Q&A: Barbara Spector, Candidate for Los Gatos Town Council

Two candidates are vying for your support in the Los Gatos Town Council election Nov. 6, 2012 where there are two seats up for grabs. The race is uncontested so far, but a potential write-in candidate can still qualify for the ballot by the Tuesday, Oct. 23 deadline.

They are:

• Incumbent Los Gatos Vice Mayor Barbara Spector
• Los Gatos Planning Commission Chairwoman Marcia Jensen

Los Gatos Patch asked the candidates to respond to four questions. Below, you will find responses from Jensen. Responses are written by the candidates and have not been edited by Patch.

Los Gatos Patch: How do you intend to fulfill your obligations as a member of the Los Gatos Town Council?

Barbara Spector: I believe that in making decisions, we should follow our plans, standards and ordinances, which were established over time with a great deal of community input. These are our laws and they should be applied with consistency and transparency.

Patch: What is the most significant government issue facing the Town of Los Gatos today and what do I intend to do about it?

Spector: We have a beautiful town that is the envy of many other  municipalities. This beauty is created by our hillside environment, tree-lined streets and architecture. That beauty is a blessing. However, it is also a challenge because our desirability can motivate dense development. As a result, the Council has been receiving an increasing number of complaints because of overcrowded schools and roadways. These same concerns have been expressed with regard to the development of the North 40. The North 40 Advisory Committee, which I chair, consists of Los Gatos residents, business owners and public officials who have been holding regular public meetings to prepare a plan under which a 40-acre parcel of agricultural land can be developed. This critical project must complement – rather than compromise – our Town and quality of life.

Patch: How would you deal with graffiti in Los Gatos?

Spector: During my tenure on the Council, the town has received repeated complaints about the graffiti defacing the children's art work on the Forbes Mill Footbridge. The Council agreed with its Arts and Culture Commission, which is creating the children's artwork on graffiti-resistant materials. Panels will be replaced in installments with the first pieces scheduled for installation this November.

Patch: How would you balance economic vitality with the preservation of Los Gatos’ small-town character?

Spector: I firmly believe that good land-use decisions lead to economic vitality. I have held that belief during the time I served on the Los Gatos Town Council and on the Town's Planning Commission. This philosophy is reflected and confirmed when both residents and non-residents want to shop, use personal service businesses, dine and enjoy our small-town charm. A recent study found that the town has brought in over $300 million from visitors alone.

To read Spector's candidate statement as it appears on the Nov. 6 ballot, please click here.

Additional information relating to issues raised by Los Gatos Patch can be found on the League of Women Voters’ website at http://www.smartvoter.org.