League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA November 2, 2010 Election
	Tom Kruse Answers Questions Candidate for Director; Santa Clara Valley Water District; Division 1

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

Questions & Answers

1. What are the three top issues facing the Water District, and what are some of the solutions you believe will address the problems?

One of the key issues is the legal situation regarding fees, but this will ultimately be resolved in a court of equity. In addition, the public's perception of the District and the fees it charges is another big issue and the best way to change that is through educating the public: asking schools to add a course in our valley's water system, making use of community access channels, District representatives could present programs to all the service clubs in the valley, to name a few. I believe that the more informed the public is about the importance of clean safe water, and what the District does to provide our water, the better the perception including less of a negative response to the fees necessary to achieve that goal. Also, the Board needs to keep the District financially viable and this can be achieved with diligent management of resources along with full disclosure of the Board's actions to keep the public informed.

2. What experience and training do you have which would help the Water District meet its goals?

I served on the first General Plan Committee for the city of Gilroy and was appointed to the Santa Clara County Planning from 1994 to 1998. I was vice chair of the River Project, a comprehensive study of the watersheds and riparian corridors of the County. I served for one year on the Llagas Basin Water Nitrates Study Committee and two years on the Agricultural Conservation Easement Committee. I have also been involved in numerous environmentally sensitive projects for a total of more than 30 years.

3. How will you balance your constituents needs and interests with residential, agricultural and business needs of entire county while safeguarding the environment?

My constituents would be primarily residents of Gilroy, San Martin, Morgan Hill and southeast San Jose and the eastern range of this county - 244,000 people. I will work diligently & in a spirit of cooperation with the other directors to accomplish the District's goals. Most of the agricultural need for water is in the 1st District, but the number of people in farming may only be 2 to 3 percent of the District's population. The work and lives of the rest of the residents of the 1st District are similar to the inhabitants of the rest of the county.

4. What is your evaluation of the financial condition of the Water District and how would you ensure that maintenance of infrastructures remains a priority?

I believe there is adequate funding for the projects and water treatment providing the District prioritizes these objectives and works diligently at accomplishing them in a timely manner and cuts costs where possible. I will be a continuing force to see that this is done. I'm a quick study and apply myself to my endeavors. Our vineyard is an example of good stewardship. As a requisite to obtaining a waiver of a waste discharge permit, all farmers in South County take 15 hours of classes & create a plan for my farm to demonstrate how I handle water in all its forms: well water, potable water, processing water, waste water, irrigation and rainfall. I didn't have to change anything because I had considered everything when I planted the vineyard. Additionally, the vines' leaves clean more air than the amount of CO2 we discharge.

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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.

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

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: September 29, 2010 08:35
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