League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA June 3, 2014 Election
	Mike Alvarado Answers Questions Candidate for Mayor; City of San Jose

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

Public safety needs to be restored in San Jose. We need to eliminate Measure B and bring back funding and pay levels back to the SJPD and SJFD. We must reprioritize the city budget and find new sources of revenue to support public safety. We need to support public education for our youth. Graduation rates are much too low and the skill levels of graduating seniors are below what is required to work in Silicon Valley. We need to prepare our students for college and a high tech work environment. We also need to bring more business and jobs to San Jose by making our city more attractive to the business community.

2. San Jose budget difficulties have resulted in unprecedented cuts to staff and services. How will you deal with coming shortfalls? Restoring some of the City services? And, if you think the City needs additional resources, what are your ideas for increasing revenues?

We need to reprioritize our budget to make sure that public safety is number one. Education must also be a high priority which it hasn't been for years. We must look to all sources of potential revenue including growing the tax base, bonds, parcel tax and sales tax increases.

3. How would you work with individual Council members and the Council as a whole to further your plans and agenda? Describe your leadership style.

I look to build consensus with like minded leaders. We must bridge the gaps between us to work together for a new and more cohesive future in San Jose. We have had too much divisive acts within the city for the past 8 years. I work to build coalitions so that we can tackle our common problems that face us all. I look forward to bringing people together towards our common goals and achievements. It is certainly time for all of us to come together.

4. How would you balance City-wide, district and interested parties' needs and desires?

We can't please everyone that is certain. We must make some tough and hard choices to do what is best for the majority of our citizens. Public safety, education, job creation and business growth are all common goals we all embrace. We must build on these strengths that bring us all together as one. We must prioritize our highest and best policies that can serve and protect the great city of San Jose.

5. How much money do you expect to raise/spend on your race, and how will you assure voters that financial contributions will not affect your decisions/positions should you be elected?

I do not accept any contributions of any kind. Money is a corrupting influence in politics that dilutes the purity and effectiveness of any elected official or candidate. Publicly funded elections or campaigns with tiny budgets, under $1000, are the only way to go in the future. As in everything in life you get what you pay for. Unfortunately in politics the special interests are the ones paying for big money candidates. The people deserve better.

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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: May 18, 2014 17:54
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