Response to questionnaire at Elk Grove Citizen Newspaper, CBS13, Sacramento Bee, and http://www.ElkGroveNews.net

By KT Tran

1.) If you are an incumbent, please tell voters why you deserve to be re-elected and what you have accomplished. If you are a challenger, please tell voters why you should replace the incumbent and what you intend to do differently if elected.

Answer: You need a council representative who has the qualifications and experience to lead Elk Grove into the new era of Greentech industry development and jobs creation. As former San Joaquin County Schools/JPA Administrator and Manager for East Side Union High School District, I understand how government works. As a real estate broker, I understand business and can help with the recovery. As a high-tech consultant for HP, I will push for use of technology to increase quality, productivity, and services for the city. At the same time, reducing and controlling spending. As a college instructor, I know what's best to prepare our city to support the Greentech workforce of tomorrow. I hold both Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Management. Unlike others, I am the only candidate with these experience and credentials, and prepared to lead Elk Grove into economic prosperity. If elected, I will execute my plan as described at http://www.KTPlanforElkGrove.com until completion. I will be here for my family, be here for Elk Grove, and be here for you until 2020.

2.) What in your opinion are the three biggest issues facing the city of Elk Grove and why.

Answer: Elk Grove needs a new economy and jobs. I'd like to bring in Greentech, hydrogen fuel cell manufacturers, and related industries that will spur economic growth and jobs creation. Fuel cell is the future in American automotive technology that holds the keys to future jobs. Having a fuel cell auto plant and industry would create jobs and provide incomes for local residents, businesses, and generate the needed tax revenues. Bring back regional transit and partnering with other cities through joint power authority (JPA) to develop our transportation infrastructure. This includes mass transit, connecting to BART, and build hydrogen refueling stations for fuel cell vehicles throughout the JPA. I want more services supporting our seniors and kids. Providing transportation and health care assistance to seniors; and help to create more after school jobs, activities, and sport programs for kids. When kids are busy, they stay out of drugs and crimes. When parents know their kids are safe, they have the peace of mind to work and earning the needed incomes to take care of their families.

3.) The City has formed a charter commission to examine possible changes in how the city is governed. If you could make two changes to the Elk Grove government, what would you do? (i.e. term limits, more council members, directly elected mayor, etc.....) and why would you do this?

Answer: I like to see changes that encourage equal and transparent government. I support three terms per elected position giving the elected official adequate time in office to accomplishment his or her mission and goals. I also support an elected mayor. However, I feel the current structure for electing city council member is fine whereas the council member runs in his or her district, but elected citywide. I also support free speech and allowing campaign signs to be put up on city properties 30 days before, and take down 10 days after the election. I also support campaign finance helping city candidates who earn 10% of the vote or more, reimbursing up to $10,000 for campaign expenses per election. I also support keeping city services available 24/7 in a form of e-Government whereas city services, transactions, accounting, and expenses are accessible online; and staff has flexible hours and schedule working from home and in the shared office 7 days per weeks making themselves accessible 24/7 online or in person.

4.) Crime is a big issue in town. Some say it is not a problem; others point to the continued pot growing operations as crime is a continuing problem. What are your thoughts on crime in Elk Grove; and, do we need more police officers on the street?

Answer: Crimes exist in every society, but the question I would ask is the crime motivated by economic troubled times. If the economy is the contribution, then creating jobs and improving the economy will reduce crime. Avoidable crimes are crimes related to kids. We need to provide more after school sports and activities as well as create jobs for kids. Kids have needs as much as everyone else. When kids are having fun after schools or working, they are not on the street doing drugs or crimes. Kids are kids and they often make mistakes. It is our responsibility to provide a safe and encouraging environment for kids. More unforgivable crimes are those of violent nature. We need to make sure our police force has the support, necessary equipment and tools, and the resources they need to do their jobs protecting the public. I support giving our officers military grade weapons to deter others from engaging in violent crimes. Also preparing our police force for potential terror attacks. I prefer quality police force and not quantity.

