League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA November 2, 2010 Election
	Patrick "Pat" Kolstad Answers Questions Candidate for Council Member; City of Santa Clara; Seat 2

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?

I've been elected twice (in 2000 and 2004) and served 8 years as a City Council Member. I've served as Chair of the City Audit Committee and was Chairman of the Economic Development Committee, Mission City 21, working closely with business and the Chamber of Commerce in promoting economic growth in the City of Santa Clara.

As Santa Clara's representative to Regional and National Energy agencies, I voted for every generation and transmission project proposed which kept our rates the lowest and our service the most reliable in Northern California. We have refinanced JPA Bonds which saved Santa Clarans millions of dollars.

This is the experience we need during these difficult financial times.

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

Fiscal and Financial Issues: The current economic recession has created challenges for all local governments. Santa Clara's only difference from our neighboring cities is because excellent financial planning by our city in the past has left us with fewer and smaller budgetary problems than most of our neighbors.

The challenge to be fiscally responsible is clearly the biggest problem facing our city. We must grow our economy while at the same time holding the line on the city's expenses. I have some experience in this area, and I believe I will bring value and leadership to the City Council. The voters of Santa Clara recently voted to approve Measure J, an initiative that will allow for the construction of a municipally owned stadium in Santa Clara. According to the City Staff and other experts, this will result in many new jobs and millions of dollars of economic growth to both the City and the entire region.

This will help, but there is much more to be done. Santa Clara has to continue to create an environment that is appealing to businesses by offering the lowest utility rates and the finest transportation infrastructure in the Bay Area. Additionally, we have to work with our city employee representative groups to keep our salary and benefits at an acceptable level until we have weathered this economic downturn.

Water and Power Issues: The completion of the Hetch Hetchy upgrades will go a long way to providing a high quality and reliable supply of water to our City. I was Vice Chairman of the Bay Area Water Suppliers and Conservation Agency. I have worked with the SCVWD and SFPUC to protect our City's water interests.

The completion of the Lodi Energy Center (LEC) and the new MSR wind generating project will insure a reliable and affordable supply of electric to our city. I was Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Northern California Power Agency and President of the Modesto-Santa Clara-Redding Power Agency (MSR) during my two terms on the City Council. I understand the needs of our electric utility.

Transportation Issues: Although locally we find very well engineered city streets that efficiently move the traffic, County Expressways and State Highways are not able to accommodate their volume of traffic quite as well. We need to look to regional transportation systems for a solution to our traffic congestion. The BART extension to Santa Clara, improving the CalTrain, the ACE Train, the Light Rail and all of the proposed highway improvements are essential to solving our traffic problems.

Measure A, which I supported, passed by an overwhelming majority in 2000. It sought to remedy some of our transportation problems. The economic downturn has caused us to pause and reexamine our priorities. I believe when the economy rebounds, we will still be facing transportation problems that will require our continued attention. Measure A funds have not been enough to fund all of the transit problems that were proposed; however, these transit systems still must be completed. Although the economic downturn has slowed the progress on achieving our transit goals, we need to continue toward our long term goals of BART to Santa Clara extension, electrification of CalTrain and the Light Rail extensions. Measure A funds should not be used to subsidize the operation of current transportation systems. CalTrain and the VTA should fund themselves either through fare box recovery or cost cutting measures.

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

During the 8 years I served on the City Council it was my experience that groups advocating for specific issues were frequently advocating for something that was good for the City of Santa Clara as well.

However, the primary concern of a policy maker should be what is best for the people he represents as a whole.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' responses are not edited or corrected by the League. Answers must not refer directly or indirectly to another candidate.

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

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: September 24, 2010 22:13
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