James Jeyaraj is running for Auburn City Council Position No. 3. His opponent is Kenneth (Ken) Pearson.
Auburn Symphony Orchestra:
“As Auburn continues to grow, what role do you think local arts organizations can play in this ever-changing community?”
Local arts bring us together by demystifying differing perspectives. They allow us to learn about one another and help us become neighbors instead of strangers. And as Auburn continues to grow, local arts organizations give us the opportunity to promote the rich and diverse culture our city has to offer.
Valley Professional Firefighters, IAFF Local 1352:
“With the increase of low income/affordable housing in Auburn, there is a steady increase in the number of EMS calls that the VRFA responds to. How do you propose the VRFA deal with the increase in emergency and non-emergency calls for service to this population?”
The VRFA provides vital services for all residents of Algona, Auburn, and Pacific. I’ll work with the VRFA to find effective ways to reduce non-emergency calls without endangering the lives and well-being of our residents. But we must recognize that as Auburn’s population and tax base increases, the number of EMS calls will also increase. Realistically speaking, as the population grows, we must examine ways to increase the VRFA resources that support us.
Green River College President, Dr. Suzanne Johnson:
“The Mayor’s Task Force addressing “strong education, strong careers, and strong communities” is focused on building a “leak-proof” K-12 to College to Career pathway for Auburn students. The vision of this task force is “to build a community where all residents can successfully participate in the workforce, achieve economic stability, raise a family, and be a part of the fabric of Algona, Auburn, and Pacific. We will build a regional education to career pipeline that is a community-wide effort uniting education, cities, the business community, community-based organizations, and citizens where 100% of businesses choose to remain in the Cities and 100% of prospective employers choose our cities.” What will you do to build the necessary relationships and structures between city government, business, K-12 and Higher-Ed to support the task force and meet this goal?”
I agree that education is key to building a successful economy and society, but I encourage the task force to include trade and vocational schools in their education pipeline. With increasing numbers of baby boomers entering retirement, it’s vital for Auburn and our neighboring cities to provide multiple paths to success for young people who’ll then build their lives in and around our communities. I’ll meet with and support partnering with neighboring cities, local businesses, and local schools from K-12 to Green River Community College to come up with ideas and solutions so we can achieve this goal.
Auburn Area Schools:
“What is your vision for helping connect students in the local workforce?”
Internships, apprenticeships, work study programs, job-shadowing, and on-campus job fairs all help students prepare for and pursue career opportunities. We should also encourage local businesses to work with our schools to ensure that students get the education and skills necessary to succeed in tomorrow’s workplace. Lastly, we need to make sure that our educational system supports students’ success, whether through two- or four-year college degree programs or through trade or vocational opportunities.
Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce:
“What is your stance on a city-imposed B/O taxes and other related business only taxes?”
I believe we all should pay our fair share in taxes—families and businesses alike. Those taxes fund the services like law enforcement, fire departments, health care facilities, water, electricity, public transportation, roads, and education and are critical to maintaining a healthy and vibrant Auburn. We should make tax allowances for startups which will help grow local Auburn businesses that start with limited resources, but established businesses need to pay their fair share to support the public services that they, their employees, and their employees’ families depend on.
Auburn Spiritual Leaders:
“What does it mean to promote the life and dignity of every human person?”
Promoting the life and dignity of every person means treating people, even those who are homeless, with respect and compassion. In the case of the homeless, that means providing basic needs like shelter, food, and clean clothes as well as access to personal hygiene facilities and medical treatment. We also need to offer counselling, educational, and job training programs that would not only help them back onto the path of self-sufficiency, but could also help less advantaged residents avoid homelessness altogether.
Auburn Spiritual Leaders:
“Do you evaluate the treatment of the poor and vulnerable as the benchmark of how successful the city is?”
While not the only benchmark of how successful a city is, how we treat our poor and vulnerable residents is an important one. When we treat the least fortunate among us with respect and compassion, providing for their basic needs including medical treatment, we demonstrate that our community is committed to the well-being of all its residents.
Auburn High School Key Club:
“How can we support and empower homeless youth out of homelessness and what do you see the role of students/youth is in accomplishing this goal?”
Last winter, I saw a young homeless couple outside a local fast food joint, shivering in the rain. Being young is confusing enough without being homeless, and homeless youth don’t know where to turn or who to trust. I believe we need a dedicated shelter for homeless youth. This safe haven should not only provide the services I’ve talked about earlier, but should also work with youth groups and regional programs like Big Brothers Big Sisters to help homeless youth reconnect with people their own age so they can figure out who they are and what they what in life.
Auburn Food Bank:
“How will you support Auburn’s social safety net programs as a city council member?”
As a council member I’ll join with the Mayor and the city council to preserve Auburn’s social safety net programs. I’ll work to safeguard the health and well-being of the homeless, and I’ll also support programs that help residents avoid homelessness.
Auburn Food Bank:
“The city of Auburn provides 1% of its general fund dollars to human services programs. What is your position on the city’s use of that money?”
It’s crucial that we provide human service programs for those who need them. Through assistance like grants to low-income homeowners that allow them to make emergency home repairs, we help people avoid homelessness.
Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce:
“Define “Partnership” and give us an example of a partnership you think exemplifies your definition?”
Temporary or permanent, a partnership is when people or organizations with sometimes differing viewpoints join to achieve common goals. Like married couples work together to meet the varied needs of their families, successful partnerships work together to reach their goals, and all partners benefit from their cooperation.
Check out other candidate responses to these questions here. Other election questionnaires can be found in our Vote 2019 section.