Candidate for
Council Member; City of Sunnyvale; Seat 3

I am a native Bay Area resident, growing up in Pleasanton, graduating from U.C. Berkeley with a degree in Mathematics Applied to Computer Science, and moving to Sunnyvale directly after graduation to work in Silicon Valley.

I am an engineering manager and lead design engineer for deCarta, which designs mapping and routing technology for many of the top web, phone, and embedded system companies. Chances are if you've ever gotten maps or driving directions online or from a device, you've used technology I've helped invent.

I've served my community for more than a decade, starting as founding President of the Sutton Place Homeowners Association in 1997. As president I created the Association's processes for parking, budgets, insurance, garbage, maintenance, and resident feedback. I successfully created 10 annual six-figure budgets, with the Association finishing every one of them under budget. I now serve on the Board of Directors of the Danbury Place Homeowners Association.

In 2004, I was appointed by the City Council to the Board in 2004, and I became Board Chair after my first year. Since then, I've been responsible for conducting meetings, speaking with state legislators, and directly providing library policy recommendations to the City Council. In that role, I've advised the City Council on building a new library, building a branch library, long-term plans for Raynor Center, and the acquisition of the Sunnyvale Library's new RFID-based automated check-in system.

In 2008, I was appointed to represent Sunnyvale on the Silicon Valley Library Systems Advisory Board, then only the second private citizen to serve on an intergovernmental relations body. After my first meeting, I was elected by the Board to be Vice-Chair.

I served as a member of the 2008 City Manager Selection Panel, as well as the 2009 Library Director Selection Panel.

Sunnyvale faces tremendous challenges. We have a $13 million structural budget deficit, caused in large part by a loss of some $800 million in local commercial sales. We have a Downtown project that is stalled, yet again. We face a growing water crisis, and environmental challenges. We need to plan now to support the changing housing and service needs of an aging population. And we need to do all of this with decreasing resources and a city that is entirely built out.

I'm running for the City Council because I believe Sunnyvale needs experienced and thoughtful people to step up, serve with integrity, and do the hard work of solving problems and representing the needs and desires of Sunnyvale's residents. I've worked hard to gain that experience, so that I can do the job starting on the first day. More now than ever, Sunnyvale needs a candidate with a proven track record of community service, experience with City Council processes, and ability to start working on the very first day, rather than one who says "just trust me, I think I can learn how to do the job".

My 20-year career gives me a hands-on understanding of the high-tech industry, unmatched by any other candidate or current council member, and a detailed understanding of traffic and transit problems and solutions. I've created and managed budgets large and small, and served on non-profit boards. I've worked to support public libraries and improve children's education. And most important, I have the energy and drive to meet with residents, learn what matters to all of us, and find a way to make it happen.

I believe I will serve you well as your newest council member, and I hope you will agree with me on November 3rd. I respectfully ask for your support, and for your vote.

For more information, please visit my web site, www.jimforcouncil.org.