Candidate for
Attorney General; Democratic Party

Alberto Torrico for Attorney General - Ballot Statement

For the first time in our state's history, the government spent more money on prisons than higher education. We need to reform prisons and recognize that education is the key to our future and public safety. Education is the best way to shut the revolving door of our prison system - where 70 percent of released inmates return after three years. I'm fighting to reform the prisons by requiring inmates to rehabilitate themselves through work, study or treatment before they are released. Education creates strong communities. That's why I'm working to expand preschool in every neighborhood so kids start school ready to learn. And I'm leading the fight to lower college tuition by taking on big oil with an extraction fee that can't be passed on to consumers. I'm the child of Latino and Asian immigrants who worked as janitors so I could be the first in my family to attend college. I went on to teach college courses to new citizens. I know the true spirit of California opportunity and optimism is nurtured in great schools, not failed prisons. I've earned the overwhelming support of law enforcement because they know with 60 percent of prisoners functionally illiterate + education is the best strategy to prevent crime and rehabilitate criminals. Please join seniors, California Professional Firefighters, the California Federation of Teachers and over 60,000 cops and deputy sheriffs who support me because they agree that the best way to protect public safety is to invest in education.