The Morgan Hill Times gave each city council candidate a slate
of 12 questions. Here are the answers from Ken Galloway.
The Morgan Hill Times gave each city council candidate a slate of 12 questions. Here are the answers from Ken Galloway.
- What leadership qualities can you bring to the position if elected?
I am looking forward to bringing my 11+ years of project management experience driving large-scale business initiatives from inception to global rollout to the City of Morgan Hill.
I’ve managed global business practices & system integrations including: designing new programs, implementing process improvements, management of mergers/acquisitions and leading statutory compliance programs.
- What are your top priorities?
My Top Priorities are:
A) Managing the Budget — We need to eliminate wasteful spending while ensuring we maintain the services that have come to be part of the fabric of Morgan Hill. Specifically, I believe the City department heads should look into ways they can improve efficiencies and make the findings public.
B) Keeping Morgan Hill Safe — The “Rule of Thumb” is one police officer per 1 thousand citizens. Unfortunately, the Morgan Hill Police Department is below that level. I’m in favor of hiring additional officers to keep our community safe.
- What programs and/or services would you cut or save to balance the budget and how would you pay for them?
It’s essential that we have a comprehensive budget strategy in order to secure the financial future of the community. I think we need to immediately review each department’s processes and set efficiency and cost savings targets. I would look to each department head to present to council how they can meet these efficiency targets and where the process can be improved. Additionally, I would also suggest that we eliminate the need for external consultants.
- Explain your approach to negotiating with employee unions?
I believe the best way to approach the unions is through collaboration. Both the City and the Unions need to understand each other’s positions and work through the challenges. Ultimately, the city and council need to do what’s in the best interest of the citizens.
- Do you support a two-tier retirement system?
I believe that the pension issue needs to be addressed by the new council from a holistic standpoint vs. just looking at one particular option. Having said that, I would support a two-tier system being put in place.
- How do you feel about RDA-financed downtown development plans, including the fate of the vacant Granada Theater building?
Regarding RDA-financed development plans, I think we need to re-evaluate what’s currently proposed. A vibrant downtown is important to the community and I will insist that we have a “Complete plan” when any new proposal is put before the council.
As for the Granada…
The Granada has been part of Morgan Hill since the 50’s. I’m in favor of saving it, or at a minimum, putting it to a vote and letting the citizens decide.
- How should the city address planning and developing in other parts of the city, such as the Southeast Quad?
A comprehensive plan needs to be created for the Southeast Quad of Morgan Hill and I’m in favor of controlled development approach for this area. Specifically, I would like to see additional recreational facilities (i.e. Little League Baseball Fields) Of course, additional development would be dependent on the budget and if new facilities could be self supported.
- What is the city’s role, if any, in working with the school district?
Morgan Hill Schools help establish that great hometown community feeling. I think the City should work in partnership with school district.
- In light of the Cinco de Mayo incident at LOHS, what steps would you take, if any, to improve race relations?
I find it disappointing that poor judgment of a few escalated into a national incident. Being a graduate of LOHS and also being Hispanic, I do not believe we have a have a systemic race relation problem in Morgan Hill.
- What are your plans, if any, to attract new businesses to Morgan Hill?
First, I would like to see the city streamline the way it works with new businesses and shake off its reputation of being “Difficult to work with” One of our top priorities should be to help fill all the vacant buildings (Office & Retail) in the city.
- What prompted you to run?
Having lived in Morgan Hill for over 33 years, I’ve seen a lot of change take place and I want to ensure future changes have a complete “plan” so that we don’t lose that hometown feeling that makes Morgan Hill a great place to live! Having said that, the future of Morgan Hill has to start with asking the “Tough questions” and holding government officials accountable to the citizens of Morgan Hill.
- Do you think changes are needed to the city’s speaker policy and council meetings, and if so what changes would you make?
I think the policy just needs to be consistently applied.
