League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Santa Clara County, CA June 5, 2012 Election
	Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues Council Member; City of San Jose; Council District 6

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of San Jose/Santa Clara and asked of all candidates for this office.     See below for questions on Experience, Important Concerns, Balancing Interests 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 Steve Kline: As an Attorney for over 35 years, trained in mediation as well as advocacy, I know how to bring people together to forge a consensus to solve problems. City Council members need to be able listen to others, act responsibly and deliver essential services to the taxpayers. Serving the entire community demands no less. Answer from Pierluigi Oliverio: Using all that I have learned over my prior four year term. 2. What concerns are of particular importance to the city and how would you address them? Answer from Steve Kline: I have put forth a Neighborhood First Agenda which includes limiting the City Manager's salary to no more than the Governor of California. She currently make about $258,000. We also need to have more police officers to stop the escalating violent and residential crimes in our area. We need an understandable and open budget process so the taxpayers know how & where their money is being spent. We need to have the citizens set the priorities, not city management. It is all our money. As your Council member, these will be my priorities. Answer from Pierluigi Oliverio: Pension Reform so that we may be able to provide services. 3. How would you balance the needs of the city as a whole with groups’ interests? Answer from Pierluigi Oliverio: The Council is elected by district but must make decisions for the entire city balancing all points of view. Answer from Steve Kline: A District Council member must listen & work to needs of constituents & neighborhoods. Bringing their priorities to City Hall and advocating for them is necessary to make the system work. In those area where conflicts appear between the district & the City as a whole, hard work in balancing interests must be done. This is where skill in advocacy, negotiation, compromise, building consensus and working towards solutions are critical functions for a City Council member. Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. Word limits for answers are 400 words for all questions. Direct references to opponents are not permitted. The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.