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The questions were prepared by the Leagues of Women Voters of Santa Clara County and asked of all candidates for this office.
See below for questions on
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Click on a name for candidate information. See also more information about this contest.
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1. What experience and training would you bring to this office?
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Answer from George M. Shirakawa:
I am running for the Board of Supervisors because I have dedicated my life to serving my community. Our community deserves the best qualified and most experienced person to represent them. I'm honored that our community has elected me to the Franklin-McKinley School Board, East Side Union High School District Board of Education and the San Jose City Council. The residents have confidence in me and they know I will fight to make sure the County of Santa Clara
As a San Jose City Council member for 8 ½ years and as a School Board Member for 8 years, I have extensive experience in neighborhood improvement, strengthening families and improving and supporting education. I have fought for many programs and assets to the community. A few examples are; I worked hard for a privately funded Medical and Dental clinic at the Franklin-McKinley School District to serve our students who had no access to care. I fought for the 250 bed and 20 unit family emergency shelter in District 7 when no one was willing to take on this controversial issue. I made the City sue absentee landlords who took advantage of poor families by forcing them to live in roach and rat infested dilapidated apartments at a high rental rate. I made the City of San Jose sue gang members who terrorized neighborhoods in order to remove them from the community so they would no longer occupy our neighborhoods, just to name a few.protects our children and families, provides the best health care and services and ensures our community is safe.
Answer from Frank Chavez:
I have been a Business Owner for over 25 years. I have a Masters Of Goverance Certificate from the CSBA. I have been President of the Story Road Business Association over three times. Past Commander of the San Jose GI Forum East Valley Chapter. I am an active participant with the KONA and Eastvalley/680 SNI's. Community Leader and Activist for the Defense of the Tropicana Shopping Center against Eminent Domain by the San JOse RDA.
Answer from Patricia Martinez-Roach:
Immigrant.
Single mother.
Thirty-four years as a public schoolteacher.
Twenty-one years as an elected official.
Seven years as a commissioner.
Community activist.
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2. What are the particular needs of your district?
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Answer from George M. Shirakawa:
My top priorities for the County are to support our employees by providing the best pay and benefits as possible so they can continue to provide great service to our customers. I am committed to looking for innovative ways to increase revenue and strengthen our relationship/partnerships with cities, schools, service providers and the community. I will continue the hard work of Blanca Alvarado in Juvenile Justice Reform, Women's issues and Strengthening Families.
Currently, District 2 receives approximately 52% of all program & service resources. I will work with my fellow board members, constituents and service providers to continue to provide much needed services to our underserved community. I will work hard to make sure we utilize our assets, like the Fairgrounds, to ensure we have long term revenue sources in order to meet our program needs.
Answer from Frank Chavez:
Distict 2 is a low-wealth District with many needs. Health issues are a major concern. We need more clinics and accessibility to a Hospital within the District. Our youth are being separated from their families, put in foster homes and eventually wind up joining gangs and ending up in juvenil hall or prison. All because of a lack of legal representation. Lack of affordable Housing and problematic transportation to and from work need a major overhaul.
Answer from Patricia Martinez-Roach:
Crime prevention and suppression.
Traffic relief.
Child care services.
Affordable health care.
Affordable housing.
Mental health services.
Senior services.
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3. On what projects should the Board of Supervisors concentrate?
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Answer from Frank Chavez:
Balancing the Budget should be the number one priority. The Supervisors should come up with a sweeping "reform" agenda that will rein in wasteful spending and protect our tax dollars. We need to impose limits on taxes and spending, allowing them to grow only at the rate of population growth plus inflation. We need to develop the kinds of reforms that will be necessary to restore public confidence in the fiscal and ethical integrity of our County government.
Answer from George M. Shirakawa:
The Board of Supervisors must continue to look for innovative ways to increase our revenues. With no budget relief in sight and multi-year budget reductions, we have cut our services to the "bone". The Board has to make sure our County Operations are efficient and do not duplicate/waste resources. It is critical to use our assets for long term revenue and we must position ourselves to state our "case" to the taxpayers/voters of our community.
Answer from Patricia Martinez-Roach:
Community services.
Responses to questions asked of each candidate
are reproduced as submitted to the League.
Candidates' responses are not edited or
corrected by the League.
The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.
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League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
