League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Los Angeles County, CA November 6, 2012 Election
	Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues Member of the State Assembly; District 49

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. 1. How will you prioritize the budget choices the Legislature must make to align the state’s income and spending? Answer from Edwin "Ed" Chau: Budget & Finance The fiscal discipline, experience, and leadership to get Sacramento on track Ed Chau has the experience and fiscal expertise to get our state back on track. As a small business owner, Ed knows what it takes to balance a budget, make payroll, create jobs, and do more with less. On the Montebello School Board, Ed delivered balanced budgets twelve years in a row, even in the midst of state budget cuts and a down economy. He is an independent leader and problem solver with a record of bringing people together and finding intelligent solutions to tough problems. 2. What types of changes or reforms, if any, do you think are important to make our state government function more effectively? (No candidates submitted answers to this question) 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? Answer from Edwin "Ed" Chau: Education Good schools lead to good jobs Education is the key to creating and sustaining long-lasting economic growth. As a Montebello School Board Member and product of local public schools, Ed Chau knows that great teachers, good schools, and more opportunities for children are the key to success. On the school board, Ed has championed efforts to improve academic standards and performance, make college more accessible, and create more job-training and educational programs for students can compete in the 21st Century economy. He helped secure over $171 million to build new schools, like the Applied Technology Center, a cutting-edge high school that gives students hands-on training for careers in science, medicine, engineering, and computers and partners with local businesses to ensure students have access to good jobs right out of school. Ed has helped improve test scores and student performance, protected schools from budget cuts, created new educational and workforce training programs, and pushed for programs that teach life skills like honesty, bring on time, and responsibility. In the State Assembly, Ed Chau will continue to fight to protect our schools from cuts, improve academic standards, and create more opportunities for our children. 4. What other major issues do you think the Legislature must address? What are your own priorities? Answer from Edwin "Ed" Chau: Jobs & Economy Fighting for local business and creating new jobs As our state recovers from the toughest economic crisis since Depression, revitalizing our economy and improving our education system will be Ed's top priority. In order to put California back on track, we must both protect our existing jobs and businesses, invest in education for our youth, and give local small business owners the tools they need to grow. As a small business owner, Ed understands that small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy. As a local business attorney, Ed has help entrepreneurs and local businesses keep their doors open during the bad economy and manage their finances so they could grow and create new jobs. As an educator, Ed helped create new job-training programs that partner with local business owners to train and place students in good jobs right here at home. As Assembly Member, Ed will cut red tape, create more incentives for local business owners to expand and locate in the San Gabriel Valley, and give them the tools they need to create jobs and generate new economic opportunities for all of our communities. 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.