|
The questions were prepared by the the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles County and asked of all candidates for this office.
See below for questions on
Qualifications,
Fiscal Crisis,
Unincorporated Areas
Click on a name for candidate information. See also more information about this contest.
|
1. Please provide a brief list of your qualifications in bullet format, using an asterisk (*) to represent a bullet. (No more than 25 words for this section.)
|
Answer from Michael D. Antonovich:
- Former educator and state legislator.
- Fighting for law enforcement, foster youth, veterans, regional transportation, parks, trails and libraries.
- Established Restaurant Grading system
Answer from Stephen Mark "Steve" Hinze:
- Warehouse worker, Glendale College student, community organizer
- Burbank resident
- Leader of anti-war and immigrant rights marches with Party for Socialism and Liberation
|
2. If it were entirely up to you and not the Legislature, what measures would you take to address Los Angeles County’s fiscal crisis? (No more than 150 words total for questions 2 and 3.)
|
Answer from Stephen Mark "Steve" Hinze:
LA County is the world's 17th largest economy; the money exists to pull it out of financial crisis. I would convene an emergency committee to discuss how funds are directed. Putting people's needs before profits is my highest priority.
All county money funding the Iraq war should instead fund social programs here. Taxes on large corporations should be increased. Environmental polluters should be penalized. Public transportation should be expanded. There should be a moratorium on foreclosures and evictions. The minimum wage should be raised to $15/hour. Money should go to public hospitals, public schools and to provide healthcare for all--not for prisons and police. LA County should be a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants.
Answer from Michael D. Antonovich:
Local property tax dollars should remain under local control. Prop 1A returned over $3 billion to LA County, however, during times of state fiscal crisis, the legislature still seeks local government revenues to solve their problems. State and Federal dollars should be used for welfare, social services and health care -- and local property tax dollars should be used for municipal services such as public safety, parks, recreation, libraries and fire protection. The state must not balance its budget on the back of local government and taxpayers by hijacking property taxes or redirecting the use of state bond funding.
|
3. What are the most important criteria for evaluating new development in the unincorporated areas of the county? (No more than 150 words total for questions 2 and 3.)
|
Answer from Michael D. Antonovich:
As Supervisor, I initiated impact fees to be assessed on new development to offset the costs of constructing fire stations, libraries, major bridges and roads, parks, and schools (on behalf of school districts), and am currently adopting a similar fee for Sheriff's stations. Insuring that adequate infrastructure, such as roads, parks, and fire stations, is constructed in advance or concurrent with new development is vital. In addition to developing the County's oak tree protection ordinance and an ordinance requiring that a tree be planted on each lot in all new subdivisions, I am working to minimize impacts on existing neighborhoods, preserve sensitive environmental resources, and set aside open space areas.
Answer from Stephen Mark "Steve" Hinze:
First and foremost, development must benefit the county's residents and the environment. Affordable housing should be prioritized. Parks and public spaces should be created and preserved. Renewable resource development and water conservation is vital.
Responses to questions asked of each candidate
are reproduced as submitted to the League.
Until 5:00 p.m. on April 4, 2008,
candidates for County Supervisor must limit their answers to 175 words
total for all questions so that a paper Voters Guide may be published.
Specific word limits are as follows: 25 words for question 1; 150
words total for questions 2 and 3. |After 5:00 p.m. on April 4, 2008,
word limits will no longer apply.
The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.
|
League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
