Q&A: Marcia Jensen, 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 will you approach your work as a member of the Los Gatos Town Council?

Marcia Jensen: As chair of the Planning Commission, I have observed increasing polarization among Council members, and also between the Council and town residents. One of the reasons I chose to run for Council was so that I might have the opportunity to work to eliminate that polarization by seeking input from all segments of the community, by increasing transparency in Council decision-making, and by making sure all who will be impacted by decisions have an opportunity to be heard.

Patch: What is the major issue facing Los Gatos? 

Jensen: There is not one single issue which is the most important in maintaining our quality of life in Los Gatos. Parents are concerned with the quality and class-sizes in our schools, neighborhoods are concerned about over-development, businesses are concerned with inconsistency in policies and decision-making, and everyone is concerned about traffic. Just as there is no single issue, there is no single solution. But I will work to update policies that need revision, to enforce policies and ordinances that are not now being enforced, and to always involve all stakeholders in reaching solutions.

Patch: What is your approach to vandalism?

Jensen: Los Gatos is fortunate as a community to be relatively free of litter and graffiti. To the extent that I, as member of the Council, can set priorities for enforcement or work with Caltrans where affected property is owned by the state, I will do so.

Patch: How can Los Gatos maintain both its small town character and its economic vitality in light of potential major development on the North 40?

Jensen: As a member of the North 40 Specific Plan Advisory Committee, I have had the opportunity to study the business and economic climate of our town as a whole and our downtown, in particular. We are working hard to develop a plan for the North 40 that will assure that any development there is integrated into our community as a whole and complement, rather than compete with our downtown.

To read Jensen's candidate statement in the Nov. 6, 2012 ballot, please click here.