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The questions were prepared by the the League of Women Voters of Sonoma County and asked of all candidates for this office.
See below for questions on
SMART,
Mental Health,
Communication,
Sustainability
Click on a name for candidate information. See also more information about this contest.
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1. In your opinion, how would the proposed SMART commuter railroad impact Sonoma County?
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Answer from Tim Smith:
I support SMART and have endorsed its passage in each election that it has appeared on the ballot. It is my hope that it will pass in 2008! SMART provides a much needed alternative to vehicle travel on 101 and it offers excellent opportunities for city-centered, transit-oriented development along the 101 corridor.
Answer from Sharon Wright:
I was on the first SMART Board and have been an advocate and supporter ever since. SMART, to me, is an investment in our future. In addition to providing a clean and safe alternative to the automobile, it promises to be the seed to Transit Oriented Development. As a commute alternative, SMART will reduce green house gas emissions and will open opportunities for freight - resulting in fewer trucks and a healthier environment.
Answer from Shirlee Zane:
SMART would decrease traffic congestion, improve overall public transit with feeder bus routes into stations, help reduce GHG emissions and overall improve our quality of life here in the North Bay. We should also increase bicycle lanes by 100% by 2010 by supporting SMART, which would support building a Class I bicycle path the length of the County.
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2. How can Sonoma County improve mental health services in the county?
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Answer from Sharon Wright:
At a recent candidate forum, we were ask, "What is the one thing you would not cut from the County budget?" My answer was mental health.
Given our current reimbursement rates, it is difficult to be competitive in attracting mental health care providers, especially psychiarists. We need to work with our local hospitals, and all stakeholders, to develop incentives that will attract these professionals.
It's unbelievable to me that we have no acute beds for the mentally ill in this county. Our county jail is the default facility for many with mental illness. We need to examine what funds are being expended to deal with this issue (both in the public & private sector) and define new and more effective,responsible ways to deliver this needed service.
Answer from Shirlee Zane:
As a former therapist and mental health provider I understand the importance of our need to vastly improve our current services. We need "wrap around" mental health services that focus especially on prevention and early screening. However we cannot be shipping patients out of the county for lack of psychiatric acute care hospital beds. We must provide the whole continuum and work toward decreasing the stigma of mental health. Primary care physicians also need training in screening patients for mental health problems.
Answer from Tim Smith:
Most of the funding for mental health services in Sonoma County is provided by the federal and state government for programs as specified by the funding source. We need to acknowledge that "upstream" spending on community based mental health care is more cost-effective than institutional care, especially when such care occurs in our jail. I will work to obtain additional funding from sources which provide flexibility as to delivery of mental health care, as well as other health care, services.
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3. If elected, how will you keep yourself informed of your constituents' concerns, and your constituents informed of your stances and activities?
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Answer from Shirlee Zane:
I will keep a web site where constituents can read updates on my issues and activities and where they can send me emails and also easily request meetings. Also I believe in keeping an open door policy where constituents can feel free to dialogue with me regardless of our positions. Government should be proactive and not reactive.
Answer from Tim Smith:
As Supervisor, a priority will be consituent service. I have already made arrangements with the Santa Rosa and Rohnert Park City Managers, that upon election, I may use available meeting space in their respective City Halls to regularly meet with residents, staff members and other elected officials, thus making it much more convenient for such meetings to occur. My home phone number is published and phone calls or emails to me are responded to promptly.
Answer from Sharon Wright:
I have always had an open door policy and encouraged constituent meetings. I am active in the community and easily available. In addition, I will keep an active web site that will keep interested parties up-do-date on timely issues as well as provide a vehicle for communication and feed-back.
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4. How would you balance the need for developing housing and business with environmental stewardship?
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Answer from Tim Smith:
The top priorities of my campaign - ECONOMY, ENVIRONMENT and EQUITY - provide the balanced approach necessary to have a truly sustainable Sonoma County. Please refer to our campaign website - http://www.vote4tim.com - for further details.
Answer from Shirlee Zane:
I will work toward providing incentives to "green businesses" that pay Living Wages so that we can become "The Green Silicon Valley". I will also work toward streamlining affordable housing developments that are building green. All public policy must be evaluated on the triple bottom line; environment, economy and social equity. There are myths circulating that lead people to believe that investing in the environment is detrimental to the economy, but nothing could be farther from the truth. For example, if Sonoma County is aggressive in investing in renewable energy sources, such as solar, then we will become a very attractive location to do business. The costs of carbon fuels will continue to rise and energy costs continue to be a major expense for businesses. Both large and small businesses will find our county attractive if we can substantially lower their expenses as compared to the rest of California.
Answer from Sharon Wright:
I have always said that the economy and enviroment are not mutually exclusive - they go hand in hand. Our cities and the County have done a reasonable job in establishing green building standards however, I believe we need to take the next step by having a regional program. By giving "Green" development a priority we can incentivitize projects with streamlined processing and funding assistance.
Sonoma County has a reputation for being foward thinking and acting - the recent announcement by the Sonoma County Water Agency to establish the first carbon neutral "community" is an example. We need to continue to set the standard and set lofty, yet realistic goals.
Responses to questions asked of each candidate
are reproduced as submitted to the League.
Candidates' answers are presented as submitted. Word limits for answers were 400 words for all 4 questions. Direct reference to opponents are not permitted.
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
