League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA November 2, 2004 Election
	Laura A. Macias Answers Questions Candidate for Council Member; City of Mountain View

Read the answers from all candidates.

Questions & Answers

1. Passing a balanced City budget each year has become a major challenge. What specific strategies will you promote in response to a continuing revenue shortfall?

Mountain View is one of the few cities in the entire US to possess a AAA financial rating from Standard & Poor's. This reflects responsible fiscal management. I'll encourage increased economic development programs. Cities lag the overall economy in revenue recovery, so economic development must include short-term strategies for quick results. Public safety, planning services and public maintenance are core programs to be funded. I will make sure that those priorities are funded to insure day to day operations in order for the city to run smoothly for our residents, businesses and workers.

2. What would you do, if anything, to make home ownership possible for more families of local public safety workers, other City employees, District teachers and medical personnel?

For many years, Mountain View has been a city where working class people of many occupations live. That's part of what makes Mountain View a wonderfully diverse city. I want to find ways to increase home ownership. As a Council Member, I would support affordable housing stock and partner on programs to promote home ownership to encourage prospective home owners.

3. On which local and regional committees, boards, and task forces would you like to serve? If your personal views on issues before these bodies do not coincide with those of the Council as a whole, how will you handle this?

I would like to serve on the VTA board. Basic transportation must be maintained with adequate bus lines and train service. Recently in Mountain View, decreased train and bus service affected too many workers, seniors and school children. We can do better. Knowing how regional mandates affect city operations, I would like to serve on the Association for Bay Area Governments and other key Bay area bodies where I can influence strategic decision-making. Over twenty years' experience on boards, commissions and business management teams has been instructive as to how I work best as part of a leadership team. There are always times when one's personal views are not the view of the majority. As part of a Council representing the entire city, not just my personal views, I will move forward with a decision once it is made by the Council.