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The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Fremont, Newark, and Union City and asked of all candidates for this office.
See below for questions on
Goals
Click on a name for candidate information. See also more information about this contest.
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1. How would you accomplish your three stated goals with the current budget constraints?
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Answer from Subru Bhat:
As a Council Member, I will be taking an active leadership role in shaping the policies and funding of various activities. Let me explain how I would handle the budget situation. Union City is facing a financial deficit that has caused the City to cut some services. Many people, who have lost their jobs, like me for example, are left with no choice but to tighten the belt and carefully monitor the expenses. I think the City should do the same. Raising any tax should be the last resort. I will look for the buffers and fat built-into the budget and also what non-essential services could be curtailed before asking for a tax increase. This is the worst time to increase any tax. As your Council Member, I will make the tough decisions in the best interest of the City.
Answer from Pat D. Gacoscos:
I will work closely with the economic development department to find ways to bring new businesses to the city and retain ones that are already here. The city should rally the community to get people involved with our city's most vital programs either through volunteerism, community involvement and soliciting ideas for solutions.
Answer from John A. Repar:
Currently the Council is sending mixed signals and showing little leadership for the City Staff. I would address this by moving for acknowledged goals and priorities for the City and Staff. I would inform myself of issues in depth and bring questions to the Council meetings for discussion. I would communicate with the various organizations throughout the city to gain public opinion and involvement. I would insist on programs having milestones that would help insure progress against goals. This would mean active followup from the Council to gain focus from the City staff. All financial measures would be subject to detail questioning to determine 'Who is going to benefit?' and 'Who will have to pay?'.
This is the second recession we have had in the last ten years. We need to come out of this one smarter and take advantage of the recovery to better secure our City in all areas especially safety services and quality of life programs. By this I mean we hold fast on our tightly controlled budget until existing programs are securely funded and we have set aside full funding for our 'Rainy Day Fund'. After this we can look at our priorites, check our progress against goals, and then see where adding or expanding programs can be justified.
Increasing taxes is not the route I would take. This sends the wrong message to the City staff in their efforts to run an efficient government.
Responses to questions asked of each candidate
are reproduced as submitted to the League.
Candidates' responses are not edited or corrected by the League. Answers must not refer directly or indirectly to another candidate.
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
