League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
San Francisco County, CA June 3, 2014 Election
	David Carlos Salaverry Answers Questions Candidate for Member of the State Assembly; District 17

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of California Education Fund and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. How would you prioritize the fiscal choices the Legislature must make to align the state’s income and spending?

I support Gov. Brown's rainy day fund. We need fiscal sanity in California, neither massive tax increases nor massive tax cuts. California also needs -- over time-- to move away from volatile, boom-bust tax streams towards stable revenue sources. Solving huge imbalances like state worker pensions will be difficult, but we can't kick the can down the road forever.

2. Given our current drought condition, concern for water rights and usage is an important issue. What solutions would you support to address our water problems?

We need a balanced, state-wide water bill negotiated between all stakeholders. Conservation is key, but not the only issue on the table. Ag is an important stakeholder, the Central Valley suffering massive working class unemployment that hurts minorities most. San Francisco's dedicated Hetch Hetchy water supply makes us immune and sometimes detached from the equity issues.

3. California high school students rank lower than many states in student performance. What do you see as the ongoing role of the Legislature in addressing this problem?

Education is a complex issue, critically important to the future of California. Interest group politics are a huge problem. Ideological battles and partisanship are also a huge problem. Solutions must be negotiated, but the legislature needs to get off its collective rear end. One important safety valve is our Community Colleges. I support CCSF passionately and will work hard to insure its survival.

4. What other major issues do you think the Legislature must address? What are your own priorities?

The shrinking Middle Class is a reality many Republicans don't want to address. I do. The American Middle Class is the bulwark of democracy and liberty and must be preserved.

Hyper-partisanship and mindless ideological warfare are toxic to democracy. I am an Independent Republican who will always think deeply about issues, vote for balanced solutions and never sell my vote.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. References to opponents are not permitted.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: May 15, 2014 14:59
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