League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA June 8, 2010 Election
	Teresa Alvarado Answers Questions Candidate for County Supervisor; Santa Clara County; Supervisorial District 1

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 and training would you bring to this office?

Now more than ever, we need leaders who can make a difference. I have decades of executive leadership in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors throughout Santa Clara County.

My leadership as a nonprofit CEO provided me with the experience to tackle budgets, identify best practices, and develop collaborations to effectively respond to social needs.

As the leader of a public foundation, I was always keenly aware that a fiscally responsible and transparent organization earns the trust and support of its contributors by ensuring that every dollar is used effectively, returning the maximum value and community benefit.

My educational background and professional experience in energy and environmental technology, management and engineering make me uniquely qualified to champion a new clean tech economy, the driving force of our Silicon Valley economy that will create a range of quality jobs.

I believe that the health and vitality of our region demands that our young people reach their highest potential. As a nonprofit founder, CEO and board leader, I have championed children's health care, childhood obesity prevention, school readiness, math and science education, and college scholarships.

Santa Clara County District 1 is home to a $350 million agricultural industry, 65 percent of County Parks, and 50 percent of the county's open space. I have been a member of the Envision San Jose 2040 General Plan Task Force for the past three years; this group is creating the roadmap for future growth and development in our community. I will bring a balanced perspective to environmental protection, open space and smart growth to the land use issues in District 1.

The County of Santa Clara is the lead agency for regional emergency preparedness and response. My experience working in environmental health and safety at NASA/Ames has given me a unique understanding of the need to continually ensure our community is prepared to safely respond to any emergency.

While I have a long history of civic involvement in San Jose and South County, I am the only candidate who has never held an elected office. I believe this will help me bring a fresh perspective to County governance, focused on solutions.

2. What are the particular needs of your district?

District 1 contains a vast and diverse geography as well as significant disparity in affluence. As such, my priorities will be:

1. Investing in green technology to employ a new generation of workers and retain Silicon Valley as a global leader of innovation.

2. Providing excellent health and human services in South County and others areas of low affluence. These areas are where health services are most needed.

3. Leading a discussion around land-use in the unincorporated areas that is both forward-looking and informed by my commitment to the environment.

3. On what projects should the Board of Supervisors concentrate?

• Working with County staff to identify areas where we're missing out on available state and federal matching and reimbursement funds.

• I have followed the Habitat Conservation Plan process for quite some time and am closely monitoring its development in this, Supervisor Gage's final year of his term in office. He is working hard to ensure that this plan is completed this year and that the next supervisor will effectively implement it. My commitment will be to closely monitor early implementation to ensure precedent is set that achieves the mitigation benefits we expect and that land acquisition plans are clearly understood and prioritized.

• Collaborating with the Board of Education, school districts and nonprofits dedicated to improving our schools so that children of color have access to the same resources, are supported and challenged to aim high, and achieve at the same rates as other students.

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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: May 2, 2010 18:41
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