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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
Experience,
Budget,
City concerns,
Balancing interests,
Campaign financing
Click on a name for candidate information. See also more information about this contest.
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1. What experience related to city government would you bring to the City Council?
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Answer from Lois Rachel Wilco-Owens:
As a psychotherapist, I help people communicate, compromise and get things done. I have a very wide range of experience dealing with people of all types. I have worked in extremely stressful situations, do critical incident debriefing with people that have just endured a traumatic event, like a bank robbery or shooting. For over 20 years, I have specialized in working with police and fire fighters. I know how to listen, negotiate, problem solve and get things done. I can do this and with the goal of it being equitable for both sides.
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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?
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Answer from Lois Rachel Wilco-Owens:
A tremendous amount of money has been lost from fewer cops writing tickets. We need to restore public safety. The city needs to sit down with the P.O.A. and come up with solutions that are equitable for both sides. I believe that these negotiations should be open to the public.
In terms of transparency, I would support a website or dashboard that is user-friendly and is available for the citizens to see where our tax dollars go. Also, we should consider consolidating libraries with community centers as a revenue source. We should also consider more extensive renting out of community centers and having after school programs for a nominal, but profitable fee. Allow volunteers to work with paid personnel in the libraries. bringing tech back to San Jose will increase revenue and employment.
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3. What concerns are of particular importance to the city and how would you address them?
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Answer from Lois Rachel Wilco-Owens:
The homeless crisis is of particular importance. It doesn't make fiscal sense to pay for costly public services like a trip to the hospital or incarceration. It is cheaper to keep people in stable, supportive housing. Connecting them to programs that build skills is necessary to increase their income. This can be done with the help of the Workforce Investment Act. Funders Together is a national network of foundations and corporations that leverage public dollars with private dollars to help the homeless. The Housing Trust Fund is a good start, but more needs to be done. We need to look at what other cities have done to successfully deal with the problem of homelessness because it impacts our community, environment and the health of the homeless.
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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?
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Answer from Lois Rachel Wilco-Owens:
In dealing with the needs of the City, one must consider the big picture. The needs of the citizens in District 9 are more basic. We want to be safe, and feel protected. Streets that are in disrepair and in need of speed bumps we want repaired. We want our street lights on and our libraries open. There is a need for anti-pornography filters in the library. Volunteerism should be advocated and allowed where needed. District 9 is my special group and all decisions must be made with the greater good in mind. Helping the homeless will ultimately help all citizens of San Jose.
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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?
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Answer from Lois Rachel Wilco-Owens:
I have been conducting a grass roots campaign.I have received some contributions, but I have preferred to loan myself campaign money to finance this endeavor. I will not take money from anyone, special interest or not, when elected because I don't want to be indebted to anyone. I want to make clean decisions based on what my constituents want. I can't be bought and neither can my vote. That is why I am a proponent of an open website that is user-friendly and gives the citizens open access to who contributes and how our tax dollars are being spent.
Responses to questions asked of each candidate
are reproduced as submitted to the League.
Candidates' statements are presented as
submitted. Please answer each question in no more than 400 words.
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.
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League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
