League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Santa Clara County, CA November 4, 2008 Election
	Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues Council Member; City of Milpitas

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 Experience, Important Concerns, Balance Needs Click on a name for candidate information.   See also more information about this contest. 1. What experience related to city government would you bring to the City Council? Answer from Ola Robert Hassan: I am a long time silicon valley engineer, enterpreneur and a business owner who has tackled many multi-million dollars projects and drive it to completion. I am a leader with tollerance and ability to work accross any type of barriers and culture. Ability to motivate and get things done right. I have demonstrated all the above in dealing with complicated projects in the city of Milpitas (Cambell's Corner now Ola's Corner)through unselfish restoration of the so called historical land mark. I have turned agaist all odds a drug and homeless invested land mark into a reputable properties in Milpitas (now Heritage of India Restaurant and Bar, and Ola's Exotic Coffee shop and Poor Richard's Barbeque. Answer from Debbie Giordano: For the last four years I have served as a member of the City Council. Previously, I served on several commissions and task forces including the Planning Commission and Citizens Advisory Commission. During my four years on the Council we are building our new library, planned our improved Senior Center, reforested older neighborhoods and increased the number of miles of roads we resurface every year. We have also brought many new businesses to Milpitas, bringing jobs and sales tax revenue including Piercy Toyota and Cisco's expansion. Milpitas, like so many cities, has had to make budget cuts. As a member of the Council Finance Sub-Committee, I have recommended a number of cost savings to the Council. In the 2007-2008 budget alone, the City experienced a net savings in the proposed budget of $3.9 million while providing quality services to our residents. We have had a 9% reduction in the number of City employees over the last 4 years. During the period 2000 to 2004, the average increase in salaries for city employees was 4.1%. Since December 2004, the average increase in salaries through today is 2.6%. This represents a slowing down in the rate of salary increases of 36.6%. 2. What concerns are of particular importance to the city and how would you address them? Answer from Ola Robert Hassan: 1.MidTown Development- Will support development but not at the expense of the community. 2. Traffic- Encourage more feasibility and environmental study to widden our roads, make most of our roads more pedestrian friendly. Look more into creating one way streets. 3. Water- Replacement of the aging water infranstructures with community blessing and participation. 4. Complete elimination of the odor arising from the Alviso treatment plant utilizing advance technology odor dicipation. 4. Recycling Efforts- Encourage Milpitas to be the leader in Greens, environmental friedly initiatives through education and information. No more additional dump in Milpitas. Apply Technological inovation in the odor control or elimination from the Alviso treatment plant. 3. How would you balance the needs of the City as a whole with groups' interests? Answer from Ola Robert Hassan: I will not be a part to any special interest group. My interest is to better the community I am representing. I will also carry out all their wish. I will be the ear and the voice of Milpitas community in the goverment. I will make myself easilly accessible by the residents on any issues. 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.