The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of California and asked of all candidates for this office.

See below for questions on Budget Crisis, Education, Water, Health Insurance

Click on a name for other candidate information.   See also more information about this contest.

Answer from Gale R Morgan:

1. Spend less money. A temporary roll back of 13% would do wonders for the short term crisis.

2. Combine agencies to reduce overlapping duties. Let us consider the states Environmental Protection. Who is in charge?

The Environmental Protection Agency, the Resources Agency, or the Water Resources Control Board, maybe the Department of Water Resources, or the Air Resources Board. Add to the mix the Department of Pesticide Regulation, and the Department of Toxic Substance Control, and Integrated Waste Management Board. There is also an Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and a Department of Conservation. They all independently control the environment.

Answer from Gaspar Roberto Garcia:

California needs to elect legislators that will stop the political bickering between political parties and focus on balancing the budget on time and to do the people's business. California needs to elect people, like me, who are honest,courageous, competent, and are also characterized by integrity. California needs to elect legislators who will recognize the the time for politics as usual is past. California needs to elect legislators who will make California a magnet for companies looking for a place to grow. I advocate balanced budgets, prudent spending, and protection for the weakest among us.

Answer from Dave Jones:

We will need a combination of tax increases and budget cuts.

Answer from Gale R Morgan:

As a student and an Instructional Assistant, I understand the advantage of programs like MESA/CCP and Beacon. Most school boards find it difficult to manage their budget when the state and federal government are controlling the vast majority of the money. The instructors and local administrators are more knowledgeable about their schools than those who reside in the Department of Education. We need to reduce the regulation and let the districts run their schools. The test scores will rise as each school takes the responsibility for their own success. This will also reduce the cry for a voucher system. We need to stop taking money (tuition) from our colleges and putting it in the general fund.

Answer from Dave Jones:

We must ensure that k-12 students are receiving the best education possible. Regardless of how poor the neighborhood is, each child should be able to go to a good school.

For Community Colleges, we must ensure that the opportunity to attend is available to all Californians

Answer from Gaspar Roberto Garcia:

For both the K-12 education and the Community College System, the state should prioritize the elimination of the gross unfairness in our educational funding process. The state should prioritize funding the needs of the classroom first, the needs of the school site second, and the needs of the school bureaucracy third and last. The state must also prioritize the development of a comprehensive job description for each teacher and each school employee such that the average California citizen can understand what teachers and other school personnel are specifically supposed to do to earn their salaries.

Answer from Gale R Morgan:

California has no excuse for water shortages or lack of equitable water distribution. A December 14, 2003 Orange Country Register editorial quoted Brett Barbre of the Municipal Water District of Orange County as saying, "more water is released out of the San Francisco Bay every day than would meet the needs of all of Southern California for a year." In addition, we possess the technology to turn seawater to drinking and irrigation water. I support legislation that restores water rights and allows ethical private industries to build desalination plants and sell their water to local and inland towns.

Answer from Dave Jones:

More water conservation.

Answer from Gaspar Roberto Garcia:

I will support expending state funds to insure that every individual in California has available safe water to drink and use in meeting daily needs. I will also support making sure that California Farmers have available water to grow their crops and require them to return unneeded water in safe-consumable form. I will oppose installing water meters at the homes of Sacramento residents. I will support the development of water desalination plants in Southern California cities and communities.

Answer from Dave Jones:

Establish universal health Care coverage.

Answer from Gaspar Roberto Garcia:

The State should provide small employers with incentives, of various sorts, to encourage them to pay for the health needs of their employees. The legislature should make it unlawful for insurance companies to make extraordinary income by providing health insurance to Californians. The legislature should develop a detailed plan for getting help with health problems if the families do not have adequate coverage from a health plan, or do not have a health plan at all.

Answer from Gale R Morgan:

Considering the current budget condition, the government should advise the people of California to acquire medical insurance or set up a medical savings account to provide for their needs. However, we should not spend any money to give this advice for the next two years.

The MediCal program needs to be examined and updated to be more efficient. There is room for charitable organizations to step up to the plate and help. Medical professionals should be given a tax incentive for assisting the medically indigent.

The order of the candidates is random and changes daily.