Major Concerns

By E. Denise Smith

Crime & Safety; Living Wage; Education; Responsible Land Use.

My major concerns are:

Crime and safety: Everyone needs to feel safe and be safe. People should not be prisoners in their own home, afraid to go out.

Living wage: All citizens should be able to support their family and taste the fruits of their hard work. As revealed through the latest census statistics, our district is plague with issues of poverty, lack of education, and high pregnancy rates. Because the characteristics of the typical family living in poverty include single mothers raising children on limited incomes, the electing of candidates sensitive to women's issues is extremely important.

Education: Our children need a strong educational foundation that doesn't fail them. My immediate interest as an Assembly member will be education. My goal is for a powerful educational system that creates strong social leaders. I will support any legislation that furthers that goal.

Responsible land use: Our farmland and forests should be sensibly used and, just as sensibly, preserved. The communities of the 25th District reflect the diversity that makes California the great state that it is. No sector lives in a vacuum. The high-tech California is not isolated from the agricultural California. The forest California does not exist separately from the manufacturing California. I will work closely with local communities to be sure that no region or economic sector is left out.

The stakes are high in this election. With a state budget that reflects the staggering economy, many of our local organizations stand to lose needed funding. Our current Assembly Representative's interest in the crisis seems to be that of passing blame. He is quoted in the Modesto Bee as saying, "We're waiting to see more from the governor. He and his party have put us in this situation. It's incumbent on them to take the leadership role...."

We can't afford to elect leaders who refuse to make decisions and pretend that there isn't really much we can do during times of crisis. As the District's Assembly Representative, I will work overtime for one California, for all Californians. Unlike many career-minded politicians, I will represent you and our communities 365 days a year, every year, not just 90 days before an election.

Please vote for E. Denise Smith, 25th Assembly District. Together we can make a change and preserve our community values. The choices we make now are the framework for the future.