Saratoga News

Letters & Opinions

Speak Out

Hunter helps make city
a beautiful place

Saratogans not only owe Jill Hunter a debt of gratitude for the way she (and her enthusiastic followers) have beautified downtown Saratoga, with planters full of annuals and perennials, but her view of Saratoga's future is shared by the vast majority of residents. She opposed the sale of the North Campus (something Kathleen King avidly supported) and Jill's votes on the planning commission and school board have proved she would like everyone to enjoy Saratoga as the wonderful, livable place it has been--as is!

Alan Rosenus

Lomita Avenue

King has what it takes
to lead Saratoga

I wanted to send a letter to our local paper to voice my support for Kathleen King for Saratoga City Council. I have worked with and been acquainted with Kathleen in my involvement in the Village as a business advocate, while owner of Viaggio Restaurant from 1997-2005. I have also been a resident of Saratoga since 1965.

Kathleen has been fair and accessible to all residents and business owners alike. She has tenacity and follow-through and has persevered tirelessly to accomplish goals that others would have let float away.

The success of her lobbying efforts to take our property tax revenue back from the state is a huge success and will ease the burden the current council has gone through trying to maintain basic services without running in the red.

We need Kathleen's leadership in the years to come to face the challenges ahead.

Don't get sidetracked by all the hoopla of this election; let's keep this incumbent with her financial savvy and statewide connections around for another term. Believe me, we need her!

Karen Grellas

Dorsey Way

Supporting Siam
in council race

We agree with Ms. Fariss, about the inappropriateness of using personal attacks to win elected office. It is ironic therefore that that is exactly what Ms. Fariss is doing in her recent letter to the Saratoga News.

Under the guise of protest and indignation, she makes a "whispering campaign" into a shouting campaign and then goes on to further slam Hab Siam regarding his service on the East Palo Alto Sanitary District board. If this is not a personal attack, we don't know what is.

We agree with Ms. Fariss that Saratoga needs to "elect" dependable well-informed candidates." We have found that in his short residence in Saratoga, Mr. Siam has learned a great deal about the machinations that have taken place at City Hall. We also have learned that he is anxious to create a more open government than we have seen thus far. He is an independent thinker with the critical thinking and analytical skills necessary to make decisions on the many issues facing the city. That is why we are shouting our support.

Adele Salle and Marvin Kohn

Terrence Avenue

Hunter the kind of person
we want on council

After reading the claims and counterclaims--some inane--in letters to the editor about various candidates, I feel compelled to write a straightforward, positive and to-the-point statement about city council candidate Jill Hunter.

I have known Jill for many years, and I know she would make an excellent city council member. Jill has broad, deep and balanced experience in elected, appointed and voluntary positions in the community. She listens to all sides of all questions and considers them objectively. Jill is both a good leader and an excellent collaborator.

Jill has a long history of community service. She participates for all the right reasons--most importantly because she cares about Saratoga and the experience all residents have living here.

The city of Saratoga is Jill's lowest common denominator. This is exactly the kind of person I want to help guide our community.

Lia Lorton

Prune Blossom Drive

'Clean the slate' means
to elect newcomers

I write in response to the editorial, "Clean the slate--elect King, Siam, Page to council." To me "clean the slate" does not mean electing an incumbent. I have been disappointed with Kathleen King's tenure on the city council. I emailed her twice during her term regarding issues about which I felt strongly. In the first email I shared with her my opposition to improving the trail between Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road and Cox Avenue. Her cavalier response convinced me that she was not interested in hearing the opinions of interested citizens. The second email was about the entrance pillars on Saratoga- Sunnyvale Road. She did not even have the courtesy to respond to my questions and concerns.

Your editorial asks if Saratogans "want members who will need to look to the back of the chambers for approval before casting a vote." I do, indeed, want members on my city council who will "look to the back of the chambers for approval." In fact, I hope the members will look far beyond the back of the chambers and consider input from all members of the Saratoga community before casting a vote. Let's really clean the slate with three new city council members.

Phyllis Vogel

Covina Court

Supporting Hunter,
Marchetti, Sorden

Jill Hunter has been a caring, contributing, constructive member of Saratoga for well over two decades. Jill has proven herself and her abilities time and again from serving on the school board to her efforts on the planning commission.

