DEAR EDITOR:
I am City Council candidate and Planning Commission Chairman
Russ Valiquette. I will not be attending the Gilroy First! Forum
Wednesday night due to the recent revelations of deception
practiced by that organization in several Dispatch articles, which
I believe to be factual.
DEAR EDITOR:

I am City Council candidate and Planning Commission Chairman Russ Valiquette. I will not be attending the Gilroy First! Forum Wednesday night due to the recent revelations of deception practiced by that organization in several Dispatch articles, which I believe to be factual.

I do think, however, that the questions posed by Gilroy First! should be addressed, and for that reason, I’m answering them below. I will be available outside the City Council chambers after the conclusion of the Channel 17 broadcast to answer any questions voters might have.

1. In these tight budget times, as council member or mayor you will be asked to make some tough choices. What are you absolutely committed to protecting?

Public safety and economic development. These two are inextricably tied together. Eighty percent of our general fund monies go to police, fire, and paramedics. Our economic development program has provided the income to fund these essentials without cuts in these lean and uncertain times.

2. Gilroy has some citizens who are politically active and many others who are disconnected from the political process. What specific steps would you take to make sure you are hearing from the full range of people who live in Gilroy?

Many of those who don’t vote are disaffected by the political process because they perceive there is precious little truth-telling. So the short answer is be honest, tell the truth, and take responsibility for my actions.

3. In the past in Gilroy, economic incentives for development have been controversial. Under what circumstances would you support incentives for development and when would you not support them?

Controversial to whom? Economic incentives have resulted in an income stream to provide necessities like public safety. Even detractors of economic incentives have no objection when the police and fire departments show up quickly when called. Also because of economic development, we are no longer the only city in Santa Clara County without a paramedic program.

I would certainly not support a proposed economic incentive that did not appear to be a reasonable risk. This has yet to happen. Every one granted in the city’s history has paid off, with not one default. Economic incentives are an investment in the future. Our city’s wise use of incentives is certainly among the reasons the City of Gilroy has one of the best municipal credit ratings in the State of California.

4. What measures would you put in place to ensure funding for parks, recreation areas, and open space in and around Gilroy? How do you feel about the possibility of Gilroy joining the Santa Clara County Open Space authority?

Funding for parks is paid for by developer’s impact fees. The Sports Park has been authorized and will be built. The city’s inclusion in the Open Space Authority will be addressed by council shortly. I have no objections, subject to examination of liability and funding issues, to joining the authority.

I would like to see parks available to a neighborhood when the first new resident turns the key in the lock. This has not happened, and I will work toward it.

5. What is your job growth program? What types of jobs should we be trying to bring to Gilroy, and what would you do to attract them?

Buildout of the east side regional retail complex is occurring, and I believe we need to think about shifting our economic incentive programs to bring light manufacturing, high-tech, and other well-paying jobs to town. Companies like Indian Motorcycle would be a good example.

In conclusion, if the new jobs generated are union jobs, so be it. I have no problems with the truthful advance of union causes. I’ve carried a union card myself in the past. But please, union members, petition your leadership to integrate honesty into our elections, because so far, they haven’t.

Russ Valiquette, candidate for Gilroy City Council

Submitted Monday, Sept. 15 to ed****@****ic.com

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