent Sonoma County Housing report notes that since 2000 the median household income in the County has declined by 2%, while the County Strategic Plan notes that salaries and benefits for County staff has increased by 65%. Recent data from County Administration shows that of the 4000 full time workers at the County, the top 1000 salary plus benefit average, is $165,378 per year!
I have met and spoken with many County workers as well as the Deputy Sheriffs Association, Service Employee International Union (SEIU), and the North Bay Labor Council. All have asked what should we do to remedy the Counties budget problems. I have said to all we are in a recession and in order to avoid the layoff of hundreds of County workers and further cuts in essential services we need a temporary freeze on salaries and benefits. We need to restore cuts to Human Services and Mental Health programs.

3. If elected, how will you keep yourself informed of your constituents' concerns, and your constituents informed of your stances and activities?

I will continue meeting and discussing the issues with everyone throughout the District. I will be available by phone and e-mail. I would like to create a 501c3 non-profit with volunteers to help serve the needs of the District...kind of a 5th District Ombudsman Program.

4. How would you balance the need for developing housing and business with environmental stewardship?

These two issues need not be at odds with each other. If we are to have growth we must reduce our impact on the environment. We need reduce our water usage and increase reuse, improve air quality, restore fisheries habitat and water quality in our watersheds, reduce green house gases through conservation, photovoltaics and solar hot water.

Affordable housing is also an issue where we need to encourage the development of second dwelling units and SRO's (single room occupancy). Creative and innovative solutions are needed to allow young and old to remain in our communities.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' answers are presented as submitted. Word limits for answers were 400 words for all 4 questions. Direct reference to opponents are not permitted.

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

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: April 29, 2008 11:38
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