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Santa Clara County, CA June 8, 2010 Election
Smart Voter Full Biography for Forrest Williams

Candidate for
County Supervisor; Santa Clara County; Supervisorial District 1

[photo]
This information is provided by the candidate

Dear Friends & Neighbors,

For the past 20 years, I have been honored to serve my community in elected office, as a neighborhood leader and as a community volunteer.

As your next County Supervisor, I want to continue working on issues important to all of us. My priorities will include:

  • Improving our local economy by creating good jobs and investing your tax dollars wisely.
  • Working with employees to solve County problems.
  • Ensuring a transparent government that respects high ethical standards.
  • Reducing traffic congestion and improving mass transit.
  • Improving local schools, raising test scores and preparing students for success in college and the workforce.
  • Providing first-rate police, fire and paramedic services.
  • Expanding access to affordable healthcare.
  • Creating programs to keep seniors and youth healthy and active.
  • Protecting open space and improving parks and trails.
  • Improving County land-use policies.

I would be honored to have your support and to discuss the issues that matter most to you, your family and your neighbors. Please email me at fwms@comcast.net, visit my website at http://www.forrestwilliams.com, or call me at (408) 281-8687.

Sincerely,

Forrest Williams

San Jose City Council, 8 years San Jose Planning Commission, 8 years Oak Grove School District Board of Trustees, 12 years

About Forrest Williams

The oldest of four children, Forrest Williams grew up in rural Alabama. Forrest studied electrical engineering in college and graduate school. He served in the United State Army Armored Calvary Regiment after graduating from United States Signal Corp. After graduating from college in 1962, Forrest went to work for Boeing Company. In 1968, Forrest and his wife Dorothy moved to San Jose where Forrest worked at IBM Corporation for 35 years and Dorothy worked as a RN at Kaiser Santa Teresa. Forrest and Dorothy raised two children in the same home they live in today in San Jose's Blossom Valley.

Forrest Williams has held many elected and appointed positions within local government, including:

  • 12 years on the Oak Grove School District Board of Trustees
  • 8 years on the City of San Jose Planning Commission
  • 8 years on the San Jose City Council representing Evergreen, Santa Teresa, Edenvale and South San Jose.

Forrest's major accomplishments in elected office include:

  • Improved test scores and curriculum to ensure students are getting a 21st Century education.
  • Strengthened our local economy, creating good jobs, and building affordable housing.
  • Improved educational programs and student performance, and establishing city-sponsored homework centers at every public school in his district.
  • Supported the Children's Health Initiative with the goal of providing healthcare to all children in Santa Clara County.
  • Enhanced police, fire, and medical services, reducing gang violence, and building new police and fire stations throughout San Jose.
  • Reduced traffic congestion on local roads and highways and supporting BART to San Jose and Light Rail extensions.
  • Supported land use policies that improve the development process, improve the live/work interface, employ green technology, allow for high density in the urban interface and around transit corridors, protect open space, animal habitat and endangered species.
  • Passed tough new ethics and open government laws.

In addition to elected office, Forrest Williams has been involved with many community organizations, including:

  • Mentor, East Side Union High School District's Electronics Academy
  • Liaison, Minority Engineering Program, University of California, Davis
  • Advisor, Engineering Program, California State University, Sacramento
  • Vice President, Boys and Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley
  • Board Member, South Valley Family YMCA
  • Board Member, Lyric Theatre
  • Coach, Little League Baseball, Youth Soccer and Youth Basketball
  • Commissioner, Commission on the Status of Women
  • Commissioner, Moscow Sister County Commission

Family
  • Married 45 Years: Dorothy (RN, Retired)
  • Adult Children: Carol and Wesley
  • Grandchildren: Jasmine (8), Shane (8), Raven (5)

Education
  • Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE), Indiana Institute of Technology
  • Masters of Science in Electrical Engineering (MSEE), Louisiana State University
  • Degree of Engineer in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (DEECS), Santa Clara University

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: May 6, 2010 13:33
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