Let's go through the various issues:
Measure B
Measure B is an update to the Utility User Tax, which is not supposed to change anything about our current taxes, but simply to define terms to correspond to current usage. In skimming through the proposed changes, the only thing that stood out to me was that VoIP was specifically included as a telecommunications service in this tax, but I guess that is already the case.
Verdict: YES
Measure G
Measure G is an update to an existing $98 per parcel additional property tax assessment which expires in 2011. The changes are to allow this additional tax to increase by 2% per year (or the rate of inflation, whichever is higher), and to no longer have an expiration date.
The argument against this is that this is an unfair tax and that it will go up too quickly. The tax will go up a minimum of about $20 in 10 years. There is an exemption for seniors already in place that is carried over to Measure G.
Personally, I believe that our schools deserve funding, and to have a small tax which keeps up with inflation does not seem unreasonable at all. In fact, I believe it will benefit the property value and the schools to have this funding secured. A few extra dollars a year is not a big deal to me but will make a big difference for our Cupertino schools.
Verdict: YES
Cupertino City Council
There are three open seats for Cupertino City Council, and seven candidates running. This is definitely the toughest decision I had on this election. I watched two debates with all the candidates, and read a lot of campaign mailings and websites.
In the end I decided to vote for Daniel Nguyen, Darcy Paul, and Marty Miller.
Daniel Nguyen is a Cupertino native who went to Cupertino public schools. He brings a different perspective than many other candidates, being the youngest candidate this time around, and I was impressed that he has a facebook page in addition to the usual candidate website.
Darcy Paul impressed me in two ways: 1) he only sent one campaign mailing on a small card (pointing out that this was to reduce environmental impact), and 2) he was the only candidate that in the debates suggested implementing a school bus program. Growing up in Texas and taking school busses for granted through most of my years in school, I am amazed that in one of the top school systems in the Bay Area we don't have bus service. This creates huge traffic problems at our schools when all the parents have to come pick up the kids at the same time. An additional benefit of a bus program would be that parents would not have to adjust their schedules to pick up and drop off kids, except if the kids needed to get to school early or stay late.
Marty Miller has many years of experience on the planning commission. He seems focussed on ensuring our sales tax revenue is increased and that we keep costs in check. Revitalizing Vallco and filling up our empty office and retail space appears to be his top priority, as well as controlling spending.
Verdict: Daniel Nguyen, Darcy Paul, Marty Miller
Cupertino Union School District Board
This one was easy. There are four candidates and you can vote for three of them. Three of the four provided information in the sample ballot and one did not. Also, apparently two of these three are already on the board and one is heavily involved in the PTA.
Verdict: Gary McCue, Ben Liao, Anjali Kausar
Cupertino Sanitary District Director
Again, an easy choice as only two of the four candidates provided any information in the sample ballot packet. These were also the only two candidates which mailed information to me.
Verdict: Don Sun, Steve Andrews
