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The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of California Education Fund and asked of all candidates for this office.
See below for questions on
Budget,
Government reform,
Higher education,
Major issues
Click on a name for candidate information. See also more information about this contest.
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1. How will you prioritize the budget choices the Legislature must make to align the state’s income and spending?
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Answer from Phillip A. Tufi:
Education, Health, Transportation, and Law Enforcement.
Answer from Janice Marlae Bonser:
I don't know but if we Cut regulations; turn the pumps back on and relegalize hemp we will have more jobs and more money to spend. Add to that cleaner air, cleaner water, clean sustainable fuel; sterilized organic fertilizer and poop that don't stink.
Answer from Ken Cooley:
We should focus on what must be done to grow 2 million jobs by 2012. This will mean focusing on easing business start-up and operating costs, investing in development of a highly-educated, job-ready workforce and putting the state on a sound financial footing.
Answer from Barbara Ortega:
I believe that very hard choices will face state budget policy makers for at least several years to come. I also believe that State Government must live within its means, just like families and business must.
I would prioritize education (K-12 and higher education) and public safety in the short term. I would also prioritize much better scrutiny of autopilot spending formulas, and advocate that the Legislature must take on a much stronger oversight role of the massive state bureaucracy.
In the medium-to-long-run, the only possible way for the state budget to balance without making draconian choices and slashing billions of dollars in general fund expenditures is to grow the economy. The sooner the Legislature realizes that they have to be an active partner in improving California's horrendous business climate, the faster our economy will recover, and the state budget situation will resolve itself. along with the economy. State and local governments have to lead, follow, or get out of the way. They are strangling the economic expansion Californians of all walks of life desperately need.
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2. What types of changes or reforms, if any, do you think are important to make our state government function more effectively?
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Answer from Ken Cooley:
The Legislature needs to rediscover its power of active executive branch oversight so that old & outdated laws or programs are re-directed or eliminated. This is vital to support creation of 2 million jobs over the next ten years. Every lawmaker needs to grow their personal effectiveness rather than letting 4 or 15 "key" members do the work of the entire 80 Member Assembly.
Answer from Phillip A. Tufi:
Clear out the regulations that hinder job and revenue growth.
Answer from Janice Marlae Bonser:
Make the government smaller.
Answer from Barbara Ortega:
Zero-based budgeting would be a great start. Department heads should have to demonstrate to the taxpaying citizens of this state that they are doing the absolute best possible job of accomplishing their missions, and explain it in plain language instead of the technocrat-speak which is so prevalent. They should have to do this every year, and pay a heavy price for tolerating waste, abuse and inefficiency.
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3. Fees for public higher education have gone up dramatically and funding has been cut. Is this a priority concern, and if so, what measures would you propose to address it?
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Answer from Phillip A. Tufi:
Higher education is a top priority. We need to adjust our budget to prioritize the students and the teachers.
Answer from Ken Cooley:
This is a serious issue for the future of California. Traditionally, California was a magnet for jobs because we offered employers a large, highly educated workforce. Investment that encourages talented youth to seek the best education possible so they can become productive citizens is critical for the state's economic future. California was once known envied nationwide for our post-secondary education system and we need to re-invest and re-build this jobs engine.
Answer from Janice Marlae Bonser:
Let the individual schools have more liberty to raise private money, such as their own idividual lotteries, users fees.; private advertizements, fairs, dances etc..Education is best provided by the free market, achieving greater quality, accountability and efficiency with more diversity of choice. Recognizing that the education of children is a parental responsibility, we would restore authority to parents to determine the education of their children, without interference from government. Parents should have control of and responsibility for all funds expended for their children's education.
Answer from Barbara Ortega:
The public education system in California has to be a top priority. Kids headed to college need to be college-ready. Kids not headed to college need the possess skills when they graduate from high school to advance into technical skills training programs so they can be job-ready. Again, the only solution to addressing the enormous cuts throughout the higher education system is for the State and Local governments to either help drastically improve the business climate, or at least get out of the way. The economy has to grow at a solid 3.5% per year to keep pace. The only way to restore higher education is via economic growth.
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4. What other major issues do you think the Legislature must address? What are your own priorities?
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Answer from Phillip A. Tufi:
I want to focus on attracting good clean businesses to California, as well as open up more opportunities for small independent business owners to expand their businesses.
Answer from Ken Cooley:
1. From my service on California's internationally-regarded Seismic Safety Commission I have a long-term interest in disaster recovery and response capacity. Ever since the Long Beach Earthquake of 1933 this has always been understood as carrying significant needs for public schools and the children into whose custody they are entrusted. I will work on strengthening California's disaster response capability against the day when another earthquake disaster strikes our state.
2.The post-Prop 13 rules for financing local development have disadvantaged established communities and infill areas like those that span AD 8. The difficulty of financing development in such areas limits jobs growth and economic opportunities for established communities in AD 8 as well as statewide. I intend to work with all stakeholders -- cities, environmentalists, builders and more rural interests such as the state's cattle and agriculture sectors to develop alternative methods of financing infill development.
Answer from Janice Marlae Bonser:
We need more freedom, private rights and private property rights to create more jobs, choices and prosperity. Individuals and corporations need to take resposiblity for their actions. No more bail outs. Taxes, regulations and license fees often stop the delivery of water, clean sustainable energy and jobs.
Answer from Barbara Ortega:
My first priority is jobs and the economy. Reforming the business climate is job #1. My other priorities include California's children, maintaining our health care infrastructure and helping promote healthy lifestyles for all Californians, and helping improve the quality of life of senior citizens who have suffered serious financial problems because of the recession.
Responses to questions asked of each candidate
are reproduced as submitted to the League.
Candidates' statements are presented as
submitted. References to opponents are not permitted.
The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.
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League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
