League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Sonoma County, CA November 2, 2010 Election
	Tom Rouse Answers Questions Candidate for Council Member; City of Sonoma

The questions were prepared by 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. Please comment on executive pay and pension packages for public entities, particularly in the context of the Smart Train Agency, which has offered to pay both the employer and the employee portions of the pension payments. Do you agree or disagree with this action, and if you disagree, what can and/or will you do about it?

This should not and cannot happen. It has been proven time and time again by both public and private entities, that pension plans like these are not sustainable. It is time to recreate how public entities provide long term compensation for their employees. Today, most private retirement plans are done through participation in 401k style plans. In many of these, the employer contributes a portion of what the participant contributes. Participants must live with the ebb and flow of the market. Public employees must be asked to do the same. We must live with the commitments we've made, but it's time to change the plans for new hires.

2. What are your goals for public education? As an elected official, what measures could you take to improve the school system?

It's time to start teaching again. Tenure must be reexamined and quality education should be the only goal. Every year, it seems the budgets get smaller and smaller for education, but larger and larger for our prison systems. Putting our resources into education today, may save us from spending on prisons tomorrow. Innovative leaders are essential to guide public schools from the brink. Pay for quality educators, provide quality education.

3. Please comment on commercial development in your district, particularly vis a vis differences and conflicts between city and county agencies.

Sonoma is a unique place. Commercial development centers around the wine industry and the services that surround that industry. Tourism is a key element to our success. I believe our city and county work well together to work toward that common goal.

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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. Candidates may not refer to any other candidates in their answers.

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

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: September 21, 2010 13:36
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