Promote Openness and Ethics in Government Service.

By Tom Pereira

Ordinary citizens have been left out of a political system that is locked into the "good ole boy" network of the past, rather than the open and inclusive strategy proposed by Tom.

Santa Clara politics has seen the best of times and worst of times. Good, decent elected officials have left government service because they were unwilling to pay the price that was thrust upon them. No elected official should have to endure the terror of being stalked by a political hired gun. We must soundly reject any candidate for Public Office who would hire such a species of cowardice. We must eliminate the influence of big money which produced the shameful misconduct exemplified by the Mission Trails Garbage debacle and those politicians they supported.

Our Founding Fathers envisioned a democracy that was all inclusive, a government of ideas. A true government servant battles for human freedom. He wants liberty in thought and action. He is tolerant, free from bigotry, and generous in all his deeds. He places truth above all else and hungers for full truth. He insists that every new idea must be used for human welfare, with full respect to civil and moral law. In short, the true Public Servant seeks to make better they day in which he lives, and he becomes therefore a crusader for the betterment of the human race.

Such a Public Servant, to accomplish his purpose, holds fast, without the least concession, to the convictions of his soul. He is anchored to the rock of truth, as he may see it. He never wavers from the basic, underlying principles of the cause to which he is committed. All the world knows how and where he stands.

In 1994, Tom had the privilege and honor of meeting and talking to former President Gerald Ford. President Ford told Tom that a true Public Servant does not forget the people who elected him, the voters. He proposed a philosophy for governing that Tom will implement after elected.

Beginning the week after he is sworn into office, Tom will begin his open and inclusive campaign for ideas by personally walking the entire City of Santa Clara, during his four years in office, and meeting every single citizen. He will regularly visit all of our schools to meet with our children.

Tom believes that ordinary people are capable of extraordinary things when given the opportunity. He believes that creative solutions should be sought out amongst the people who make up this great city. He will go into every neighborhood, talk to every concerned citizen, and work with them to find solutions to the problems that concern them, promote the forward thinking ideas that they propose to him.

Tom will visit our youth in our schools because he believes that they, too, deserve a voice in government. He will seek out and find what they are most concerned with, and then work with them to make this city one that they can feel proud of, safe in, and free to pursue their hopes and dreams in. Our children should have a voice today in the world that is their future tomorrow.

These are the principles under which Tom Pereira will govern. If these are the values you wish in your elected officials decision making process, then we ask for your support.

Tom Pereira. Effective, Honest Government. For a Change.