League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Santa Clara County, CA June 8, 2010 Election
	Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues Council Member; City of San Jose; Council District 1

The questions were prepared by the Leagues of Women Voters of Santa Clara County and asked of all candidates for this office.     See below for questions on Experience, Concerns, Balance, Contributions Click on a name for candidate information.   See also more information about this contest. 1. What experience related to city government would you bring to the City Council? Answer from David William Clancy: I was a member of the operating Board of Directors of the Institute of World Affairs in San Diego, CA. The IWA hosted several international statesmen, including many foreign Ambassadors to the United States. My role with the IWA was just one of the projects I worked on while garnering a degree in Political Science at SDSU. As a commercial real estate broker, I have represented hundreds of small business owners and have worked with the zoning & planning departments on several occasions. I will utilize those experiences, as the customer, to transform San Jose into a business-friendly city that will assume its rightful position as the capitol of Silicon Valley. Answer from Tom Johnston: 14 years as a employee for the City of San Jose, working for children, youth and families. Worked as council assistant; learned the importance of accountability, honesty and delivering on promises. I worked to bring quality/affordable child care to San Jose families. I helped update the Department of Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Services Youth Services Master Plan for before/after school programming for San Jose youth and teens. I worked at the policy level with all 19 school districts superintendents in San Jose city limits. Focused on joint-use agreements between the City and the schools, state legislation that favored San Jose schools, and developed a strategic work plan that focused on teacher recruitment/retention. I currently work as a community coordinate in distressed neighborhoods. Work to help neighborhoods recruit/retain residence for neighborhood associations/groups. Help neighborhoods navigate the City bureaucracy during event planning, or if bureaucracy is in the way. 2. What concerns are of particular importance to the city and how would you address them? Answer from Tom Johnston: There are three issues that are of extreme importance to the City; 1) Fixing the pension system - with priority on police and fire. 2) Making the government work - finding efficiencies, eliminating bad policies & procedures, and making government more responsive to the residents - all of which will bring savings to the general fund. 3) Protecting the vital District One resources like parks, libraries, community centers, recreational/education/and nutritional programming for youth and seniors from the proposed budget cuts. Answer from David William Clancy: The biggest challenge we face in San Jose is our $118 million deficit, which looks to get worst in the coming years.$53 million of this year's deficit is due to the additional amount the city had to pay, over the normal contributions, to the police & fire pensions to keep them solvent. The pension's shortfall next year is projected to be almost $100 million. This problem isn't going anywhere anytime soon and we simply can't ignore that the police & fire pension plan is bankrupting the city. We need to return to the 75% of salary pensions of the late 1990's. 3. How would you balance the needs of the City as a whole with groups' interests? Answer from David William Clancy: I have refused all special interest support, in particular the city's labor unions. To obtain any kind of balance we need members on the Council who focus on the needs of the city and the residents of San Jose. I will speak for the People of San Jose. Answer from Tom Johnston: In the seven years I've been a community coordinator, without question the most important skill I've learned is good communication; communication which leads to a good relationships. If you communicate effectively, and honestly, any difficulty, such budget cuts, can be dealt with. 4. How much money do you expect to raise/ spend on your race, and how will you assure voters that financial contributions will not affect your decisions/positions should you be elected? Answer from David William Clancy: I have refused all special interest support and completely funded my campaign myself and am uniquely unencumbered of political liabilities. In total, I have spent about $5,000 in the campaign. By the time of the election, it is my goal to have personally visited 10,000 households. Just before May, I am nearly half way there. Answer from Tom Johnston: I started my campaign in mid-March but am actively fund raising. All of my contributions have come from friends and family; many of whom who do not live in the San Jose which leaves little room for effecting my decision making. Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' responses are not edited or corrected by the League. The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.