Candidate for
Supervisor; County of Contra Costa; Supervisorial District 2

1. Stop Pension Abuses, Ensure their Sustainability, and Exercise Fiscal Responsibility

Mayor Andersen will work collaboratively to ensure that pension abuses are stopped, that retirement benefits are sustainable, and to reduce county expenditures.

County leaders and employees must work collaboratively to stop all pension abuses and ensure that retirement benefits are affordable and sustainable.

As a leader in Danville for the past 9 years, Mayor Andersen has proven that she is a fiscally responsible steward of the public.

She and her fellow council members have led a city with no unfunded pension obligations or other unfunded retirement costs.

The Town of Danville weathered the recent recession by cutting back its expenses while keeping a high level of service for its residents. It had also followed prudent fiscal practices and conserved funds so it could complete major projects already underway.

In these challenging economic times, the county must continue to find new ways to be more efficient.

2. Improve Public Safety in our County

Candace will ensure our public safety by allocating necessary resources to protect our communities and prosecute criminals.

We need to allocate sufficient funds to the County Sheriff to fully protect our communities.

As a former Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Honolulu, Mayor Andersen believes that the County must provide the resources needed so that all criminals will be prosecuted.

Working closely with the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District and the City of San Ramon, Danville is well prepared for emergencies and disasters. Mayor Andersen will promote increased Disaster Preparedness County-wide.

3. Provide Support for Businesses and Increase Job Creation

We need to create government policies which help support our county in these areas:

Business climate

Simplify the permitting processes so new or expanding businesses don't incur greater expenses and significant delays.

Create a more business-friendly environment by curbing regulations that hurt local businesses. Lead by Example. The Danville Town Council has implemented various programs to help businesses which Mayor Andersen has championed. Danville has a "Business Concierge" who helps guide business owners through the entire process of starting a new business. Danville provides mini-grant programs, workshops, and works collaboratively with the Chamber of Commerce and the Discover Danville merchant group to help existing businesses succeed.

Education

We must support a strong public education system to both benefit our children and produce a qualified workforce. This will keep jobs in our region and attract new businesses.

We should encourage greater business involvement with K-12 schools, community colleges, and universities to ensure that graduating students will have the skills to meet the business community's employment needs. Transportation

We need to maintain and continually upgrade our transportation infrastructure in order to support business and job growth. Through her service on the Southwest Area Transportation Committee, the Tri-Valley Transportation Council, and as an alternate to the Contra Costa Transportation Authority Mayor Andersen understands the transportation issues and the importance of the County and Cities working collaboratively to ensure a well functioning transportation system.

Public Transit is also essential to businesses and job growth. We need to continue to improve transit to our employment centers. Mayor Andersen serves on the County Connection Board of Directors http://cccta.org/ and understands the importance of transit agencies working together to ensure that workers can easily get to their jobs.

Land Use Planning

We need to facilitate the rebuilding of obsolete areas to become more productive with new businesses and technologies.

We must work with communities to help develop housing appropriate for their area to meet the workforce needs. Mayor Andersen has extensive land use planning experience from serving on both the Danville and Morgan Hill City Councils and from her practice as an attorney. She understands the important balance of maintaining a community's character with the desire and need for new housing to support the East Bay Area's growing regional economic base.

Climate Change and Businesses

As we implement Sustainability and Climate Change Policies, it is important to focus on the needs of businesses.

Mayor Andersen serves on the Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority Board of Directors http://www.wastediversion.org/, where along with overseeing the collection of recycling and garbage, it implements programs promoting sustainability and helps communities comply with State Climate Change laws. Recent State Legislation mandates increased commercial recycling http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov. As we continue to pull out of the recession, it will be essential to implement and promote sustainable policies that work for businesses and do not create an undue economic burden.

4. Protect the Quality of Life in Contra Costa County

As the District 2 Supervisor, Candace will maintain strong partnerships with our Schools.

District 2 has some of the top School Districts in the State of California. Mayor Andersen already participates in several partnerships with the County, including working together on Traffic Safety through the Street Smarts Program http://www.street-smarts.com/) and supporting School Bus Programs funded through Transportation funding http://www.ridetraffix.com/, (patterned after the Lamorinda Bus program http://www.lamorindaschoolbus.org/). Additional partnerships including the joint use of school parks, school Resource Officers, and other youth safety programs will continue to enhance quality of education for our youth.

The County and School districts need to work together with businesses to help educate and prepare students to enter the workforce with the skills needed to fill jobs in advancing technologies.

Candace will work to improve our roads, freeways and transportation infrastructure.

As a County Supervisor Mayor Andersen will work with the cities and unincorporated areas in District 2 to improve roads, freeways and the transportation infrastructure. Mayor Andersen has served on the Southwest Area Transportation Committee, the Tri-Valley Transportation Council , and as an Alternate to the Contra Costa Transportation Authority. She understands the transportation issues and the importance of the County and Cities working collaboratively to ensure appropriate funding of a well functioning transportation system. We need to facilitate the building process for both residential and commercial development in appropriate places.

Over the last four years the East Bay lost over 25,000 construction jobs with the recession and collapse of the housing market.

It is important for our economic recovery to simplify and streamline the process for construction.

The voter approved Urban Limit Line and Urban Growth Boundaries must be honored.

When new development is approved by the County, meaningful dialogue and sufficient opportunity for input needs to be given to adjacent cities and communities affected by new projects.

We need to continue to implement measures to promote sustainability in our communities. Mayor Andersen serves on the Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority Board of Directors http://www.wastediversion.org/, along with Supervisors Uilkema and Piepho. Along with overseeing the collection of recycling and garbage, it implements programs promoting sustainability and helps communities comply with State Climate Change laws.