Jill has dedicated herself to Saratoga. As a member of the city council, Jill would continue to be an asset to our city. Jill is well aware of Saratoga's unique history; she will work to preserve and promote our history. Jill has concerns about our environment and will focus on environmental issues. Reinstating Saratoga's city commissions is another of Jill's priorities. Jill has a high regard for the people of Saratoga, and is happy to listen to citizen concerns and goals.

As a member of the Saratoga Village Development Council and the Village Gardeners I have had the privilege of working with Jill on numerous projects. I have experienced firsthand her work ethic and dedication to Saratoga.

I have also worked with Marilyn Marchetti on various projects. Working with Marilyn has given me the opportunity to get to know her, and to see what a hardworking, talented person she is. Marilyn has demonstrated a strong interest in Saratoga, bringing much to our Village.

Jim Sorden has much expertise from his corporate experiences, along with his dedication to Saratoga.

Jill Hunter, Marilyn Marchetti and Jim Sorden are candidates who consistently exercise dignity and integrity. These three candidates have much to offer Saratoga.

Laurel Perusa

Oriole Road

Erroneous information
in slate's mailer

This past week I received a mailer from the three slate candidates (Jill Hunter, Marilyn Marchetti and Jim Sorden). This mailer led me to send my first letter to a newspaper. I am truly saddened and angry that this team of three would send incorrect and misleading information to the Saratoga voting public. The information they sent was clearly an attack on our current city council and the one running incumbent, Kathleen King.

While most of what they claim is erroneous, their comments on the Kevin Moran Park issue motivated me to write. They claim that the current city council voted to "build a high intensity soccer facility in the heart of Kevin Moran Park." I am not sure where they are getting their data, but a flat grass field with a bathroom does not constitute a high intensity soccer facility. In addition they claim that [the city council] refused to explore alternatives. This is grossly incorrect and a flat out lie. The current city council, led by Kathleen King, diligently pursued other options and has been instrumental in coming up with the creative options, which are now being pursued.

Kathleen King is one of the hardest- working city council members this city has ever had. She is truly interested in the health and best interests of the whole city. The mailer did not mention any of the major contributions Kathleen and the current council have achieved on behalf of the entire city, such as driving the fair distribution of property taxes from the state so the city of Saratoga would receive its fair share, thereby increasing our operational budget by 7 to 10 percent (which will allow the city to do some of the infrastructure projects like improving our roads, which she has advocated). This is a huge long-term win for the city and would not have happened without the persistent efforts of Mayor Norman Kline and Kathleen.

Having someone like Kathleen on the city council is critical to our future. We need someone who is going to be working for the whole city and can look longer term. I for one would not want individuals who stoop to misleading and erroneous advertising leading this city's policies.

I urge the voters to understand the rhetoric and make informed decisions on who they want on their city council.

Katey Kennedy

Carnelian Glen

Group supports many
different candidates

This is a response to the letter from Elaine Hocker ("Voter opposes Kahl in race for high school board," Oct. 11) regarding her statements about BAYMEC's endorsement of Steven Kahl for the Los Gatos-Saratoga High School District board.

I am the co-founder of BAYMEC. When Ken Yeager, presently a San Jose City Council member and future member of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, and I decided to start BAYMEC, we had several goals. To be sure, we hoped that one day there would be credible candidates from the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community who would meet our criteria for elected office. However, this was not and never has been the sole purpose for our existence.

From the very beginning we dedicated ourselves to supporting candidates who not only supported our right to have equality but who also were dedicated to the rights of all citizens. Over the years we have spent countless hours, not only supporting candidates but also educating the community and various public entities about the gay community.

We have helped many candidates by raising a significant amount of money for them and also by working on campaigns, walking precincts, educating school boards and helping develop legislation that would protect members or our community and especially GLBT youths in the schools so as to keep them safe from bullying and mistreatment. We have worked to protect people with AIDS, never asking if they were gay or straight; we raised hundreds for HIV/AIDS education to help keep all our communities stay safe and healthy; and we have participated in events for women with breast cancer as well as other health-related events. These are only a few of the activities that have been the hallmark of BAYMEC and the many people who are a part of our organization. Finally, there have been times when gay or lesbian candidates have asked for our support and we have not given it to them, because we did not believe they would effectively represent the citizens.

Over the past 24 years we have endorsed governors, congress people, state legislators, city council people, county supervisors, school board people and a myriad of others. Many candidates have actively sought our support; Steve Kahl is only one of them. It is always easy to twist information to suit one's biased views, which clearly Ms. Hocker attempted to do with her letter.

