League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA November 4, 2008 Election
	Mark R. Grzan Answers Questions Candidate for Council Member; City of Morgan Hill

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 experience related to city government would you bring to the City Council?

Council and Redevelopment Agency member, MH Member and past Chair, South County Regional Wastewater Authority member, MH Past, Mayor Pro Tempore, MH Santa Clara County Water Board member, MH Coyote Creek Advisory Committee, MH CCorporation Yard Committee, MH Chair Utilities and Environment Sub-committee, MH Member Finance Committee, MH Llagas Creek Advisory Committee, MH Past member, Morgan Hill General Plan Task Force, MH Urban Limit Advisory Committee, MH Parks and Recreation Commissioner, City of Sunnyvale

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

Blight and economic development within our downtown is a concern. We are addressing these issues by purchasing blighted areas with authorized redevelopment funds to encourage new development. We are also authorizing increased residential use of our down through the November ballot process to develop synergy between new residents in downtown and new retail and commercial development. There are hopes that this investment will bring about changes with our .24% annual growth rate in jobs.

Support for public safety is very important to keep pace with growth. That is why Council has proposed a 2% utilities tax to support ever increasing demands. Such an increase will allow for significant administrative and service improvements that are necessary. This Council will shortly consider new funding strategies for fire services that will provide for our needed third fire station and may even reduce long term costs.

Open space is very important to our community. We value our hillsides, farm land, creeks and streams. We must continue to build at our core, while securing open space and agricultural easements to maintain our rural charm. This is an active process that requires resources, planning and collaboration with local regulatory agencies.

3. How would you balance the needs of the City as a whole with groups' interests?

Achieving balance between the interests of the City and the interests of special groups is achievable. We do this through a meet and confer process where we agree on information, data and studies and look to common ground. We also compromise by looking for and adopting alternatives and/or by developing new alternatives through a deliberative process. Key is trust. You build trust by having everyone participate in the process, making no decisions until the all the facts are in and the deliberations are complete.

But once due process is complete, it is time for decision making and leadership. As an analyst by profession, I bring qualitative and quantitative standards and measurement into the process. Without this approach I and the various arms of municipal government cannot be publically held accountable for the actions they have taken and the decisions they have made. I have been and will continue to be a leader in this approach as a process to bring understanding and clarity in the midst of conflicting interests, wants and needs.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' responses are not edited or corrected by the League.

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

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: September 29, 2008 21:22
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