Published in Morgan Hill October 12-25, 2016
By Mario Banuelos
Mario Banuelos
As a 29-year-resident of Morgan Hill with a long record of community service, I seek a position on the Morgan Hill City Council to contribute toward improving the quality of life for all of Morgan Hill’s residents. My experience in city government, local non-profits and community involvement gives me a unique perspective that I will bring to the city council as we build upon past successes and tackle future challenges.
I graduated from San Jose State University with a BA in mathematics. My wife and I have been residents of Morgan Hill for close to 29 years, raising our four children here. I have a steady record of community service. I was a founding member of the board of directors for the Morgan Hill Community Foundation. I continue to serve on this board as well as on the board for the Learning and Loving Education Center. I am an active Rotarian.
In 2014, I retired from the city of San Jose after 23 years of public service. My career reinforced for me the importance of data-driven as well as values-driven decision making within local government. It has provided me with valuable insights for working with various local agencies.
There are many exciting opportunities for our city. The local issues that we will need to pay attention to are the city’s growth and the impact on our natural resources. As vice-chair of the General Plan Advisory Committee, I resided over many meetings and public workshops over a three-year period discussing the challenges our city faces. When it comes to population growth, there are no simple solutions. Slogans are not policy, and opposition is not governance. The city of Morgan Hill just adopted a new General Plan, the latest blueprint for growth. Morgan Hill has had a growth ordinance since 1977 to manage growth in a steady and predictable manner. A growing population impacts our natural resources so I support the preservation of agricultural lands and open space.
Morgan Hill residents can be proud that we lead the county in water conservation and continue improving these efforts. Morgan Hill also plans to participate in a new electricity provider, Silicon Valley Clean Energy, to purchase electricity from renewable energy resources. The city is managing our natural resources prudently.
On Nov. 8, vote “Mario Banuelos” for city council. With my background and passion for our community, I’m ready to serve Morgan Hill.
