Los Gatos Weekly-Times
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Perry believes that he could bring a 'win-win' approach to council
By Jennifer M. van der Kleut
Don Perry says too often people think an important decision needs to have a clear winner and a clear loser.
"I look for the win-win situation," he says.
Perry calls this an example of the honed negotiating and decision-making skills he could bring to the Monte Sereno City Council if elected next month.
"I believe our job on the city council is to listen to what the citizens want," he says. "I have a lot of experience I could bring to the council."
Perry says one of the things he is best at is making decisions logically rather than emotionally, by listening to both sides and bringing in an unbiased third party if needed.
"I make a thoughtful, balanced decision," he explains. "Too many times I see others make emotional decisions where they shouldn't."
Perry has lived in Monte Sereno for nearly five years. He works as a Realtor and has served on the board of directors for many organizations, such as the Redding Symphony Orchestra, the Riverfront Playhouse Theater and the North State AIDS Project. One group he says he is most proud to serve with is the Monte Sereno Cultural Commission, where he has played a major part in many city issues.
As a cultural commissioner, Perry assists the city council in many affairs. During the negotiations over the Historical Preservation Ordinance, he helped interview several surrounding cities about their ordinances in an effort to help the city draft a better one for Monte Sereno. These days, he says the commission is discussing ways to improve communication between the city and its residents, and making Highway 9 and Winchester Boulevard safer for bikers and pedestrians.
"We have to look at ways to slow the traffic down," he says, citing speed limits that change too suddenly and too often as one problem, as well as the need for more bike lanes and walking paths.
As for improving communication, Perry has one clear idea he would like to see implemented in the city.
"My recommendation and idea from day one has been to allow residents to go on the website and opt in to the email system and receive updates online," he says. "If an agenda gets delivered right to their inbox, that's good outreach. We should be doing that as a city."
Perry says the need for better communication became clear when only two residents showed up for a meeting to discuss the Historical Preservation Ordinance recently.
"I talked to people who were concerned about it, and they said they didn't know about the meeting," he said, citing poor communication as the reason.
Other issues Perry says he would like to help improve, if elected, are protecting the rights of property owners and simplifying the permit process.
"The permit process needs to be more streamlined, more user-friendly. The inspection process is also not very user-friendly, and residents complain about it not being consistent," he says. "When people come with permit applications to the council, they should be treated with respect. And I'm not saying they aren't, but it should be a more friendly process. There's a win-win solution. For example, let them have what they want, but restrict it."
Perry says he wants to help "preserve the unique character of Monte Sereno."
"When people bought homes in Monte Sereno, they bought into a lifestyle. They bought into a neighborhood with no businesses. We need to preserve that," he says. "That's what the citizens want."
Perry says he was honored when friend and Monte Sereno City Councilman Erin Garner suggested he run for council and, when it all comes down to it, "I know what's going on in Monte Sereno."
