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LWV League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA June 3, 2008 Election
Smart Voter

Minh Duong
Answers Questions

Candidate for
Council Member; City of San Jose; Council District 8

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The questions were prepared by the Leagues of Women Voters of Santa Clara County and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. What experience related to city government would you bring to the City Council?

I feel that my personal background and experience as a successful small business owner and real estate investor brings a perspective sorely missing on the San Jose City Council. I bring a fresh perspective that's focus on the bottom line. As elected leaders, we must never violate the public trust. It is our responsibility to safe guard and manage public funds carefully as if it were our own money made through hard work, blood, sweat and tears.

When I was growing up my family was nearly homeless and definitely penniless. My father died when I was young, and I knew it would be my responsibility to provide for our family.

If elected to the City Council, I will take the same attitude. We must investment public funds wisely and every tax dollar we spend must yield a return on investment. Furthermore, the number one responsibility is to be responsive and implement the public will to the best of our abilities.

As your City Councilmember, I will bring enthusiasm, energy and an opened mindedness to try new things to get things done. For too long we've depended on politics as usual. City Hall needs fresh blood and new thinking to help manage the challenges ahead.

I have also been heavily involved in our community, serving in a number of civic and community organizations including:

If you want a candidate who brings real life experience, a commitment to the community, and a focus on the bottom line then I'm your candidate.

2. What concerns are of particular importance to the city and how would you address them?

First and foremost, we need a strong local economy. This means economic development, job creation and the wise use of tax dollars. A strong health economy means a strong tax base which is critical and necessary to sustain vital government services as a police, fire, recreation and public safety. Government can and should play a role in provided tax incentives for job creation and well planned development. Locally and national our economy is in crisis, the mortgage meltdown and falling real estate prices are a particularly prominent in San Jose. However, in every crisis there is opportunity. We must use every resource available to government to find innovative and sensible opportunities in a downturn economy. We should make it easy for businesses to open, thrive and operate.

Second, we must ensure that we have a safe community. I will support local law enforcement to make sure they have the resources they need to keep our community safe. Law enforcement must aggressively pursue all crimes--large and small. A downturn the economy and an uptick in crime would be disaster and a dangerous downward spiral.

Finally, we must have sensible development that spurs economic growth and preserves the high quality of life we expect and demand here in San Jose.

Here a highlight of my view on other issues:

Public safety-More police, street lights, crime intervention and prevention.

Overcrowding Schools- Work with school districts to implement "Proof of Residence" programs to ensure that our children who live in the district have a fair opportunity to go to their home schools. We will work with state and county government as well as our community to promote more schools and educational services such after school programs and libraries.

Traffic Congestion- work with our state and county government to improve transportation infrastructure. Promote traffic calming through the use of speed bumps to reduce speeding.

Community Empowerment- Build neighborhood groups and support our them to financial self-sustainability.

Jobs & Managed Economic Growth-attract large and small businesses to the city to create jobs and boost tax base. Slows residential development but increase development and support for small businesses.

Solution & Prevention of Budget Deficit- Smart subsidies to attract large and medium size companies to the District and city to create jobs and a long term sustainable growth that will provide more tax revenue for our city to alleviate the budget problem.

Evergreen Clean & Green- Preserve open space & implement tree grants for neighborhood beautification. Promote Neighborhood Cleanliness campaign to create aware of the quality of life in the community. District 8 must be a highly desirable place to live.

Youth and Senior Services- Promote and support a home for our youth Evergreen Little League; so that our kids have a home sports playground to conduct healthy activities. As for our city seniors, they have worked and contributed to our city and community all their lives, it's time we take good care of our Seniors. I will work with our state and county government to create Senior assistance program to help pay for the difference in rising cost of living while our seniors receives an almost fixed income in their retirement age.

Open and Honest Governance- I believe that our government needs to be transparent and openly accessible to the public. I will work to ensure that our city government will inform our residents of all issues coming to the council and allow ample time for our community to give feedback. Our government should be honest and should reflect the voice of the people it serves.

Building Foundation for the Future- working with companies to support vocational training for the future work force and to promote research in green energy sector to meet ours goals of enabling half of our city to have solar panels on the rooftops in the next 10 years.

3. How would you balance the needs of the City as a whole with groups' interests?

The needs of the City as a whole always come before the needs or interests of any one group.

Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' responses are not edited or corrected by the League.

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

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: May 7, 2008 23:40
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