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The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of San Jose/Santa Clara in partnership with the San Jose Mercury News and asked of all candidates for this office.
See below for questions on
Growth,
Mayor vs. Manager,
Public Safety,
City Finances
Click on a name for candidate information. See also more information about this contest.
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1. There are proposals to add 30,000 houses and more office space in North San Jose, thousands more homes in Evergreen and to build a new community in the Coyote Valley. There has been no in-depth study of how these plans will affect one another or services throughout the city. Should San Jose complete a thorough, public review of its general plan for growth before approving any more major development plans? Silicon Valley needs more housing, but San Jose needs more jobs to strengthen its tax base. How would you balance those conflicting pressures?
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Answer from Judy Chirco:
I believe that there needs to be a complete and thorough, public review of San Jose's general plan. We need to be aware of the infra-structure needs that new development will require, things such as public safety, parks, libraries and schools. A review of our general plan could allow for thoughful analysis of growth, both for needed housing as well as the required jobs so families could grow and thrive in San Jose.
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2. San Jose has a council/manager form of government. Over the past few years the balance of power has shifted toward the mayor and there are some elected officials who support this stronger role for the mayor. Should San Jose move to a strong-mayor form of government or have a strong professional administrator? What kind of city manager will you look for?
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Answer from Judy Chirco:
San Jose City Council sets the direction of the city and the city administration, led by the city manager, implements the policies that have been set by the council. The elected body is the voice of the community and as such they have the responsibility for setting the direction for the city. I believe that San Jose and the citizens benefit when there is a balance of responsibility between the elected council and the professionals that are responsibile for the day to day managing of city business.
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3. Safety often includes services such as homework centers and code enforcement for neighborhoods, but the city budget now being prepared could cut much needed services. If there is no other source of funds to maintain safety-related centers and gang prevention, would you consider reducing the funds going to support the police and fire departments? Can the growing costs of police and for pensions be covered without depleting funds for other community service in the future?
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Answer from Judy Chirco:
Since I got into office in 2003 San Jose has struggled with severe budget short falls. Balancing the core services of the city and the community needs and wants has been an extremely challenging task. Chief Davis, of the San Jose Police, is clear that public satety while a large part the responsibility of our police, it is also something that other programs such as after school programs, libraries and school safety programs contribute to. We have reduced the budgets of the fire and police, however the cuts were to the support services and didn't reduce uniformed personal. This year we will be able to begin adding some of the support services back that increase the ability of our public safety departments to be as effective as possible.
The cost of retirement pensions are a growing concern for all levels of government. San Jose has a record of fully funding the retirement pensions of it's employees but that is a growning cost and I believe that it is something that in the near future will have to be a conversation that both the employees as well as the city will have to have because I believe that the cost will affect other community services.
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4. Money to maintain and operate the city’s public facilities such as parks and libraries is in shorter and shorter supply. So while new or expanded community centers have been proposed previously, the city is looking at closing or privatizing up to 30 existing centers it cannot afford to operate. Should the city re-examine its plans to add parks and other public facilities? Are there services the city could cut to find money for these highly valued ones?
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Answer from Judy Chirco:
The community passed the parks and library bond because they saw their facilities ageing and become more inadequate with our growing community. However with the down turn in the economy it became impossible to fully staff our facalities in the manner that the city had done previously. The city recently released the reuse study and it found that there was not the opportunity to privatize as it had been hoped. However that does not mean we do not have to do something, whether it is to close the smaller facilities or offer the ones that interest has been expressed in to a non-profit
provider, there just isn't the dollars to operate all the facilities we have. We are opening new and enhanced community centers in each council district and in district 9 the expanded Camden Community Center is now open with more space and expanded amenities. I believe that with the centralization of services the range of services will still be available, but they will be offered in these new or renovated community centers.
Responses to questions asked of each candidate
are reproduced as submitted to the League.
Candidates' responses are not edited or corrected by the League.
The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.
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League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