5.) Foreclosures and the bad economy are hitting residents and city government hard; at a recent city council meeting, the future of the city budget was discussed. If you are elected and forced with making cuts, what areas of Elk Grove city government would you eliminate/cut back on in order to fix potential budget problems. What is your criteria for potential cuts?

Answer: Our city budget is heading into trouble. We can help this by issuing new bond measure for economic development in new Greentech economy. I support development of hydrogen fuel cell technology, refueling stations, and pursue hydrogen fuel cell auto manufacturers, and related industries, to relocate their businesses to Elk Grove, therefore, generating new tax revenues. As for city services, I propose e-Government enabling access to the city by the public 24/7. E-Government will increase productivity for city services due to online access and automation. This increases the response time for city services and at the same time, maintain quality and provide great savings for the budget. Funding e-Government can come from savings directly resulted from hiring freeze, review where we can reliably automate city services, and may trim non-vital services by 10%. This investment makes our city the high-techest city in America. In addition, I will restore the American Dream for Elk Grove citizens by expanding affordable housing to include purchase of empty foreclosure properties, and converting them to rent-to-own with profit sharing.

6.) Describe your leadership style (again, in 50 words or less.)

Answer: I was a trained manager both in government and industry, and hold BS/MA in Management. I believe in empowering others to take responsibilities. I share in their failures as well as successes. My words are my honor and I will be here for the voters until 2020.

CBS13 - Questions and Answers

What is the biggest issue facing your community and how will you solve it?

Answer: Elk Grove needs jobs and improvement in our economy. What I want to bring to Elk Grove is simple and it is all about GreenTech. I want at least one hydrogen fuel cell (FC) auto plant that will employ thousands of people and a source of incomes for Elk Grove citizens and surrounding small businesses that sell to the FC auto manufacturer. I want to create the infrastructure to support FC cars! I want mass transit! I want real estate to appreciate in value by being the best place to live and work in America! I want to be the most environmental friendly city on earth and bring the new era of fuel cell automotive innovation and industrialization to Elk Grove. Our ultimate goal is real jobs, good jobs, and high-paying jobs for Elk Grove. Jobs that we need and products that we produce are made in America for Americans. It starts here in Elk Grove, CA USA.

How will you improve the lives of the people in your community?

Answer: See my plan at http://www.KTPlanforElkGrove.com and brings more jobs to Elk Grove and how I will make Elk Grove the silicon valley of green technologies.

How will you help your community deal with the current economy?

Answer: I will help by pushing investment for Elk Grove to jumpstart our leadership in the new era of FC automotive innovation and industrialization. In these troubled times, we do not want government to cut cost. We need to expand and invest in our future. People need jobs and it is up to the government to create new means for new jobs. Jobs that Elk Grove needs and jobs that will be here in the future. It is like investing in our future and like investing in your children education. In the near future, the investment will pay off. If we do not do anything, we will get nothing. No economy, no industry, no jobs, and no one to fill those empty foreclosure homes. When we have a greentech economy and bring jobs to Elk Grove, your home value will go up. Retail businesses in the area will have more customers. There will be many jobs from blue collar to white collar all kind of jobs that are the results of having a FC auto plant in the region.

Sacramento Bee Newspaper - Questions and Answers

Q: What do you think are the key issues voters want addressed in Elk Grove?

A: What we need in Elk Grove is an improved economy and jobs. Not just any jobs. I'd like to bring in greentech, a hydrogen fuel cell auto plant that will spur economic growth because it is a new industry. Inviting Ford or General Motors or any auto maker to have a plant would create jobs and income for local residents and generate tax revenues.

Q: If elected, what would you do for Elk Grove during the next four years that sets you apart from other council candidates?

A: I would like to execute my economic plan for Elk Grove, which involves greentech and the hydrogen fuel cell. That includes the auto plant, having mass transit, bringing Sacramento Regional Transit back, and establishing a joint powers authority with other cities (such as) Galt, Lodi, Stockton, and Tracy for mass transit and eventually connecting to BART.

http://www.ElkGroveNews.net - Questions for Elk Grove city council members and candidates

Election day is a little over five weeks from now. Elk Grove citizens will be asked to vote on three of five positions on the city council.