For those of you who wish to know the truth about BAYMEC, visit our website at www.BAYMEC.net. We have a long history of representation and commitment to equality and justice.

Wiggsy Sivertsen

Los Gatos

Supporting Chang
for school board

I met Cynthia Chang 16 years ago when both of us were room parents in a third-grade class at Foothill Elementary School. She has been taking my aerobic classes at the Saratoga Community Center ever since. Over the years, I have participated in many of the activities that Cynthia organized or coordinated, such as Relay for Life, Lunar New Year celebrations and the recent "Chinese Americans in Saratoga and Northern California" forum.

I have always been amazed by her organizational skills and charisma in bringing everyone together while providing valuable services to the community. She is the only incumbent in the race for the high school board and the only candidate from Saratoga. If she is not re-elected for the next two years, there will be no Saratoga representation on the high school board.

Elaine Roth

Russell Lane

Hunter quit school
board after vote

In my opinion Jill Hunter is not a good candidate to represent the community on the city council. I base my opinion on her actions as a school board trustee when I was serving on the facility committee for the remodel of Saratoga Elementary School.

As many will recall, Jill Hunter was against taking down some of the eucalyptus trees the district's architect advised were potentially dangerous because of their location on the playground. After much community input and debate, the board voted to remove the eucalyptus trees.

What ensued after this vote illustrates why I do not support electing Jill Hunter to another decision-making office. It is common to have strong disagreements on issues and dissenting votes, but good governance requires that after a vote an elected official moves on to the next issue. Jill Hunter quit the school board when she did not persuade the majority to vote with her and embarked on a campaign to force the school board to keep the trees. This is not a good quality in a Saratoga council member since many contentious issues will come before the council.

The results were costly delays to the project and valuable time away from the important business of offering the best education to the children of Saratoga. It is not surprising, therefore, that Jill has not received endorsements from any school board member with whom she has served.

On Nov. 7 we face an important decision with three council seats up for election. Saratoga needs a functional city council and council members who will keep the needs of its citizens as the basis for making important decisions. Importantly, Saratoga needs council members who can continue to work with others who do not agree with them.

Bonnie Yamaoka

Douglass Lane

Bonnie Yamaoka is a former member of the Saratoga Union School District.

Sports signs become
part of campaign

It appears that Little League and AYSO will cost 15-20 percent more next year due to the loss of sponsorship signs at Congress Springs Park. Kathleen King's signs at Congress Springs Park were actually helping provide funding to valuable community programs. I would certainly rather have all of this campaign money helping the community rather than becoming so much trash the day after the election.

Jeff Wilkerson

Kosich Court

Hunter deserves
support for council

Jill Hunter deserves our votes to be on the city council. While there are several reasons to vote for her, I feel the most important are:

* Jill is a 25-year Saratoga resident and was the first school board member who embraced multicultural diversification in the 1980s. She was instrumental in encouraging the Asian community to become involved in school and community activities.

* Jill is the only candidate endorsed by the Sierra Club and League of Conservation Voters--two nationally recognized environmental organizations.

* Jill's 15-year record, while serving on the planning commission and school board, has demonstrated her independent- mindedness. Though running with two other community-oriented candidates, we know that she is and will remain true to her beliefs; she will not be bound by how her "slate mates" will vote.

* Jill is known for possessing a strong sense of integrity, which I believe is a very important character trait for serving in our City Hall. She has never and will not ever take contributions from any special interest groups.

While our children were in school, Jill and I worked closely together on the district's multicultural committee and Saratoga High School's PTSA. I was often impressed by her passion and devotion to our schools and community. Two decades later, I remain confident of Jill's integrity and passion to serve. I have 100 percent trust in Jill's ability to be an advocate for Saratoga residents and every Saratoga neighborhood. I am certain that she will be an excellent asset to our Saratoga City Council.

Mary Chang

Brockton Lane

Marchetti's letter
was insulting

I would like to respond to Marilyn Marchetti's letter ("Siam's poor attendance on sanitation board," Oct. 18) as well as previous comments she has made in articles. The only thing I agree with in Marilyn's letter is that we are bright citizens. That being said, does Marilyn Marchetti really believe that we are ignorant enough to fall for her comments, not once, not twice, but three times in various newspapers that Hab Siam started his own whisper campaign for attention? Do you really expect us to believe this?

First you call us bright, and then insult the voters with this absurdity. Is this the only way you can think of winning? Any decent candidate would not perpetuate false accusations. This is very disappointing to think this is the best tactic a candidate can use to win, malicious perpetuation of false accusations. There is no telling what Ms. Marchetti will do once in office since it appears she wants to win so badly and had to stoop so low.

