Candidate for
Council Member; Town of Los Gatos

Questions & Answers (from http://www.mikewasserman.com)

In response to numerous inquiries, Mike prepared the following letter to more fully elaborate his position on several community issues:

Town Growth Hillside Growth/Development Preservation Parking Police/Fire Protection Seniors, Library & Youth Neighborhoods

Dear Los Gatos Residents,

Thanks for your overwhelming support and numerous questions!

In general terms: My platform can be described as one of a common sense approach to community issues in order to preserve and enhance the charm and uniqueness that is Los Gatos.

I am not and will not, become a "politician", which Webster's Dictionary defines as: "...a person holding or seeking political office; often used in a derogatory sense, with implications of seeking personal or partisan gain, scheming, opportunism, etc."

I appreciate being described as a "statesman", which Webster's defines as: "...a person who shows wisdom, skill and vision in...treating public issues."

After getting a degree in Psychology from USC in 1980, I married Kim and we've been married for the last 26 years. We moved back to my hometown of Los Gatos in 1982 and this is where we've lived and worked together for the last 24 years.

I've managed a data processing/payroll company, a tax practice and a property management company. I have owned a home in Los Gatos since 1982 and operated several businesses. I am a Certified Financial Planner and Registered Tax Preparer. I use this knowledge to administer and manage numerous assets.

I have been involved with several schools' Community Read-In programs and fund raisers for non-profit organizations that benefit children.

I have experienced the many plusses and a few minuses of our Town. While operating Collector's Corner II from 1990 to 2002, I listened to thousands of people tell me what they did and didn't like about Los Gatos. I have also coached 300+ kids on 25 teams and spoke often with the parents and kids, about our Town, schools and government.

I experienced the Los Gatos Planning Commission, Building Department and Historical Committee over a fifteen year period while doing a subdivision and several remodels.

Prior to winning the election in 2002 and becoming Mayor in 2004, I attended every Town Council meeting and almost every Planning Commission meeting held that year,tosee exactly how our system worked.

While on Council these last four years, I've continued to observe how our commissions and committees interact with the public. You can learn a lot--about jobs and people--by listening and watching.

Since winning the election, I have served on 20 local and regional committees, while being a Council Member, a Vice Mayor and Mayor.

For 24 years I have been negotiating and arbitrating issues between commercial, residential and industrial tenants, landlords, customers, insurance companies, attorneys, business owners, property owners, etc. in Fremont, Santa Cruz, Modesto, San Jose and Los Gatos.

They say, "No matter how thin you make a pancake, there are always two sides" -- and I am skilled and successful at finding solutions, while respecting the law.

Here are a few summaries in response to the questions I've received regarding certain community issues:

Town Growth: While I favor reasonable growth in appropriate areas, those areas are definitely finite and diminishing. While I want Los Gatos to continue to be considered one of the best communities in the world because of its location, weather, schools, homes, safety and charm, I also want it to maintain its "town-like" feeling. We've done enough development downtown. The density is too much and the parking insufficient. Any additional growth must take place elsewhere and be well thought out before being built. Like you, this is not just where I live; it's my home.

Hillside Growth/Development: I think it was Wil Rogers who said, "Buy land, they don't make it anymore"--he was right. Several very intelligent, community oriented individuals donated a lot of time and thought to complete the General Plan and Hillside Standards. These documents are the governing instrument for future development and direction. They deal with issues such as building on the ridge, density, grading, compatibility, etc.

Preservation: The term "Smart Growth" refers to development, with respect to environment. While that is only one of several similar approaches, I think it's important that every project be looked at from this angle when being considered. This is why you see more and more parking going underground (minimizing visible hardscaping) and commissions requiring more open space and asking for access or improvements to existing areas, such as trails and creeks.

Parking: I am on record as saying that the parking ratios we're using (meaning the number of parking spaces derived at based on the square footage of the project) should be increased. I have yet to see a project where the parking was described as "more than adequate" five years later. Underground parking is one way to create more spaces without using more surface area .

Police/Fire Protection: Our Police Department has won numerous awards these last four years and I am very proud of them! I am also very pleased with the fact we don't have gangs roaming our neighborhoods, we don't have a graffiti problem or need bars on our windows. I have known the D.A.R.E. officers for 13 years (John Campos, Leyton Howard and Sam Wonnell); assisted with the Halloween Haunted Forest event at Oak Meadow with Gwen Cross and work well and often with our Chief, Scott Seaman. I feel our Police and Fire do a great job for Los Gatos. And my endorsement from the Santa Clara County Firefighters showed how they felt too.

Senior Services, Library & Youth: Services to Seniors need to be improved and more comparable to those offered by other cities. A functional building with continuously scheduled activities, opportunities and meeting space is definitely needed. As well as areas to access the Internet and room to hold exercise equipment for cardio work. And a relationship with the high school and recreation department for use of its pool (during non-school time) for aerobics is excellent.

The library is undersized and in need of assistance -- which is a definite concern. Meeting rooms, high tech area, more books and space -- all these things and more are needed to have a first rate library and we're addressing those needs now in the Civic Center/Library Master Plan.

One of my early promises was to "Get into office and then get out of the office and into the neighborhoods" -- and I'm proud to have done that -- with the creation of the "Town Hall in the Neighborhood" program, whereby the Council visited neighborhoods to address their specific concerns.

In addition, we created a Youth Commission with student voices from numerous schools throughout Los Gatos.

The Community Unity project I created and launched in 2005 furthered community interaction, by getting 50 organizations to partner together to accomplish numerous projects that benefit our Seniors, youth and parks.

And I'm proud to say, won a prestigious Helen Putnam Award (on 9/06)fromtehLeague fo california Cities for "Enhancing Public Trust, Ethics and Community Involvement."

Well, I hope this answers most of the general questions. I'm always available to you for further discussion. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to explain myself and I hope you find me deserving of your vote again in November, 2006.

Thank you very much, Mike Wasserman