Candidate for
City Clerk; City of Santa Clara

A MESSAGE FROM ROD:

"City Clerk is more than just a job. It is an elected post that involves public trust. I've always honored the trust you've placed in me, and will continue to do so as your City Clerk.

As a volunteer, professional and City Councilmember, I've seen the best and the worst of what government has to offer. You have my word that as your City Clerk I will expect the best, and hold people accountable if they offer the worst.

My vision is for a City Clerk's office which is well run, accurate in recording the record, and responsive to the public. One which has taken the extra steps to look for efficiencies and save taxpayer dollars. And, one which has truly engaged the public through good-government efforts to allow them to make educated choices that best reflect their own ideology.

Santa Clara deserves a City Clerk who has a record of answering to the voters. Someone who will serve without a sense of bureaucratic entitlement, but with a drive to keep Santa Clara the All-American City that it is today.

As you consider who will best serve our City, please look at my record. It's important to know where I've been, so you know where I'll go.

Thank you for your time. I would be honored to again have your trust and your vote on November 2nd.

My best,

Rod Diridon, Jr.

THE DIRIDON PLAN:

The top priorities for the City Clerk should be to ensure transparency in government and public access to information, oversee the audit system to reduce government waste, and implement election cycles and good-government policies to build public trust.

As the City Clerk, Rod will work in these three specific areas:

• Stability and accountability: Rod will ensure the proper administration of the office and maintain open and unbiased access to government. He will have a Zero Tolerance Policy for any staff member who is not service-oriented.

• Saving Taxpayer Dollars: Rod will work with the Auditing team to look for ways to eliminate government waste. He will also propose a Performance Audit Pilot Program for the City to explore if there are efficiencies to implement to save taxpayer dollars.

• Good Government: Rod will fully implement the recommendations of the Ethics Ordinance and Campaign Finance Reform Committees. Through this, voters will have the ability to cut through misleading political electioneering and make educated choices that best reflect their own ideology.

City Clerk is more than just a job, it is an elected post that involves public trust. The City Clerk answers to its' boss, the voters, only once every four years at election time. Santa Clara deserves a City Clerk who has a record of being responsible to the voters.

Santa Clara needs a Clerk who will serve without a sense of bureaucratic entitlement, but with a drive to keep it the All-American City that it is today. Rod Diridon is the only candidate for City Clerk who has served in elected office, for eight years on the Santa Clara City Council.

A City Clerk must also be completely unbiased, fair and accurate. Rod Diridon's record of government reform: a founding member of the Ethics Ordinance Committee and the founder and Chair of the Campaign Finance Reform Committee, have shown that he is dedicated to open and honest government.

In addition to this, there are three distinct skill-sets necessary for a City Clerk to serve at its best:

• Political knowledge: To implement good-government campaigns, a Clerk must know how politics operate in order to keep people honest. Rod has been through numerous elections and has seen the best and the worst of what they have to offer. He'll make sure that the standard is set in Santa Clara that we expect the best, and hold people accountable if they offer the worst.

• An understanding of Government in Santa Clara: It is critical to understand government, specifically in Santa Clara to be an effective Clerk. Rod Diridon has been involved directly with the City administration, committees, commissions and council, and delivered 8 balanced budgets.

• Private sector expertise: This is important both to manage the office as well as look for cost efficiencies. Rod has managed global teams of dozens of people and local teams of far fewer. He knows what it's like to work hard and will bring extensive private sector experience to the Office.

• Record

Patricia Mahan, Mayor of Santa Clara

• Integrity

Laurie Smith, Santa Clara County Sheriff

• Experience

Lisa Gillmor, Former Vice-Mayor and City Councilmember

• Community Service

Gary Niblock, Retired Santa Clara Firefighter + President, Santa Clara Firefighters Association

• Neighborhoods

Steve Lee, President, Mission Park Homeowners Association Santa Clara Parks and Recreation Commissioner