2014 LOCAL CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE CANDIDATE NAME: Jim Hart _________________________________________________________________ CANDIDATE CAMPAIGN NAME: Jim Hart For Sheriff 2014 _________________________________________________________________ FOR OFFICE: Sheriff-Coroner _________________________________________________________________ CANDIDATE PHONE # 831-227-3316
FAX #___________________
CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: ______________FPPC# 1365023 TREASURER’S NAME & ADDRESS: Kathy Samms P.O. Box 66945 Scotts Valley CA_95067 In order of importance, please list the three (3) most important factors that motivated you to run for office: 1. I have been a life long resident of Santa Cruz County and I have worked for the Sheriff’s Office for over 25 years. I love Santa Cruz County and I want to do everything I can to make Santa Cruz County a safe place to live and visit. 2. I want to work collaboratively with the community, business owners, other police and fire agencies and the four cities to ensure a safer Santa Cruz. 3. I believe my core values are representative of Santa Cruz as a whole. Public safety, including safe schools and safe streets, is a must. Fair treatment for all people living and visiting our community. Humane incarceration policies in our jail facilities, including education and substance abuse treatment for inmates in order to reduce recidivism. 2. If elected, what would your top three (3) priorities be for the term in question:
1. Gradually refund the 17 Deputy Sheriff positions that have been unfunded since 2008. These positions are badly needed to provide basic emergency services and improve response times in our Patrol Division. 2. Work with the community to open communication between our citizens and the Sheriff’s Office. In the first month of my term, I intend on establishing a Sheriff’s Advisory Committee from citizens living in the 11 beats and 4 cities in our county. I will meet with the committee once a month, without any other Sheriff’s Office staff, so I can be advised about issues that are occurring in the various communities we serve. 3. Work with the four cities, the county and the two hospitals to establish a sobering center for chronic alcoholics. Our jails and hospital emergency rooms are filled with chronic alcholics, who are stuck in the revolving door of intoxication, hospital visits and short stays in jail. Rather than take these people to the emergency room or jail, officers would take them to the sobering facility, where they would receive medical treatment and alcohol abuse services. 3. Briefly describe your strategy to win this campaign. I am meeting community members all over the county with coffees, events, and walking precincts. I will be mailing my information to a large population of registered voters. I have raised a substantial amount of money and I have received key endorsements. I am running a clean campaign focusing on the community and public safety. 4. Who are the primary supporters/backers of your campaign? I have received endorsements from the Santa Cruz Deputy Sheriff’s Association, the Santa Cruz Police Officers Association, Sheriff Wowak, Retired Sheriffs Steve Robbins and Mark Tracy, District Attorney Bob Lee, Probation Chief Fernando Giraldo, the four city mayors and a majority of each city council, as well and Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, Congressman Sam Farr, State Senator Bill Monning, Assemblyman Mark Stone and Assemblyman Luis Alejo. Many local community members, buiness owners and educators are supporting me and my campaign. 5. If elected, how accessible would you be to the Santa Cruz County Association of REALTORS® and would you be open to periodically addressing our members with information concerning your office and issues facing our community? Absolutely. I would be happy to meet with your association any time.
6. Would you support or oppose the adoption of any local ordinance which would require point of sale inspections, violation/correction orders, and/or retrofit of residential properties? (explain) I support full discloure, however, once an issue has been disclosed that issue should be settled contractually between the seller and the buyer. Any further action related to alterations/retrofit should be between the buyer and the appropriate jurisdiction.
7. Briefly, what are your thoughts on how to resolve our local water supply issues? Allow Councils, Jurisdictions and Water Departments to make their findings and be supportive in ensuring that plans are implemented and customers questions and concerns are addressed. Supply issues should be long term and fair to new and old customers. 8. What are your views on public safety in our County? What steps, if any, would you take while in office to ensure County residents feel a high degree of personal safety? As I stated in question #1 and questions #2, public safety is my primary objective as your next Sheriff. I plan an opening communication between our community and the Sheriff’s Office and I have a plan to do that (see above #2). I want to work with the four cities on a variety of issues including establishing a sobering center, rather than placing chronic alcoholics in jail. I want to work on smart recidivism reduction models in our jails to reduce crime and lower case loads throughout the justice system. Santa Cruz County is a wonderful place to live and I want to make sure our citizens and our children are safe. 9. Should land use decisions continue to be made by cities and counties or should this function be made by regional or state agencies? (explain) Yes, land use decisions should remain with cities and counties. Cities and counties know what their citizens want and need. Regional and state agencies have a place in many processes, but they are not as knowledgable when it comes to local issues related to land use.
Please forward responses to:
Joe Foster Government Affairs Director Santa Cruz County Association of REALTORS® 2525 S Main Street | Soquel, CA 95073 [T] 831-435-6361 [F] 831-464-2881 [E]
[email protected]
