League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Sonoma County, CA June 3, 2008 Election
	David J. Reber Answers Questions Candidate for County Supervisor; Sonoma County; Supervisorial District 1

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

Questions & Answers

1. In your opinion, how would the proposed SMART commuter railroad impact Sonoma County?

If done properly, a regional transit train will reduce highway traffic and environmental impact. However, SMART is not sufficient - BART is smarter. SMART is a train line from Cloverdale to somewhere short of Corte Madera - this is not a region. The right of way should be given to BART and constructed as part of the BART system, initially connecting to San Francisco via Golden Gate transit, but eventually connecting into the entire BART system - this is truly regional transit, and the only fast, comfortable and safe alternative a significant number of commuters will choose.

2. How can Sonoma County improve mental health services in the county?

First, by retaining Norton Center as an in-patient emergency mental health facility. Second, by continued political pressure for Medicare reimbursements reflecting today's costs, not 1965 standards when Sonoma County was rural with low living costs. Third, work with Sutter and Memorial Hospitals to develop incentives to attract psychiatrists, one of the critical medical specialties which are insufficiently staffed in Sonoma County because of low federal reimbursement rates and the high cost of living.

3. If elected, how will you keep yourself informed of your constituents' concerns, and your constituents informed of your stances and activities?

First and foremost, by returning calls within one business day. Anyone who thinks they have a problem serious enough to call their county supoervisor deserves to be heard. I will also attend community meetings, continue my membership in the organizations which I already belong to, stop and chat in the grocery store, and have regular office hours in both Santa Rosa and Sonoma Valley. To the extent possible, I will try to establish a large e-mail base to send updates to residents; I will not use constituent newsletters, as they tend to be self-serving and not cost effective, given the small number of people who actually read them.

4. How would you balance the need for developing housing and business with environmental stewardship?

Environmental and economic policies both need to be grounded in facts and common sense; when they are, they do not conflict. Sonoma County will not experience the growth it has in the past 3 decades; the price of housing will reduce population growth to perhaps 2% per year. Enhancing the business environment is as much about how government conducts itself as the specific policies it adopts. I recognize that the private sector is the source of wealth and opportunity, and I recognize that we should all be responsible citizens of the Earth and protect the natural beauty which is Sonoma County.

---

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.

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

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

---

Created from information supplied by the candidate: April 9, 2008 12:25
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.