November 14, 2008

Times Public Commentary

Cortese looks to public service

It's an exciting time to join the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and I am honored that the residents of Evergreen, Berryessa, the East Foothills, Milpitas and parts of Sunnyvale have placed their confidence in me. I look forward to connecting residents with the resources at the county and working with the community on the many critical issues the county is facing.

Dave Cortese

Waite thanks supporters

I want to thank the over 15,000 residents of District 8 who trusted me with their vote in the November 5th election. Their votes indicate a clear desire for fiscally-responsible government that places the needs of us citizens first.

This campaign message would not have resonated with so many voters without the dedicated work of an incredible group of campaign volunteers. I owe a debt of gratitude to the many selfless individuals who walked the precincts, made countless phone calls, wrote letters to newspapers and neighbors, posted signs and helped craft and deliver the some of the best campaign literature this city has seen. I hope that one day I have the opportunity to repay that debt to you. As always, thanks for your support.

Pat Waite

Thanks to Waite

To Pat Waite and his family, thank you for the services you rendered for our church and for your contributions to our commu-nity. Because of the generous donations, compassion and kind gestures you and your family have extended, now we have more minorities enjoying a more competitive education, more youths avoiding distractions (such as gangs, drugs and/or alcohol) while embracing education and more disabled people having access to adaptive technology and career transition services. You and your family will ALWAYS be an inspiration and an asset to our district.

Jean Manipud-Robles

Budget cuts keep library closed to students

For the first time since opening in 1969, Silver Creek’s library is off-limits to much of its students and faculty members. Our school library, located in the center of campus, was not only a place to check out books, but a place for shelter, for study groups to meet and where anyone could stay when they didn’t have anywhere else to go. The only things that touch the books nowadays are the dust that’s collecting.

Governor Arnold Schwarzen-egger announced last March that he’d reduce public school spending by 10 percent. This decision caused our school to open without full-time librarians and other staff.

Library use is very limited. Students may check out books and use the computers only if they are accompanied by their teacher and the librarian or librarian tech. Otherwise the library is closed.

Teachers’ classrooms have become filled up due to the loss of our library, but this isn’t the only effect. Many students took advantage of the library and its services everyday while it was still open. Now that it’s gone, what Internet access and computers do they use to type their papers or check their homework on School Loop?

The library is most likely not going to re-open anytime soon. Budget cuts are continuing to hit education hard.

Help Silver Creek turn the next page. Fight to get our school library back. Contact ESUHSD Superintendent Bob Nunez at (408) 347-5000 or Governor Schwarzenegger at (916) 445-2841 and let them know how you feel.

Sheilalyn Solis
Silver Creek High School

Herrera thanks her supporters

I want to thank all of the people who worked so hard to help me in my run for office. I've been fortunate to have the support of a very broad and diverse coalition. I never could have come so far without a tremendous effort from some very special people: Jon Young, who as my campaign manager was tireless in helping me as we were both learning how to run a political campaign for the very first time... my fiancé Matt, who has been our number one volunteer throughout…the advice and help from my son David Herrera and my sister Mary Jesse

I especially want to thank all of our tireless volunteers, who "walked the walk", knocking on doors and making phone calls in every precinct.

The support I have received has been amazing, and whether it came in the form of walking, calling, or a donation I was humbled by the sincere desire of District 8 residents everywhere to make a difference in our community. It was a heartwarming experience meeting thousands of Evergreen residents and I will ensure that those ties remain as we work towards making District 8 and San Jose the best it can be.

It is time to look forward to the job ahead. I know that there are many people in the district who voted for my opponent in this election and I say to them, that's what makes this democracy great. You had a hard choice to make, between two very good candidates, and I want you to know that I want to work with you and I need everyone's help to face the tough challenges ahead on the City Council. We need to pull together, as a community, to preserve and improve our quality of life for District 8 and the entire city.

Rose Herrera
Council Member Elect District 8

Nguyen appreciates support

In the last several months, many of you had made financial contributions, handed out campaign materials, posted lawn signs, and spread the word about my campaign. The voters responded by re-electing me to the Board of Trustees of the East Side Union High School District. Thank you, thank you and thank you very much for your support!

Lan Nguyen

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