League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Santa Clara County, CA June 5, 2012 Election
	Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues County Supervisor; Santa Clara County; Supervisorial District 5

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, District Needs, Budget Click on a name for candidate information.   See also more information about this contest. 1. What experience and training would you bring to this office? Answer from Barry Chang: When it comes to our health and safety, no one has been fighting harder for Santa Clara County residents than me. I the only candidate for County Supervisor who has fought to require Lehigh Southwest Cement Plant (Lehigh) to reduce its toxic pollution output. When elected, I will require the enforcement of the laws and more stringent emission standards for mercury and other toxins to ensure that every breath we take and our drinking water are clean and safe. Because my work, Lehigh will go from #1 stationary source of mercury pollution to emitting 90% less mercury into our air, reservoirs that feed our water supply. Answer from Kris Huyilan Wang: I have the experience, passion, and commitment to represent you in county government. I bring local, community leadership experience and perspectives that I believe align with the needs and priorities of the district and broader county. I have served locally as a community leader over the last decade which has allowed me to listen closely to the needs and priorities of local residents. With over 20 years of private industry working experience, I am certainly in tune with what our businesses need to continue creating jobs in the Valley. I am an immigrant who struggled to provide for herself and build a family, a mother who understands the value of education and public safety, and an active community servant who has seen both the benefits and consequences of how local government can affect the broader community. 2. What are the particular needs of your district? Answer from Kris Huyilan Wang: Three major needs to be addressed: 1.) Santa Clara County's budget deficit amid a fragile, recovering economy and how to provide for the necessary resources our community needs while allocating funds toward the investment in the future health of our economy and community well-being. With a significant portion of the County budget coming from property taxes, limited by Proposition 13 to 1% of property value, coupled with falling property values, our County government needs to make difficult decisions and find efficiencies in our budget that will allow the County to provide for its necessary programs without sacrificing our fiscal standing for the future. 2.) Two major keys to the County's economic health include new job creation (both in and out of high-tech) as well as recovery of the housing market. Job creation starts with investing in sound, long-term projects, incentivizing businesses to hire and keep jobs in the County, and supporting job training for workers. The housing recovery requires dedicated government assistance with those facing foreclosure and planning for smart-growth development along our County's transportation corridors that can benefit our community for the long-run. 3.) For Santa Clara County, there is a need to build a stronger sense of unity and identity in the area. The County has grown larger in diversity over the last several decades (since when I first moved to the County 30 years ago), but its involvement and influence is only now starting to take off. The sense of unity and identity in this community should be supported and encouraged to grow even stronger as a major part of the multi-cultural fabric of our broader community. Answer from Barry Chang: Santa Clara County can not continue to run its business with budget deficit like the past consecutive ten years. Nor Santa Clara County can allow Lehigh Southwest Cement Plant continue violating the laws for more than ten long years. It is time for a change. For over 10 years, the Santa Clara County Baord of Supervisors has ignored the Lehigh's repeatd violations and residents' repeated requests for action. Why ahall Lehigh be allowed to operate in violation of the laws while profiting at the expenses of our health and safety? The Board of Supervisors has not done enough to protect Santa Clara County residents. When electe, I will require the enforcement of the law, period. 3. Given scarce resources, how would you approach balancing the County budget and what County programs and services should be given the highest priority? Answer from Barry Chang: To balance the budget, I will cut the fat from the top. Santa Clara County should enforce the law and fine the big polluter, Lehigh, for its violations of the law and make sure Lehigh is in compliance with the law. Transportation programs and education programs should be given the highest priority. Answer from Kris Huyilan Wang: With the broader economy in a state of fragile recovery, I believe, now more than ever, there is tremendous opportunity for leaders to directly impact the lives of residents in the county by making tough, common sense decisions to repair the necessary resources that our community members rely upon as well as prioritize remaining funds toward rebuilding and investing in a thriving community. While easier said than done, I generally believe that fixing fundamental obstacles to long-term economic recovery such as job creation and housing recovery will go further toward benefiting the community than short-term measures to alleviate the budget crunch. This means sacrifice, a focus on fiscal discipline, and finding more operating efficiencies. Stabilizing a prosperous economy requires continued governmental fiscal discipline, continued investment in local education and job training, and a renewed focus on sustainability initiatives (such as environmental sustainability) that will help us refrain from using the limited resources we need for the future. Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. Word limits for answers are 400 words for all questions. Direct references to opponents are not permitted. The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.