New president of the board looks to make county more efficient
Published in the December 25, 2013-January 7, 2014 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Mike Wasserman
Mike Wasserman
Morgan Hill is one of the places in Santa Clara County where I can walk down the street and forget that I live in fast-paced, ever-changing Silicon Valley. This is no more apparent than during December when local merchants and neighborhood light displays remind us of the charm and warmth of the holidays. I grew up in a small town and know first-hand how lucky residents are to call Morgan Hill home.
As Morgan Hill’s representative on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, my job is to help make policy for an organization of 15,000 employees who provide vital services to our 1.9 million residents and oversee an annual $4 billion budget.
I have been described as having “a head for numbers and a heart for people,” due to my career in business coupled with my 11 years in public service and a decade of volunteering in the community. I have been elected by my peers to serve as the president of the Board of Supervisors for 2014, and I plan to use my business experience to make the county run as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible while still meeting the needs of the most vulnerable members of the population.
One of my goals for 2014 is to increase the public’s awareness about the wide variety of services provided by the county. For example, besides operating parks and animal shelters, Santa Clara County handles 407,762 emergency 911 calls annually. We also help people experiencing domestic violence, mental health issues as well as child and elder abuse.
I invite you to learn more about County government at the annual State of the County address at 11:15 a.m. Jan. 28 at the County Government Center located at 70 West Hedding St. in San Jose.
Keep an eye out next year for the county’s new winery signage. While still in the approval process, the new county signs will aid our thriving agri-tourism industry in South County by helping visitors locate our local award-winning wineries. This exciting new project is a result of hard work by many individuals in Morgan Hill, San Martin and Gilroy.
I am thrilled that by working together, we have been able to cut the red tape and deliver a new benefit to our community.
I am also happy to report that thanks to an improved budget situation, the Morgan Hill Library (which is part of the Santa Clara County Library District) has extended its open hours to six days a week. Beginning Jan. 6, it will be open Mondays.
Please visit my website www.supervisorwasserman.org and sign up for our monthly newsletter so you can stay informed about county issues affecting Morgan Hill and the region.
I wish you and your families warm holidays and a Happy New Year.
Mike Wasserman represents Morgan Hill as part of District 1 on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. He is the incoming president of the board for 2014. He was elected to the board in November 2010.