We are a well-educated community. I know where I will cast my vote this November. It will be for Hab Siam, well qualified and educated, a parent with a real concern of open government, fiscal responsibility for our community and integrity.

Huey Lee

Scully Avenue

Editorial confuses,
then angers reader

The Oct. 17 editorial in the Saratoga News confused, then angered me.

The indictment against Jill Hunter, Marilyn Marchetti and Jim Sorden was clear: It's a slate, crush it. Slates weren't bad four years ago when Kathleen King ran on one and won. They're only bad now when she could lose. The irony? The editors are endorsing their slate! Political bias? You bet!

Why does the News indict Jill, Marilyn and Jim? Because they're running together, that makes them power-hungry puppets. Jill a puppet? She's volunteered on the school board, planning commission and other Village concerns for 25 years. Fifteen-year resident Marilyn has served on the Village Task Force, Chamber of Commerce and other volunteer activities. And Jim, a 36-year resident, is simply a retired engineer who loves Saratoga and wants to see its neighborhoods protected. Political? Hardly. Saratoga News? There's no depth, discussion of issues, nothing that touches citizenry concerns.

The Saratoga News is now part of the San Jose Mercury conglomerate whose authors may be journalism's ultimate puppets, throwing polit-speak at readers. Witness the words of an (unnamed) community leader who compares Saratoga politics to the shady, smoke-filled backroom dealings of Tammany Hall. Get real!

The Saratoga News' disgraceful editors should be ashamed of the indictments they level against three concerned, respected Saratogans. This paper is funded by Realtors and developers. Saratogans who love our town and don't want it absorbed by the mindset and controlling interests of sprawling San Jose will not be fooled.

Fleur Kettmann

Vineyard Lane

King delivers
results, solutions

In this time of negativity and deception, I feel compelled to let you know that there exists a person running for public service who, in spite of the negative campaigning of others, stands apart, stands up and remains honest, confident and willing to do that which is right for all of us.

Kathleen King delivers results and solutions with unwavering values that guide her decisions. You will never find Kathleen resorting to inaccurate representation of the facts in order to "win." Why would you vote for someone who denigrates another's character, and even when faced with irrefutable evidence to the contrary, will continue to lie and state their "position" as truth?

When casting your vote, keep in mind the values we want in those making decisions for our community.

Linda Durnell

Saratoga

Waltonsmith owes
Hakone an apology

Councilwoman Ann Waltonsmith's attempt to drag Hakone into her political efforts to elect the slate of three candidates to the Saratoga City Council is shocking. As supporters of the Hakone Foundation for many years, we have worked hard to protect Hakone from this kind of abuse. We feel that Ms. Waltonsmith owes Hakone an apology for misusing her position of trust.

Helen Metcalf, Hakone trustee

Ralph Metcalf, former Hakone vice president

Douglas Lane

King takes credit
for too much

Both in her campaign literature and in person, Kathleen King takes credit for the increase in tax revenue that will come to the city of Saratoga as a result of a legislative bill recently signed by the governor.

In reality, as documented in a recent letter to the Saratoga News, it was Norman Kline who was the council member most heavily involved in this legislative change. Also, the entire city council in Saratoga worked on this matter as did the city councils and city managers in three other cities in this county that were similarly affected. It was not any one person accomplishing the change, as Kathleen King would have us believe. Furthermore, the city of Saratoga also paid two different lobbying firms to help achieve this change.

Kathleen King's work? This claim is similar to the portion of her campaign literature where she alleges she updated the Land Use Element in Saratoga's General Plan. In reality, no update has been achieved and the entire issue is a controversial mess. Nevertheless, that hasn't stopped Ms. King from declaring that the work has been completed and that she is responsible for it.

Stay tuned. Perhaps next week Kathleen King will take credit for the relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina.

Bob Himel

Lomita Avenue

Campaign turns
to signs, soccer

I had hoped the Saratoga City Council election would be about all of the issues of Saratoga--traffic, safety, infrastructure or how to allocate the $1 million per year added revenue (thanks to Mayor Norman Kline and Councilwoman Kathleen King). Instead, it appears to be about signs and soccer.

If that is true, let me try to clear up some misinformation. Below are documented and verifiable facts known to all candidates that should also be known to all citizens:

* More than 90 percent of all children playing in Saratoga Soccer, AYSO Region 27, are Saratoga residents.

