Orange County Register 72nd Assembly District Questionnaire

By Richard Faher

Orange County Register 72nd Assembly District Candidate Questionnaire

Name: Richard Faher

Age: 51

Occupation: Businessman Private Sector

City of residence: Placentia

Political experience: Attended California Republican Assemblies Candidate Forum of Orange County

What kind of mobile electronic devices do you carry (Cell phone, iPhone, Blackberry or...)? Cell phone

Please answer each of the following questions in 50 words or less.

1. Do you support the roughly $6 billion in education cuts this year? If not, what, specifically, would you have done to avoid them?

A: Unfortunately, education will have to be cut over $6 billion dollars this year. State Controller John Chiang reports that "Revenues more than $1 billion under estimates and recent adverse court rulings are dealing a major blow to a budget that is barely 10 weeks old".

2. What should the state do to address prison costs and overcrowding?

A: Costs of incarcerating a felon must be reduced, by reducing prison staffs, hiring freezes, reducing salaries and benefits. The state of California should not "early release" 27,000 convicted felons. Incarceration of prisoners is a fundamental duty of the government. More prisons need to be built to relieve overcrowding.

3. Should the California National Guard help patrol the Mexican border?

A: I do not support the California National Guard patrolling the Mexican Border. It is the responsibility of the US Customs and Border Protection Agency to secure the Mexican Border. California needs to demand that these federal agencies do an adequate job for our national security.

4. With the future of national health care still unclear, should the state do more to ensure health care here?

A: To ensure health care for more Californians, the cost of health care needs to be reduced. California needs tort reform that will reduce litigation costs, while justly compensating individuals for injuries. Non-economic damages are nearly 1/4 of all tort-related costs. California currently leads the nation in tort losses.

5. What specific components should be included in the water deal currently be negotiated by the governor and State Legislature? What shouldn't be part of the deal?

A: Components include flexible application of the endangered species act during times of drought emergency, build "Two Gates" Project, increase use of virtual barriers, construction of Delta-Mendota canal/California Aqueduct Intertie, improve monitoring technologies, increase surface and groundwater storage, build conveyance system. The new deal should not create a new government bureaucracy.