Dave Mounteer responds to questions

The Morgan Hill Times gave each city council candidate a slate
of 12 questions. Here are the answers from Dave Mounteer.
The Morgan Hill Times gave each city council candidate a slate of 12 questions. Here are the answers from Dave Mounteer.

1. What leadership qualities can you bring to the dais if elected?

I believe excellence to be virtuous. Whether working in public or private arenas, excellence should be the level of service expected of each of us. I supervise and manage 10 for-profit Bay Area private schools. I know about working within a fixed budget and am able to make the decisions necessary to remain profitable. Business is accountable to the customer and city staff is accountable to the people. Local government must operate as the private sector does by working within a rigid budget framework while setting aside ample reserves to provide a minimum level of required service during lean times.

1. What are your top priorities?

• The right to life and property are Constitutional rights. Therefore, maintaining an adequate police force charged with the protection of these rights must always be priority one. While I prefer that Morgan Hill retain its own force, I am not opposed to studying a cost/benefit analysis of contracting these services through the Sheriff’s Department.

• Achieving solvency with recreational facilities and the community center so they stop relying on general fund monies to operate.

• Attracting new businesses to Morgan Hill.

1. What programs and/or services would you cut or save to balance the budget, and how would you pay for them?

While I prefer to not reduce the levels of service from police or fire, the reality is that 85% of general fund monies are allocated to these services so everything must be on the table during financially lean times. I also think reducing the operating hours of City Hall may be necessary.

1. Explain your approach with negotiating with employee unions.

While I think the unwillingness of many labor unions to face financial reality will ultimately contribute to their demise, I believe in rewarding production. When downsizing is required, the most proficient and qualified workers should keep their jobs. Length of service should not be the primary determining factor.

1. Do you support a two-tier retirement system?

The days of lucrative retirement and benefits packages of public employees are gone. We simply can’t afford them. Public benefits must reflect the realities of the private sector.

1. How do you feel about RDA-financed downtown development plans, including the fate of the vacant Granada Theater building?

RDA funds are tax dollars that should not be used in downtown development plans. The original purpose of the RDA was to renew blighted areas. Downtown is not blighted. While I enjoy that area and support the idea of commercial development and mixed-use residences downtown, if it is a viable plan, the private sector will invest its dollars to develop it. The city cannot and should not assume the financial risks associated with developing and maintaining these proposed properties. I would like to see the Granada Theater renovated, refurbished, and restored to its original luster, but not at taxpayer’s expense.

1. How should the city address planning and developing in other parts of the city, such as the Southeast Quad?

There has forever been a struggle between those that want Morgan Hill to retain its rural characteristics and those who desire increased development. I think we can achieve both when planning is done in orderly fashion. I do not want Morgan Hill to become a congested San Jose or even a Gilroy. One of the things that makes Morgan Hill a wonderful place to live, is that it has been planned and developed reasonably well. However, Morgan Hill needs a stronger tax base and Gilroy has attracted commercial enterprises whose first location choice was Morgan Hill. We need to make it easier for businesses to locate here. Having said this, however, property rights must prevail and the property owner should have the ability to develop his land as long as he is conforming to predetermined codes and ordinances.

1. What is the city’s role in working with the school district?

The city’s role is to help ensure the safety of students. The education of children is the responsibility of engaged parents, competent teachers and administrators, and an informed school board.

1. In light of the Cinco de Mayo incident at LOHS, what steps would you take, if any, to improve race relations?

I would encourage the school board to focus on helping students understand values and dreams they share in common instead of highlighting cultural differences. Students need to be reminded that they are Americans-not hyphenated Americans. Educators should focus on helping students understand the concepts of liberty and individual rights and the ability that each has to write his own destiny instead of perpetuating differences between races. The concept of the melting pot must be taught and reinforced in the schools. And one more thing – students should be taught history, not social studies. Let’s give them real heroes to study and emulate – not just sports figures and rock stars.

1. What are your plans, if any, to attract new businesses to Morgan Hill?

Make it easier to do business in Morgan Hill. I’m not opposed to offering tax incentives for predetermined periods of time as new businesses become established. We need to stop sending so many new businesses to Gilroy.

1. What prompted you to run?

I am a concerned citizen who has lived his entire adult life in Morgan Hill. I am concerned with how our tax dollars are spent. I’m concerned with the amount of money the city has spent on projects better left to the private sector to develop and maintain (Recreation Center, Aquatic Center, Community Center). I am concerned about our rising crime rate.

1. Do you think changes are needed to the city’s speaker policy at council meetings, and what changes would you make?

While I understand the need to maintain order and efficiency, if an individual has invested energy to attend a city meeting and has insight into the discussion at hand, he ought to be able to make his point with or without a speaker card.