League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA November 4, 2014 Election
	Paul Fong Answers Questions Candidate for Council Member; City of San Jose; Council District 1

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of San Jose/Santa Clara 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?

For over 35 years, I have been serving my neighbors in District 1 as an Educator, former High School Football Coach, Trustee on the Foothill/De Anza Community College Board, and as your current Assemblymember. I have the passion and proven experience to represent you during this time of challenges and opportunities.

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?

Even though the budget deficit was overstated to be $650 million by the Mayor, when in fact the City's own budget reports that there was only a $300 million deficit, deficits are still a problem. However, of great concern is the loss of public safety officers, where hundreds of police have left San Jose because of City mismanagement and scapegoating, leaving San Jose vulnerable to excessively high crime rates. Considering these two issues and the many other needs of the community, I will deal with shortfalls by: (1) insisting on more accurate deficit projections; (2) make the minimum cuts necessary to deal with realistic deficit projections; and (3) support strategic revenues enhancements for libraries and public safety. With this plan, I hope to put more police in our neighborhoods, restore library hours, and restore after-school programs.

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

Safety First. Property crimes are soaring. A car is stolen every hour in San Jose. There is a 20 minute wait for police to respond to a gang fight or rape report. San Jose has the lowest ratio of police officers to citizens of any big city in America. San Jose has an insufficient number of fire stations to protect residents. I would: (1) restore mutual respect and trust at the bargaining table; (2) work to revise two-tier pension reform so that the second tier is competitive with surrounding cities; (3) obtain real disability insurance for police officers injured in the line of duty; and (4) restore fire stations to decrease response times.

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 have 21 years of elected experience balancing the interests of voters, my district, and special interest groups. I've made the tough choices to move California and my district forward. My process is straight forward -- (1) I look at my values on the particular issues; (2) I research all the available information on the issue, including site visits and written materials; (3) I listen to both constituents, interest groups and all other stakeholders; and (4) I make a fair and balanced decision that falls within my values and the needs of all involved.

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?

The maximum cap for the June Primary is just under $135,000. By utilizing my straight forward decision making process, which involves looking at my values, research, and listening to stakeholders and residents, my public policy decisions are prevented from being unduly influenced by fundraising.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. The answer to each question should be limited to 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: July 17, 2014 15:14
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