League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Sonoma County, CA June 3, 2008 Election
	Shirlee Zane Answers Questions Candidate for County Supervisor; Sonoma County; Supervisorial District 3

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?

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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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).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: April 19, 2008 10:23
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