* For every non-Saratoga child playing in Region 27, there are approximately two Saratoga children playing in AYSO Cupertino or San Jose.

* AYSO is nonprofit. All local volunteers are unpaid, including me. AYSO has 50 to 60 paid employees, 250,000 volunteers and 650,000 kids every year. This is a better ratio than even the Red Cross.

* AYSO and the city have been working to gain access to West Valley College since at least 1999. In 2007 this will be for Sunday games only.

* AYSO used WVC for practices from 1995 until 2005. WVC no longer has the space for AYSO for practice.

* Prospect High School will be available for Sunday games, but not for weekday practices.

* While construction moved AYSO temporarily off specific fields in past years, all fields used by AYSO in 1991 are still in use today. No additional fields are in use, even with a 40 percent growth in the number of players.

* More Saratoga kids than ever play organized sports. More than 75 percent will play at least one sport before high school.

* More than 3,000 Saratoga residents participate in AYSO soccer every weekend during fall.

* At the first Kevin Moran Park task force meeting, sports groups asked for 33 percent of the undeveloped park be improved with flat grass, while preserving 85 percent of the existing redwood/sycamore trees and other park improvements.

* At the final task force meeting, the neighborhood, community and sports groups all agreed to 8 percent improvement with flat grass, no games, no Sundays and a 100-foot buffer for the neighbors (two times that at Wildwood, three times El Quito, 10 times Congress Springs).

* The new practice field at KMP is the first added in 15 years.

On the issue of signs:

* With a $2,000 check, Kathleen King became a founding sponsor of VIP Soccer (for kids with moderate to severe disabilities). She has contributed time and money every year. We displayed a banner recognizing her by name every year I can remember, until Marilyn Marchetti complained.

* On Sept. 30, between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., King and Page signs were stolen from my lawn and my neighbor's yards. I did not realize that act was so newsworthy.

I for one look forward to the current election and misinformation coming to an end so that we can all work for the common good of Saratoga.

Howard Miller, AYSO commissioner

Holiday Drive

City's sign ordinance
needs to be changed

Seems the people running for city council in Saratoga are either pro or anti kids. I nearly choked when I read that Marilyn Marchetti complained about sponsor signs at Congress Springs. She clearly has no idea of what it takes to provide organized sports activities in Saratoga.

If there is an anti-sign ordinance in Saratoga, it needs to be ignored or have the ordinance changed. What's next with these narrow-minded people? Thank goodness she didn't see the names engraved in the brick at Congress Springs, else they would be pulling those up as well.

One more candidate that deserves a "no" vote.

Dennis Farmer

El Camino Grande

Reader says that
'the truth hurts'

When Kathleen King said five of the six bullets in the over-the-cliff "hit piece" were wrong, she was wrong. Every item in the bullet was documented and most of it part of the public record.

So, I say to her, "The truth hurts, doesn't it?"

I have the same response to the editorial in the Oct. 17 Saratoga News where a response was published, but not the original letter (a friend sent it to me to view after it had been submitted to the Saratoga News). The Saratoga News is heavily patronized by real estate, perhaps its major source of income. The Saratoga News is no longer a Saratoga paper because it is owned by an out-of-state conglomerate. The paper is pro-sports but that is often the only way local athletes are known. Lastly, for at least the past 30 years, the Saratoga News has consistently endorsed pro-development and/or real estate backed city council candidates. Again, I say, this time to the Saratoga News local executives, "The truth sometimes hurts, doesn't it?"

An aside, the Saratoga News editorial states "the old guard is not willing to share Saratoga with the young, or with anyone who disagrees with their model of what the city should be." Nothing could be further from the truth! Long-established Saratoga residents want to share this city with everyone, new residents and youth; we want to share the low density, beautiful hillsides, outstanding schools, parks and open space.

It is for those very reasons that many young families move to Saratoga. They want a respite from high-density development, large commercial areas and concrete. But if candidates supported by pro-development and real estate interests are elected to city council, we can say good-bye to the very reasons established and new residents moved here. We've had this same battle before 20-plus years ago--pro-development, pro-commercial city council members versus those wanting to have careful controlled development while maintaining the charm of Saratoga.

One correct observation in the editorial: some of us are upset and/or angry because it is the responsibility of the Saratoga News to present the facts and provide balanced reporting. That is not happening for this election, just as it has not in the past. Saratoga residents deserve better; when given the facts, they can vote intelligently. The job of journalism is to report the facts, not print their opinions and then claim they are facts.

