League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA June 3, 2014 Election
	Charles "Chappie" Jones Answers Questions Candidate for Council Member; City of San Jose; Council District 1

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?

My civic involvement serving on various boards and commissions with the city like the Neighborhoods Commission, Small Business Development Commission, Structural Deficit Reduction Taskforce, etc. has given me the training to gather information from residents and city staff, process it, and work with others to formulate recommendations to impact city policy.

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?

My focus is to drive public policy that will restore services and create a positive business climate. I will make the budget and the city's structural deficit a priority. The city will not be able to provide adequate levels of services unless the structural deficit problem is fixed and it grows its tax base through economic development.

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

Fiscal Reform: Continue to pursue pension reform as part of an effort to secure San Jose's ability to restore services.

Public Safety: Expand the use of Community Service Officers and Crime Prevention Specialists to either free up police to be on the streets or prevent crimes from happening. Seek additional funding for the burglary unit and the gang prevention taskforce.

Economic Development: Provide resources and implement strategies that will grow the tax base through economic development.

4. How would you balance the needs of the City as a whole while also addressing needs of your district as well as those of special groups?

I would look for common ground between all of the stakeholders. Where there is a conflict between the needs of the district, city, or special groups, I would base my decision on facts and input from all sides. I would weigh the impact of my decision on the benefit to the greater good vs. the needs of the district or special groups. Each decision is unique and should go through a well thought through process to arrive at a decision.

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 expect to raise and spend $80,000 for my campaign. Since the maximum contribution is $500, no one person or group is able to contribute a significant amount of money to have any influence. In addition, I would never let a financial contribution influence me on any decisions that I would make on the city council.

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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 14, 2014 14:05
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