League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Alameda County, CA June 5, 2012 Election
	Francisco Zermeņo Answers Questions Candidate for Council Member; City of Hayward

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of the Eden Area and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. What is the single most pressing problem facing the City in the next 24 months and how would you work with your elected colleagues to solve it?

Having a Vibrant Economy is the single most pressing problem, because without it, we will not be able to provide a Safe, Clean, and Green Hayward for our Residents. Once elected, I will continue doing what I have been for the last 12 years (first as a Planning Commissioner, and the last four, as a City Councilman): visiting our present businesses, large or small to help them grow their business, attracting new businesses into the whole of our City, working on our City being more business friendly, working with our Hayward Chamber of Commerce, and maintaining the presence and effectiveness of our Latino Business Roundtable, which I founded in 2004 and still lead.

2. What is your vision of Hayward ten years from now as it relates to residential growth and business development?

Hayward is in the cusp of greatness. Since we don't have a tourist attraction such as snow, marina, grapes, mission, zoo, water or amusement park, we will have created various niches for making our City a Destination one. The various possibilities for which I will work are: a unique mural program, an urban forest status, a diversity center, a blues center, a top notch bustling small city flavor downtown, an improved Southland Mall (the largest in the East Bay), all complemented with adequate housing for our residents, and developed businesses.

3. Good schools are important for a city's economic growth and well-being. What is the most effective way the City can partner with the school district to improve the academic performance and perception of our schools?

The best way would be a larger, stronger collaboration of the educational institutions present in our City, from HUSD and Chabot, to Cal State Hayward and Life Chiropractic and Heald Business Colleges. This collaborative also would have as members 2 representatives from H.A.R.D., 2 City Council members and 2 Chamber of Commerce members. Their mission would be to work in unison for the betterment of the educational program gearing for our students first.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. 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 17, 2012 23:51
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