Marcia Fariss

Saratoga Glen Place

Saratogans deserve
someone like Sorden

Saratogans deserve a candidate like Jim Sorden on the city council.

Jim's highly successful business career included senior executive positions at HP and Trimble, so he possesses valuable business and financial skills applicable to the functions of the council. He is one of the most intelligent individuals I've ever met and, of equal importance, he has wonderful common sense, a deep sense of fairness and is able to reason through issues and problems with compelling logic.

He has no allegiance to any special interest group, but is committed to keeping the essential character of Saratoga that drew so many of us here in the first place. I believe he would treat the inevitable issues and conflicts that come to the attention of the council in a way that is fair and reasoned.

An effective council member must be able to devote sufficient time to the myriad of council issues. Jim is retired, has long had an active interest in issues vital to Saratoga and will devote the necessary time to be informed, fair and effective.

Dan Tellep

La Paloma Avenue

Supporting Hunter, King,
Page for city council

It would be a shame if Jill Hunter's valuable experience and thoughtful, can-do persona were overlooked in the city council election because of a misperception that she is part of a slate controlled by those with self interests. Although I, too, have not appreciated the behavior of some recent city council members who were part of a slate, Jill is not of the same constituency. Jill has explained that her name on poster was due to financial reasons.

Of all the candidates, Jill's many years of civic involvement (school board, volunteer gardeners, planning commission, etc.) should remind voters that she is motivated only by wanting the best for our Village. I've worked with Jill for over 20 years and never have questioned her integrity and commitment. She always has the interests of the town, its heritage and its citizens uppermost in her mind.

It should be noted that I also support Kathleen King because both candidates address issues with open minds and careful logic. Chuck Page, too, is an independent thinker. I do not find it incongruous to support three diverse candidates as I think it bodes well for the city when council members come to the table with civic experience, temperate personalities and true commitment to the welfare of our city.

I don't need unanimous opinions. I do want intelligent discussions that eventually lead to consensus. Hence, I urge voters to evaluate every candidate's qualifications individually. When you do, you will understand why so many of us know that Jill Hunter would be a rational, dedicated and inspirational member of the city council.

Reiko Iwanaga

Springer Court

Chang distinguishes
herself in board race

It is heartening to know there are many accomplished people willing to serve on the Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District Board of Trustees. One candidate who distinguishes herself among the capable field in this election is incumbent Cynthia Chang. Most significant is her eight years of experience during which she has demonstrated her commitment to the students of this district.

Cynthia carefully considers all school board matters whether they are routine or out of the ordinary. She will not settle for an easy decision until all questions she has about an issue are answered to her satisfaction. The foremost concerns in her decision-making process are: How will the learning of each student be affected; what are the financial consequences to the district; how does it affect personnel; and is there a better way to achieve the same goal?

Cynthia has worked hard and will continue to promote a seamless articulation between the middle school to high school curricula and transparency in the administration of district policies and financial decisions.

Terrie Creamer

Padero Avenue

Merrick Drive resident Lisa Liu and Sobey Road resident Shinku Sharma also signed this letter.

Residents opposing
county's Measure A

It is doubtful any homeowner would support a ballot initiative that prevented one from remodeling their home or from rebuilding it in the case of fire or earthquake. This is precisely what will happen to people who live in Santa Clara hillsides if Measure A passes.

Measure A will put new zoning laws into effect that will make it difficult to sell our hillside homes and that is why hillside residents consider it a land grab by the county. It was written without public input or review of environmental, economic or housing impacts.

Most of the hillsides of Santa Clara are already owned by the government and will remain undeveloped. It is un-American to pass laws penalizing homeowners by devaluing hillside property that was legally purchased, built and lived in.

Keith and Cyndy Riordan

Bohlman Road

King listens, strives
for best solutions

Kathleen King is that rare politician who actually listens to comments and strives for the best solutions for her constituency. In my opinion, her passion and determination to "get things done" distinguish her from others running for political office. Kathleen was the driving force behind AB117. I am ecstatic Saratoga is finally going to get a fair share of property tax dollars that it has been denied for more than 18 years. Due in large part to Kathleen's efforts, Saratogans will now have an additional $1 million in the city budget!

Kathleen King combines integrity, intelligence and a commitment to action.

Clint Rosenthal

Bonnie Wright

Wildwood Way