This is an archive of a past election. See http://www.smartvoter.org/ca/state/ for current information. |
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Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues Member of the State Assembly; District 15 | |||||
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The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of California Education Fund and asked of all candidates for this office. See below for questions on Fiscal Choices, Water, Education, Your Priorities Click on a name for candidate information. See also more information about this contest.
Answer from Pamela Y Price: The release of the Governor's 2014 budget happily restored money in many areas, but did so with restraint and prudence. I think this is a wise approach so that we can save for future downturns and really look at how to structure a sustainable economy and budget without debt. There are still months of budget negotiations to come that will give an opportunity to ensure the most pressing needs and priorities are addressed with new revenues. Certainly services that are for the most vulnerable populations must be restored first. Answer from Tony Thurmond: I know that when we get it right for our kids, families and seniors, we'll get it right for California. And we can only get it right if we have adequate funding to improve our schools, make our streets and neighborhoods safe, create sustainable jobs that preserve our environment and invest in job training opportunities to build a 21st-century workforce. Answer from Clarence Hunt: First, I would author legislation to assure that we have a balanced budget to include all future spending obligations that are not accounted for in the current method of fiscal reporting to the public. The State of California has over $180 billion in obligations that are not accounted for in the most recent budget prepared by the State. My fiscal priorities include increasing social services to seniors, the disabled, mentally ill, increased funding for vocational training in community colleges, and increased funding for first responders to protect against wildfires and other disasters. Answer from Sam Kang: Even with our budget surplus, more Californians are in poverty than ever before, and it's harder than ever for the middle class to succeed. Even after we passed Prop 30, California is 35th in the nation in per pupil funding for public schools, while the cost of attending our public colleges and universities goes higher and higher. This must change. Answer from Elizabeth Echols: The cornerstone of our democracy and the foundation for creating economic opportunity is a quality public education system. Thanks to the passage of Proposition 30 and an improving economy, schools are going to see an over $800 million increase in spending in 2014-15. Since the Proposition 30 revenues are not permanent, we must find ways to improve the long-term outlook for education funding, and I would support raising revenues to do so. Answer from Bernt Rainer Wahl: Increase economic growth to increase income.
Answer from Pamela Y Price: Clearly, conservation is part of the solution. Individuals, residents need to be a part of the solution, educated on how to conserve and ways to help reduce water use. Additionally, we need to use the innovative spirit of California to think of new ways to use and process the water that is available, including recycling, storage and transfer. Answer from Elizabeth Echols: We need to look at more environmentally sensitive approaches to our state's water challenges, including improved water efficiency, better use of recycled water and storm water capture, and enhanced groundwater management. Answer from Clarence Hunt: First, I support banning fracking which using 6-8 million gallons of water to extract oil and gas while polluting the environment. Second, I support working closely with local water districts to formulate regional water conservation plans. Answer from Sam Kang: First of all, a huge threat to our groundwater supply is the unabated continuation of fracking in California. With water supply being such an imminent threat, fracking will exacerbate this scarcity to catastrophic levels should our drought-ridden winters continue. We must end fracking now. Answer from Tony Thurmond: California's current drought condition is cause for alarm - our population is increasing around the state and that means demands for water are increasing. We must develop new ways of addressing water usage and management in order to meet our water demands. Answer from Bernt Rainer Wahl: Sensors to monitor water usage and see where water is wasted is just a start.
Answer from Sam Kang: We must prioritize public school funding so that we aim to be #1 in per-pupil spending instead of 35th in the nation. Students need comprehensive support, including after-school programs, viable arts & music programs, access to healthy nutrition options, nursing care, and library services. Many of these services were cut during the Great Recession and have not been fully restored. We must restore, rebuild and rejuvenate these comprehensive services so that we provide students the environment to excel. Answer from Elizabeth Echols: We need to invest in our public schools if we are to have any hope of giving all children an equal chance to succeed. We know from research that the achievement gap begins before children even start kindergarten so we need to start earlier + with our youngest learners. Answer from Bernt Rainer Wahl: Provide learning environments where students get excited about learning. I have over 2,000 university students. Many of my students have started companies or had significant impacts in their field. Answer from Clarence Hunt: The ongoing role of the Legislature is to assure that school facilities are renovated and equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and curriculums are based upon STEM and Vocational Training. Teachers should be evaluated annually based upon performance to assure that students receive the best education. Finally, public safety is critical to assure a safe educational environment. The Legislature should partner with local school districts to devise strategies to keep students safe. Answer from Pamela Y Price: Education has to be our top priority. The Legislature has a responsibility to support local school boards, increase funding for education and provide leadership and support to improve performance. I think secondarily issues related to economic justice, environmental concerns, public safety, health care and implementing restorative justice alternatives to discipline remain essential to the realization of our youth's potential and promise. I think the solutions come from outreach and education. I would like to communicate with the community more regularly, not just surrounding an event or something we need them to participate in. Engaging with people to understand what THEY need is the best way to get communities involved. Answer from Tony Thurmond: It is the Legislature's responsibility to ensure that our schools are fully funded so that our children have the best education, best teachers and better opportunities - because the future of our state is rooted in the success of our children. We need to provide our kids with greater access to engaging afterschool programs, extracurricular activities and mentors - it is the Legislature's duty to fight for legislation that supports these initiatives.
Answer from Sam Kang: There is no magic bullet to fix all of California's problems. The place to start is not with any one program, but with an approach. The Assemblymember of this district must have the courage to stand up to powerful interests and know how to get things done. Answer from Pamela Y Price: Small businesses and economic opportunity are the keys to our local economic growth and improving the outlook for the state. I know how hard it has become to pay people and make a profit. Unfortunately, local governments' economic development programs have been dealt a double blow with the elimination of Redevelopment and Enterprise Zone programs. We must find new ways to support local businesses so that they can continue to employ local workers, provide health care benefits, pay a living wage, and make a difference in our neighborhoods. I will work in the legislature to find solutions to support and help small and community-based businesses thrive in California. Answer from Clarence Hunt: My priorities are job creation, banning fracking, and reopening mental health hospitals. California is viewed as the worst state in America to do business. Companies are leaving California whenever a better offer is made to relocate. Example, California recently lost over 20,000 jobs resulting from Toyota moving it's corporate operations from Torrance, California to Texas. My goal, and the Legislature, must address solutions that stop business exodus from California. Another top priority of the Legislature must be to protect small businesses against excessive taxation that force many small businesses into bankruptcy. The Legislature must expand Enterprise Zone Tax Credits to increase small business hiring. The Legislature must also assure that large banks start lending to individuals and small businesses. I propose that large banks set-aside a percentage of their equity for home mortgages to first time home buyers at low interest rates. Answer from Bernt Rainer Wahl: 1. Jobs - grow the economy with a strong work force in the East Bay Answer from Elizabeth Echols: I believe strongly that we must prioritize making our state's higher education more accessible and affordable. We must reduce college fees and provide much needed revenues to our higher education system. Answer from Tony Thurmond: The fact is that all of our challenges are interrelated. As a state legislator I will focus on education, sustainable jobs, mental health, crime and public safety. Due to my career in public service, I have deep experience creating proven, interconnected solutions - and making children and families the priority in California.
The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page. |