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LWV League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA November 4, 2008 Election
Smart Voter

Michael F. Kotowski
Answers Questions

Candidate for
Council Member; City of Campbell

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

Questions & Answers

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

Mike Kotowski has served as Mayor, Chair of the Planning Commission, City's Sign Advisor, Fund raiser for the Ainsley House, founding Board Member of the Campbell Historical Museum and 1979 Campbell Chamber President. Currently he is a founding Board Member of the Campbell Veterans' Memorial Foundation and sits on the City's Economic Forecasting Committee. In 1982 Campbell honored him as our "Citizen of The Year". He served on the Green Belt Alliance to Save Our Hillsides from over development, was a founder of the Highway 85 Task Force that convinced the County voters to pass Measure "A" to build Highway 85 which later led the drive for Measure "B" bringing light rail to Campbell. He served as Chair of the Measure "B" Citizens Oversight Committee. He currently serves as Chair of Citizens Oversight Committee of the West Valley / Mission College District for Measure "H". He is the Vice-President of the West Valley / Mission Colleges Advancement (Scholarship) Foundation. The Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad and Carousel Corporation is proud to have had him as a Board member and Past President since 1974.

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

I am on the ballot again after a sixteen year absence because times have changed dramatically! If you drive a car, are buying a house, paying your rent and trying to buy food at the market, you know everything is more expensive. The costs of running our City, although more complex, is no different than handling our own affairs be it family or business. Everything is much more expensive and the city is facing a deficit requiring use of the City's well-planned reserves to pay bills. I refer to the reserves as our "savings" but they won't last forever. That is why I support the one-quarter cent sale tax (Measure O) on the ballot. " I want to see Campbell keep all of our services and unique programs alive and well." My sun logo introduces a prime reason that I am running for office again. By use of "solar" we can reduce the energy cost to power our City. We must reduce the "carbon footprint of Campbell. I want to re-establish the Youth Commission in the name of the late Rusty Hammer. Let us involve our teens and young adults in governance. They are our future! Also it is time to celebrate our many cultures in Campbell who make us who we are today bringing new ideas and possibilities.

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

It is important that everyone and/or every "group" who have valid concerns or needs be heard by the City Council where it is appropriate. It is my job as City Council Member to assess which of those concerns or needs are in the best interest of the people of Campbell.


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

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

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: September 16, 2008 12:32
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