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Don Wolfe
Don Wolfe will make a run for county supervisor seat
By Steve Enders
Add former Saratoga Mayor Don Wolfe to the early list of probable candidates who'll run for the fifth district seat on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.
Wolfe announced his candidacy about a week ago. Others rumored to be considering a run for the supervisorial seat are Cupertino City Council member Michael Chang, Foothill-DeAnza College Board President, Los Gatos High School teacher Dolly Sandoval, county Planning Commission chair Terry Trumbull and former Mountain View Mayor Pat Figueroa.
Wolfe feels he's got an advantage regardless of the competition.
"Voters will be pleased that I'm the only candidate that has won two elections in local jurisdictions," Wolfe said.
It's sure to be a long race for all involved, as the general election for the seat isn't until November 2000. To get to that point, however, Wolfe will have to be one of two top vote-getters in the March primary. Terms last four years.
After serving as mayor, Wolfe was elected last November to the board of the West Valley-Mission Community College District. He'll be forced to give up his seat if he wins the supervisor's race.
Wolfe is also the executive director of Silicon Valley Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse, a nonprofit organization that calls attention to the problem of frivolous lawsuits.
The fifth district, which includes Saratoga, Cupertino, Mountain View and Palo Alto, is now represented by Joseph Simitian.
Wolfe said he's got a good core of support building, and will announce the formation of his campaign team within the next couple of weeks. He said he expects to have to raise about $200,000 for the campaign.
"I've received so much as a citizen that it's little to give back," Wolfe said of why he's running. "I want to see assured delivery of the human services that the county is responsible for, and I want prudent management of the people's assets."
Wolfe said he'd like to focus on a number of issues, including the environment and mass transit, which he says could clear the valley's air. Wolfe would also like to look at the county's budget and save taxpayers money, besides taking a look at reforming education in Santa Clara County.
Among his ideas is opening debate on setting up a school system whereby each city has one district. He said Palo Alto and Milpitas are both good examples of how it already works. Eliminating districts, he says, would get good administrators back in classrooms and free up much-needed district buildings that could be used for class space. The move, he said, would also bolster community spirit.
"There are 15 cities and 37 school districts," Wolfe said. "Why? I'd like to see one district for one city, and I'd like to appoint a consultant to show us how it could be done. Where is the city of Moreland? Where is Alum Rock?"
If elected, Wolfe also plans on bringing his CALA interests into the supervisor's chambers, and begin a public information campaign to increase awareness on how much frivolous lawsuits cost taxpayers. He said that on average they cost each American about $1,200 a year.
While the supervisor's job is a full-time one, Wolfe said his run shouldn't interfere with his current obligations with CALA and the WVCCD Board of Trustees.
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Saratoga, California Since 1975
