The 2010 Election is Over

But Staying Informed Isn't

Jobs and the North Bay's future depend on your vote



George Barich

Cotati City Council

Candidate



Candidate Survey Results

Candidate's Name
George Barich
Office Sought
Cotati City Council
Campaign Website
Email Address
How strongly do you believe there is a close relationship between the economic vitality of a community and a healthy, fiscally sound government?
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Based on a scale from 1 to 10
How important is job creation and retention on your priority list if elected to office?
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Based on a scale from 1 to 10
Should job creation and economic development be one of the top priorities for Sonoma County City Councils and Board of Supervisors in 2010 – 2011?
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Based on a scale from 1 to 10
Are you committed to diversifying and strengthening your jurisdiction’s economy?
  • No
  • Yes
Do you believe that your jurisdiction is doing enough to attract businesses that provide jobs?
  • No
  • Yes
Do you support attracting new business and expanding existing businesses in your jurisdiction?
  • No
  • Yes
Do you support the coordination of and participation in an economic development effort that promotes Sonoma County on a regional basis?
  • No
  • Yes
Should local government offer incentives, financial or otherwise, to attract new business to our area?
  • No
  • Yes
Should your jurisdiction provide funding to local Convention & Visitor Bureaus to promote tourism?
  • No
  • Yes
Do you view using the Redevelopment Agency as a tool to be utilized for economic sustainability in your jurisdiction?
  • No
  • Yes
Do you support the expansion of the Sonoma County Airport to allow more commercial air service?:
  • No
  • Yes
Do you support allocating funds for deferred maintenance and infrastructure improvements including roads, airports, telecommunications, water, sewer and power?
  • No
  • Yes
Do you support reducing development and impact fees to spur job creation?
  • No
  • Yes
Do you believe that there are too many local regulations preventing or discouraging businesses from starting up or expanding in our area?
  • No
  • Yes
Will you consider job creation as a top priority in your decision making?
  • No
  • Yes
Will you put your jurisdiction’s jobs and the economy ahead of political agendas and special interests?
  • No
  • Yes
Do you support the deferral of local government impact fees on a construction project until that project is completed?
  • No
  • Yes
Do you support a Living Wage Ordinance that would mandate what private businesses contracting with your jurisdiction would have to pay their employees?
  • No
  • Yes
Do you support local production and distribution of construction materials (i.e. sand, gravel, asphalt, lumber, etc.)?
  • No
  • Yes
Should local government set a policy requiring open and fair competition in bidding on all public works projects?
  • No
  • Yes
Would you support efforts to position the North Bay to maintain a leadership role or become a leader in key job-producing industries?
  • No
  • Yes
Do you believe that it is important for your jurisdiction to provide flexible land use policies?
  • No
  • Yes
Do you believe that a cost-benefit analysis should be a required step in the process of formulating new regulations and reviewing existing regulations?
  • No
  • Yes
Will you support land-use and zoning regulations that deter excessive regulatory control?
  • No
  • Yes
Do you support having local regulations that are no more stringent than federal or state requirements?
  • No
  • Yes
Do you support fast tracking new projects that will create new jobs?
  • No
  • Yes
Will you support a streamlined licensing and permitting process if it doesn’t sacrifice environmental protection?
  • No
  • Yes
Will you support setting aside money to adequately fund the liability for current and future public employee pensions and medical benefits?
  • No
  • Yes
Do you believe that salaries and benefits for public employees should align with the private sector?
  • No
  • Yes
Do you believe that privatizing or outsourcing government services should be considered?
  • No
  • Yes
Do you support consolidation of government services as a means of providing more efficient government?
  • No
  • Yes
Will you vote to cut your jurisdiction’s expenditures before raising fees or taxes?
  • No
  • Yes
What ideas do you have for creating new jobs?
I led the opposition to raising sales taxes in Cotati in 2010 and personally funded the campaign opposing Measure A raising sales taxes to the highest in the county. As a city leader in 2009, I strongly advocated keeping our city's staffing at 100% to avoid any layoffs. I advocated an across the board 20% cut in salaries and benefits which would have balanced the city budget, rebuilt the city's reserves by $56K, kept City Hall open for business five days a week, removed the need to increase taxes and city fees, and would have retained all current city employees.