League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA June 3, 2014 Election
	Dave D Cortese Answers Questions Candidate for Mayor; City of San Jose

The questions were prepared by the Leagues of Women Voters of Santa Clara County and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. What concerns are of particular importance to the city and how would you address them?

The major issues facing the City of San Jose are adequate funding of city services (mainly public safety and the needs of safety net families), traffic congestion and economic stimulus. Divisive leadership at City Hall is worsening conditions in our community. My long-term vision is to: 1) immediately restore adequate funding packages to San Jose's workforce in order to bolster public safety and reopen community centers and libraries so San Jose can once again be a true "Safe City" in the USA and families can enjoy safe recreation and educational activities locally. These funding packages can compete with CalPERS jurisdictions or merge with the CalPERS system. 2) Reprioritize transportation funding towards rebuilding aging infrastructure, specifically local streets and roads. 3) Seek out additional opportunities to protect and grow the city's tax base through regional, statewide and national partnerships + relationships I have been developing over my last several years in elective office.

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?

I believe we can control shortfalls and restore city services through: Greater contributions to benefits by employees Consolidation of services Prioritization of ending fund balances toward essential services

Revenue increase will come in large part through making it easier for businesses to open and operate in San Jose. This includes: Comprehensive deregulation of small business downtown and open up our streetscape to vendors and artisans.

Rebuilding and revamping the Planning department to create a volume operation that can move permits and environmental reviews quickly and competitively.

San Jose has a historically low tax base. To expand sales tax generation I will call for a comprehensive retail opportunity study across all geographic areas of the city. This is to determine what retailers may see as opportunities not yet designated in the General Plan.

3. How would you work with individual Council members and the Council as a whole to further your plans and agenda? Describe your leadership style.

I have been in elective office for over 20 years at the school district, city and county levels of government. I have brought warring sides together over the most contentious issues and achieved common ground. Having worked in both the public and private sectors for several years, I understand how to identify the interests of both sides and how to create a synergy of these interests. I did this on the San Jose City Council with just cause. I did this on the Board of Supervisors and helped achieve over $200 million in concessions with our bargaining units. I intend to continue this pattern of leadership and bridge building.

4. How would you balance City-wide, district and interested parties' needs and desires?

I believe my voting record reflects thoughtful deliberation, issue by issue. My public calendar reflects my willingness and interest to meet with all parties and hear their concerns on each issue.

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?

I plan to raise and spend the maximum allowable under the law. I believe my voting record reflects thoughtful deliberation, issue by issue. My public calendar reflects my willingness and interest to meet with all parties and hear their concerns on each issue.

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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.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: May 21, 2014 09:11
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