League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Santa Clara County, CA July 30, 2013 Election
	Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues County Supervisor; Santa Clara County; Supervisorial District 2

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, Needs of District, Budget Priorities Click on a name for candidate information.   See also more information about this contest. 1. What experience and training would you bring to this office? Answer from Teresa Alvarado: I am a San Jose native and have been an active member of this community my entire life. My parents were both community leaders and actively promoted citizenship, good government and civic engagement. They instilled in me and my siblings a deep sense of civic pride and commitment to public service. While I currently have a professional position that I strongly believe in, the actions of the previous Supervisor are unacceptable and went unchallenged for far too long. I believe my skills, character, and Silicon Valley approach to government accountability would serve the people of District 2 well at this troubling time. My broad range of experience with civic and business leadership, and my commitment to transforming the culture of county government are critically needed at this time. The Board of Supervisors must ensure that the County provides the accountability our residents expect and the services they deserve. Through strong governance and oversight, I think we can make this the best county in the country and a model for effective regional leadership. Answer from Cindy Chavez: I had the great honor of serving the residents of San Jose as Vice Mayor, a member of the City Council and a member of the Valley Transportation Authority board for 8 years. Working together we were able to do good things for our community. These acts were great and small--supporting the development of high-rise and affordable housing, expanding community policing, partnering with schools in a manner that allowed children to thrive and supporting bring BART to San Jose. In addition to my work as Vice Mayor and Councilmember, I have also served as the Executive Director of the nonprofit organization, Working Partnerships USA and as the Executive Director of the South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council. I have additionally worked in county government for 3 years and I have been an active member of our community by serving on the boards of Health Trust, American Leadership Forum, and YMCA . 2. What are the particular needs of your district? Answer from Teresa Alvarado: District 2 is the most ethnically diverse district in Santa Clara County, with a population and electorate that is evenly split among Asians, Latinos, and Caucasians. It is home to one of the largest Vietnamese communities in the United States and a sizeable immigrant population from a variety of cultures. District 2 is also one of the poorest communities in Santa Clara County, with one quarter of residents living below the poverty line. Voter registration and turnout in District 2 are traditionally well below other regions. I believe restoring trust and providing ethical leadership is the most important need in our district. The fact that residents have been poorly represented and that public funds were used illegally is a major failing in our community. Once we restore accountability and transparency, county government will be more effective at providing the services our residents need -- and deserve. This includes increased safety for our streets and neighborhoods, expanded access to health care and social services, and a robust educational system that prepares our children for the 21st Century economy and eliminates the achievement gap. Answer from Cindy Chavez: The primary concerns of the residents of District 2 are reducing crime, improving the economy and ensuring access to quality, affordable healthcare. Just as important, is improving our public education system to ensure that the next generation has the tools they will need to be successful in our high tech economy. 3. Given scarce resources, how would you approach balancing the county budget and what county programs and services should be given the highest priority? Answer from Teresa Alvarado: With the recent passage of Measure A, Proposition 30 and the dissolution of Redevelopment Agencies, the county is in a very different revenue situation than it has been for many years. At the same time, the county is addressing new and expanding health care costs. I will use my experience managing comprehensive internal audits and continuous improvement programs at the Santa Clara Valley Water District to promote efficiency and effectiveness in order to avoid unnecessary costs and focus the County's tax dollars on the programs where they will have the most impact in the community and where they will be shown to be used in the manner voters expect. Answer from Cindy Chavez: We need to carefully review programs and develop best practices to ensure that the county delivers quality services that are also cost effective. We should also look for opportunities to collaborate with other government entities so that we can streamline costs while maintaining service levels our residents expect and deserve. I was proud last year to lead the charge on behalf of the campaign for Measure A, which will boost county revenue and provide healthcare access to children from low-income families. This new money will provide for the continuation of essential services. Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. Word limits for answers are 400 words for all questions. Direct references to opponents are not permitted. The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.