League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA November 6, 2012 Election
	Debi Davis Answers Questions Candidate for Council Member; City of Santa Clara; Seat 3

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 experience related to city government would you bring to the City Council?

As a small business owner and City Commissioner, I cherish my involvement in the City of Santa Clara. For the past 10 years, I have enjoyed working with our community in business, for non-profits and in civic affairs. Through my involvement, I have worked alongside the residents of Santa Clara and have gotten to know what their concerns are. Through my role as President of Sister Cities, I have worked on building our City's relationships with cities around the world. Working with people in government and the community is a very important step in holding office and I feel my experience has provided me the criteria to serve on the City Council.

2. What concerns are of particular importance to the city and how would you address them?

After coming through the longest recession since the 1940s, I feel the City's important concerns continue to be balancing the budget and also build up the reserves that have been depleted as a result of lower tax revenues and little to no business growth. Fortunately, over the last year, Silicon Valley and Santa Clara are seeing an upswing in business and job growth. As a councilmember, one of my goals will be to put aside additional income and build up our emergency reserves. Santa Clara is fortunate to offer the lowest utility rates in the State of California and I believe that should be one of the best advertisements to continue to draw new business and jobs to Santa Clara which provides much needed tax revenue. Santa Clara is fortunate to remain one of the best Bay Area cities with a high-safety rating, well-maintained streets and infrastructure, award-winning libraries and parks, the lowest combined utility rates, and the feel of a hometown. Santa Clara is a welcoming city serving a wonderfully diverse community. I want to work to keep it that way and to help resolve the challenges it faces today to prepare for the bright future of tomorrow.

3. How would you balance the needs of the city as a whole with groups’ interests?

The City of Santa Clara has a great relationship with its employees which was very important during the recent negotiations regarding budget cuts. As a councilmember, it would be tantamount to me to continue to maintain those good working relationships, to communicate and be fair to all parties involved. I am always willing to take on a challenge and Santa Clara is facing some challenging times. Our City is taking an innovative approach to pension reform with our workers involved in the process of coming up with new solutions.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. Please answer each question in no more than 400 words. Direct references to opponents are not permitted.

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

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 23, 2012 13:00
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