The two candidates participated on Feb. 15 in a forum sponsored by United Asian and the Vietnamese-American Community of Northern California.

Incumbent Ken Yeager said it was an honor to have served the Willow Glen and Rose Garden neighborhoods on city council for three years, mainly dealing with traffic, infill development and enhancing the existing community.

He made reference to his work on the city's trail system and airport curfew and promised "more parks and libraries and to keep public safety strong."

Newcomer Daniel Beasworrick introduced himself as a small-business man, stepfather and foster parent. He pledged to bring "imagination, creativity, and problem solving" to the issues of jobs, affordable housing and traffic.

"I solve problems in ways people haven't thought of," Beasworrick said. For example, he said money could be saved by keeping police cars a year longer rather than buying new ones when the old ones still run.

When the panel at the forum asked about the issue of restoring jobs, Yeager said the city council cannot create jobs, but it can create an environment that welcomes businesses to the city. He said the council has made progress on affordable housing and transportation. He added he has a commitment to higher education and getting college students involved in the political process as a political-science lecturer at San José State University.

Beasworrick said that the city also needs to "streamline the process" of obtaining building and conditional-use permits and add incentives for business owners so that companies will want to bring their businesses to San Jose. He said the city needs to consider tax breaks, grants and permit streamlining as part of its overall process.

When asked about freedom of speech and the need to have members of minority groups in leadership positions, Yeager said he was proud to have served on the city's human rights commission for two years and that he had helped minorities become appointed to city staff.

Beasworrick said he respected all cultural and religious traditions and noted that his sole employee was a minority. If he were elected, Beasworrick said, he would "bring in diverse members so we have all views represented."

The candidates were also asked to talk about the fatal shooting by a San Jose police officer of a Vietnamese woman, Bich Cau Thi Tran, after she waved a Southeast Asian vegetable peeler at the police. The incident was a politically charged issue that ripped through the Vietnamese community.

Yeager addressed the issue by saying that San Jose prides itself on the city's multicultural heritage.

He added, "We're looking at what steps the city can take to make sure that doesn't happen again," citing outreach and independent police auditing as part of the solution.

Beasworrick said the incident was "truly unfortunate" and he would like to establish a civil review board to create closer ties among the police department, the community and the government.

When asked whether the city would purchase more goods and services from local minority-owned businesses, Yeager said, "All minority groups need to be made aware of the bidding process, but we can't steer a contract toward them."

Beasworrick added that having better communication with ethnic chambers of commerce—the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Japanese-American Chamber of Commerce, Filipino Chamber of Commerce and Black Chamber of Commerce—would "ensure fair distribution" of business to minority groups.

When the forum asked about the city's $45 million purchase of new furniture and equipment, Yeager said that "council members were shocked and discouraged" that the entire council was not informed.

"It's a perception problem that we need to work on," he said, adding that he will be introducing a policy that any information given to the mayor needs to be given to the entire council.

In response to the city's $45 million furniture and equipment expenditure, Beasworrick challenged Yeager's answer, expressing shock that all the council members didn't know of the city's highly criticized spending decision.

In other areas of concern, panelists asked the candidates about their views on the USA Patriot Act.

Yeager said he voted to send a resolution opposing it to the city council. "It's up to us as individuals to make sure to fight that," he said.

Beasworrick said during his military service he took an oath to defend the Constitution and that he couldn't support something that violates constitutional rights.

Yeager has served one term as District 6 city councilman and is hoping to be reelected to a second four-year term. Yeager, who has a doctorate in education, has been an avid supporter of improving the Santa Clara County urban trail system during his first term. As a council member, he has also worked toward finding solutions to problems with traffic and pedestrian safety. And he has worked with neighborhood and business associations in finding ways to breath new life into downtown business communities like Willow Glen.

Beasworrick hopes to oust Yeager from office and become District 6's new councilman. This would be his first elected position. Beasworrick, a member of the South San Jose Kiwanis Club, owns Noah's Ark Pet Styling, a pet-grooming business in Willow Glen. During the last few weeks he has canvassed local businesses and citizens on issues of concern and developed a platform that is centered on economic growth and making government more accessible.