League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Los Angeles County, CA April 11, 2006 Election
	Dwight P. McDonald Answers Questions Candidate for Member, City Council; City of Santa Clarita

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. How should the City of Santa Clarita maintain a balance between its unique environment and its need for development?

The balance does not come easy, but is attainable through planning, education, and design. The City was established in order to be a balance of quality of life, coupled with the services needed to maintain the rual atmosphere, and functionality of a city.

Development should be balanced with the ability to provide the needed services associated with the population, but not at the cost of adverse impact on the environment and quality of life for which the city was originally established. You can't put five quarts in a gallon container, and the city cannot afford to grow beyond its' capability to provide for its' people at levels or service and security less than expected and entitled. The City must weigh every option, consider the pros and cons, seek the input of the citizens of the City, and then make the approprite decisons on the need for development and the impact on the environment.

2. How can the City of Santa Clarita best secure an acceptable standard of public safety?

The time has come for the City of Santa Clarita to establish its' own Police and Fire Departments, and not be subjec to the dictates of a rented police or fire service, which has its' own agenda, and may not be in the best interest of those who pay for those services. The City of Santa Clarita needs to have Police and Fire services which is subject to the City who employs them, with supervision and management who are responsible to the people of Santa Clarita and the City Council. A city owned and maintained police and fire service will create a dedicated and devoted department, who will take ownership of the city, and provide the highest quality service to ensure that the city where they work and live is safe and secure. Currently the rented law enforcement and fire service utilized by the City are compensated, by the county, and are ultimately subject to the County of Los Angeles, and not the City of Santa Clarita. Public Safety services which are directly accountble to the city that employs them will provide the desired services and results, as opposed to a rented service.

3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having a city election in April of the even-numbered years? Do you favor continuing the practice?

The practice of having the election for City Council as currently established works well because of the fact that the people of Santa Clarita are focused on the candidates which directly impact the future of their city, and they are not inundated with advertisments from State or Federal candidates or issues, and thus eliminates the frustration and confusion. Given the fact that the only issue before the people of the City is whom they want for their City Council, they are more likely to become educated on the candidates, and vote. The City Council election is critical to the people and should not be taken lightly. The City Council vote, more than any other election, has the greatest impact on the people of Santa Clarita. If only for that reason alone, the current City Council election should maintain its current election schedule.

---

Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League. 

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Candidate Page || This Contest
SmartVoter Home (Ballot Lookup) || About Smart Voter

---

Created from information supplied by the candidate: March 25, 2006 05:40
Smart Voter <http://www.smartvoter.org/>
Copyright © League of Women Voters of California Education Fund   http://www.lwvc.org
The League of Women Voters neither supports nor opposes candidates for public office or political parties.