In the coming weeks, Elk Grove News will pose several questions to the council members and the candidates running on their views regarding local issues as well as national issue likely to impact our city's future.

With this is in mind, we pose the following question:

1. The worldwide credit crisis looms large on the economy. As an Elk Grove city council members what contingency plans have you made/would you make to assure the city does not suffer budget deficits/financial problems from things like decreased property and sales taxes in the ensuing recession?

Answer:

Before we talk about our local economy and jobs, we first need to set a vision for the future of our city. We also need to ask where we want to be many years from now. We need to have a mission to pursue the goals we set for our local economy and how we bring in new high-paying jobs to our region.

In these troubled times, we do not want government to cut cost. We need to expand and invest in our future. People need jobs and it is up to the government to create new means for new jobs. Jobs that Elk Grove needs and jobs that will be here in the future. It is like investing in our future and like investing in your children education. In the near future, the investment will pay off. If we do not do anything, we will get nothing. No economy, no industry, no jobs, and no one to fill those empty foreclosure homes. When we have a greentech economy and bring jobs to Elk Grove, your home value will go up. Retail businesses in the area will have more customers. There will be many jobs from blue collar to white collar all kind of jobs that are the results of having a fuel cell (FC) auto plant in the region.

Elk Grove needs to build hydrogen FC refueling stations to provide infrastructure for FC vehicles. Without hydrogen refueling stations, there is no market for FC cars. Texas and other states are not within the radar for fuel cell. Only California and New York are designated FC markets for the industry. Do we want GM or Ford or any FC auto manufacturer to build there auto plants in southern California, San Francisco bay area, or do we want them to build these FC cars here in Elk Grove. We need to decide and compete for our economic fate. To help pay for this economic jumpstart in Elk Grove, KT will ask a small investment fee (fee) through a bond measure to finance greentech growth over the next 10 years. The propose fee will only be against registered gas-powered vehicles residing in or doing business within Elk Grove which is approximately $20 per year. This fee will increment yearly as the gas-powered vehicles continue to be in operation. During the next 10 years, there will be a period of time whereas the revenues will peak. At the end of the 10-year bond measure period, which reaches maturity, the fee will cease. It is likely gas-powered vehicles will be phase out and replace by fuel cell. This is not an expense but an investment for Elk Grove to jumpstart our leadership in the new era of FC automotive innovation and industrialization.

All we need is majority of voters to decide that they want this and it will happen. Think about our future. Think about our children future. What will we do when all of the jobs as we know get offshore to other countries. We need to invest today so new jobs will replace jobs that will not come back.

If voters want to bring back jobs that are made in America for Americans, then vote this election. Vote for KT and Leary, the Green team.

2. In light of high fuel cost and the sub-par performance of our current public transportation vendor, what steps would you take to assure the citizens of Elk Grove a reliable public transit system?

Answer:

As I mentioned in my plan for Elk Grove, I like to bring RT back in to help with our public transportation. As I recalled, RT rejected these buses and sold them to Elk Grove. These buses have heating problems and are not good for long range. E-tran buses are a liability to elk Grove and not a solution. I am still puzzle why we bought them knowingly they are bad investment. This tells me we need smarter leaders who need to do the right things. Bring RT back in and make sure they do things right. Let RT decides what buses to use to support our public transportation. Work with RT to set better standard for public and mass transit within Elk Grove and beyond. Focus our attention on creating a new Greentech economy and find ways to bring these new waves of jobs to Elk Grove. When our city can create an environment for better jobs and incur economic progress, we can afford better public transportation including mass transit (light rails, BART), better buses and shuttles that either runs on natural gas, hydrogen/fuel cell.

The key is focus on industrializing Elk Grove and improves our local economy. This will spur jobs growth and eventually produce new tax revenues. Our city should invest on projects that will produce returns on investment (ROI). E-tran project is an expense and a public service. It does not produce a ROI especially when we know these buses are bad before buying them.

Learn more about KT's energy and greentech plan at http://www.KTPlanforElkGrove.com