Candidate for
Member of the State Assembly; District 13; Republican Party

I am running for office this year because I strongly believe that state spending is out of control and the solutions being described by the incumbents in the Legislature, (e.g. increasing taxes on everyone earning more than $75,000 per year) are unrealistic. I am not a perennial candidate or career politician and am definitely not interested in hiking your taxes to pay for my pet projects. I will not solicit or accept campaign contributions from any public employees' union upon whose contract I would vote. I am opposed to lowering the current 2/3 vote requirement for raising taxes and issuing new bonds.

I want to enact workers' compensation reform that puts workers' compensation attorneys like myself out of business. Simple measures such as changing the Penal Code so that a party who does not sign a workers' compensation deposition can be charged with perjury, rather than the lesser charge of attempted perjury, would do much to deter fraud and abuse. The existing laws regarding penalties for inadevertant delays on workers' compensation benefits are unduly punitive and penalties should be limited to 10% of the benefit delayed, rather than the entire species of benefit. Workers' compensation temporary disability indemnity for high earners should be taxable income under the Revenue and Taxation Code.

I am moderate on social issues and believe that abortion should be safe, legal and rare. I do support access to birth control services, including abortion services, through Medi-Cal. I support the decision of the California Supreme Court that parental notification for minors seeking abortion should be required, with the provision for a judicial bypass when necessary.

I support the extension of all benefits enjoyed by married couples under state law to domestic partners, including eligibility for the CALPERS Long-Term Care Insurance Program. I do not support the FMA and would vote against any attempt to ban same-sex marriage in U.S. Consitution.

I do support the 1996 Welfare Reform signed by President Clinton and do not believe that welfare recipients should receive additional money for having additional children while on welfare. I supported Care Not Cash when it was on the 2002 ballot and believe that the public is better served through issuing vouchers for housing and shelter, rather than cash, to General Assistance recipients.

I believe in more open reporting by professional licensing bodies. The State Medical Board lists malpractice settlements by, and judgements against, licensed physicians in California and the State Bar should be required to do the same for attorneys.

I would strongly encourage organ donation and would amend the law to presume that if a recently deceased person did not say whether he or she wished to donate his or her organs, it should then be presumed that he or he intended to make an organ donation. Thousands of people die each year while waiting for organ transplants. This simple change in the law would undoubtedly save lives.

I support capital punishment for murders committed in conjunction with other felonies, such as rape, torture and robbery. I believe that domestic violence crimes should be prosecuted as third strikes when applicable. Identity theft is a serious crime and should be punished with mandatory minimum prison sentences. I do not support any changes to California's current restrictions on the purchase of firearms.

I welcome your support and will do my best to represent you as a citizen-legislator.