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Santa Clara County, CA November 4, 2014 Election
Smart Voter

Enhance Saratoga's Quality of Life

By Rishi Kumar

Candidate for Council Member; City of Saratoga

This information is provided by the candidate
What are some key criteria that lineup to contribute to Saratoga's quality of life - that makes us special? I will enhance and protect them, make prudent choices to keep Saratoga thriving and successful.
I would like to begin today with a very trite admission: I love Saratoga. How could I not fall in love with Saratoga when I drove through it fifteen years ago? I knew I had found home in Saratoga with it's hills, its quaintness, its redwood trees; the views from Mt. Eden Road; the farmer's market, the vineyards off of Chester; the winding, spell-binding drives, the stunning view from inside Immanuel Lutheran Church, the trail along Saratoga creek, Villa Montalvo...the list goes on. If you ask my wife, Seema, with whom I've shared nineteen years of marriage, she'll tell you it was a defining moment of our lives as we looked to raise a family.

FOCUS ON FAMILIES AND MAKE DECISIONS EASIER: We are a family oriented - largely the reason why we moved into Saratoga - and our offerings and challenges lineup with this core value. What contributes to our quality of life is fast efficient city services for our citizens, a laid-back semi-rural ambiance, protecting our trees, a well maintained park and trails system, and streets that mostly have free flowing traffic, and quiet neighborhoods. On the council, I will continue to enhance that quality of life for all Saratogans, based upon their input, ideas, our understanding of our community, while building a framework of active community engagement. We all love a family conducive environment, happy, contented, relaxed lives. We are invested to raise smart, happy, successful kids and provide the right opportunities for them to thrive and grow. We have a fairly large senior population and we like to address their needs in the community - along with the needs of the young families that are trickling into Saratoga.

A population of only 30,000, we have some very intelligent, successful folks who make Saratoga their home. It is our amazing citizens of Saratoga that make our community so special. Firstly, the folks who made some well thought out choices almost 60 years ago+ that set up on the path for success. Folks who have brought their leadership and volunteerism to bear to make Saratoga such a special city. I have met folks who have lived here for decades; their love and almost reverence for our city is so very perceptible and real. There is so much energy that I notice with our seniors, a fire in their belly to do their best for Saratoga. How could we not embrace that model + it is the inevitable. Our current seniors made the prudent choices, and we are benefiting. To continue making the right choices, and teaming with our citizens, listening to them, bringing our energy, dedication and volunteering passion is what I seek to bring to the city council.

Our super talents of Saratoga have the best of intentions for our community, volunteering their time and energies. Right fully so, since we are a minimal service city, and the volunteering is critical to our success. So in spite of some very demanding day jobs, multi-tasking family and other life constraints, our community members always find the time to volunteer. Everyone is motivated with the simple premise of helping towards the success of our community. That has led to the special brand of Saratoga upbringing. Our kids do well, growing up in a "safe container" and are then ready to go out and conquer the world. It is a fantastic place to raise a family and for kids to get an excellent education and grow up as responsible happy adults. We need to continue to make smart choices that

What contributes to our quality of life is fast efficient city services for our citizens, a laid-back ambiance, emphasis on trees, fiercely protecting them, a well maintained park and trails system, and streets that mostly have free flowing traffic, and quiet neighborhoods. On the council, I will continue to enhance that quality of life for all Saratogans, based upon their input, ideas, our understanding of our community, while building a framework of active community engagement.

I love giving back to our community, volunteering my time to help steer prudent choices for Saratoga, to keep Saratoga thriving, successful and a desired community for all of bay area.

I assure you I will always put Saratogans first and I ensure that our needs are addressed. I will persist like no one can. I am the passionate community worker, that will seek to do the right thing for our neighborhoods and our families. I have always backed my talk with real action. I will deliver!

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