My first foray into elective politics

By Harry A. Madden

Vote YES on Measure W--Cityhood for Rancho Cordova! Background information, and positions on local issues.

My name is Harry A. Madden, and I'm one of twenty-one people running for the five positions on the Rancho Cordova City Council. This is my first foray into elective politics.

I've pledged to keep my total campaign budget under $1000. I believe that Rancho Cordova is a small- and smart-enough community to not be misled by expensive advertising. I am not beholding to any person, business, or special interest group.

I first moved to Rancho Cordova in 1966. After graduating in 1973 from CSUS as a Mechanical Engineer, I moved to the Bay Area. I returned in 1992. I currently work as a substitute teacher. I am married, with two wonderful stepdaughters, both of whom attended Cordova High School. Both my wife Maria and one of our kids live and work in Rancho, while the other attends law school elsewhere.

I joined the Rancho Cordova Incorporation Committee in 1999 because I've always believed we should be a city. My experiences on the road to cityhood convinced me that my technical and organizational background would benefit a city just getting started. I would like to bring focus and rationality to the City Council. Engineering has provided me with my strongest talents. I've been part of several large undertakings, including the space program. I have learned to base my decisions on the facts, not on wishful thinking.

This will be the first City Council in Rancho Cordova history. It's job: creating the machinery of local government from scratch. This work must be accomplished by July 1, 2003, when our new City will be open for business. No other plans or programs can begin until that job is done. There are existing models, but we can improve on them.

I want a City that is efficient and responsive. To do that, we must use high technology efficiently. We have a clean slate to write on, and I want to create a system that will satisfy our needs now, and in the future. I believe I can help guide the City Council's decisions in these matters.

Technology isn't always the answer. People matter. I want the Council to hire the best City Manager available, and to oversee his or her actions in building the City. But not to micromanage operations; I have seen the dismal results of that pitfall. Hiring the best people, giving them realistic goals, and letting them do their jobs is the best management style I know. And I want to make sure that when people call the City during business hours, a real person answers, not a computer. The ultimate test must be "Does It Work?"

The City must operate within budgets supported by existing taxes. I will not vote for new taxes. The fiscal analysis LAFCO required before approving Cityhood shows us as viable without new taxes. I believe in zero-base budgeting; making each department justify its budget every year, not just giving them last years budget with a cost-of-living adjustment thrown in. The latter approach is easier, but leads to waste.

I'd like to see a City Website, with easy access to departments, personnel, and processes. I want to see a City that responds to people's input, by letter, e-mail, phone, or in person. While a positive response to requests can't be guaranteed, no communication should be ignored.

The most important challenges facing Rancho Cordova are improving police and fire services, making transportation more efficient, attracting new businesses, and filling the needs of our citizens. We have to address the problems of our water supply and quality, and management of growth. I hope the people of Rancho Cordova will not hesitate to let the City Council know the concerns they want addressed. Accessibility and accountability must be the watchwords.

The strength of Rancho Cordova is our diversity. Not only the diversity of our population, but the diversity of our job base, and of our transportation resources.

Rancho Cordova is composed of neighborhoods, old and new. Our oldest houses date to the 50's, and we'll have the newest homes in the county. I want all of them woven into the fabric of Rancho Cordova. I don't want to see communities with an "us versus them" mentality. From the poorest to the wealthiest, we are one people, and one City. To prosper, we must stay that way.

I ask for your support and your vote.