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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 Sharon Quirk-Silva:
We must reduce partisan bickering and take the following steps. We must encourage private-sector job creation and reduce unemployment, bringing in extra revenues. We must look at the state budget and eliminate waste and duplication of services. We must treat everyone fairly and ensure that the super rich and large corporations pay their fair share in taxes and that we close loopholes and take away incentives that allow corporations to ship jobs and revenues overseas to avoid state taxes.
Answer from Chris Norby:
Guaranteed funding for education must continue, while welfare is realigned to match national norms. We have 12% of the US population, but 37% of US welfare costs. Infrastructure funding must be user-based, with gas tax reforms needed to meet current realities. Shifting incarceration responsibilities and costs from the state back to the counties will result in major savings.
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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 Chris Norby:
The restoration of redevelopment funds ($6 billion annually) to public schools and other services has been a major accomplishment. Pension reforms are needed immediately to reduce general fund obligations. Tax subsidies to favored industries (movie-making, energy, etc.) must be closed. Ending categorical funding mandates will give school boards the ability to use resources more effectively. Our criminal justice system must focus on real public threats and deal with statutory offenders tracked in more cost-effective ways.
Answer from Sharon Quirk-Silva:
People who are elected to state office need to do more to recognize that we are all in this together and that while we may belong to a particular political party we are also Californians first. Therefore, we must work together to stop the partisan bickering and political games and strive to address our state's problems. Problems like high unemployment, educational reform and adequate funding, a broken transportation system, and a budget that is seriously out of balance. I don't care who gets the credit or the blame i am interested in solving the problem.
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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 Sharon Quirk-Silva:
As a public school teacher, I believe we need to do more in California to better prepare our children to compete in a global marketplace. We need to assist teachers with additional training and making class sizes smaller with increased emphasis on math and sciences. We need to make sure that children who have the ability and desire to go on to higher education will have the financial ability to do so. We need to increase our commitment to four-year degree programs and community colleges.
Answer from Chris Norby:
Professors must refocus on classroom instruction, and devote more time to the classroom rather than research. Community college attendance procedures need to reflect actual students--taxpayers shouldn't have to pay for those who have dropped out. Administrative overhead must simplified to free up more classroom resources.
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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 Chris Norby:
Over 1,300 bills were passed last session, most of them merely making our lives more complicated and more expensive. We need to focus on a few areas, especially reforming our tax system and public education. Huge local revenue disparities among local government must be addressed. The English Language Learner (ELL) program costs $1.5 billion annually with very little benefit. Good teaching can be identified and rewarded, and top-heavy administration should be cut back. A diversity of views must be respected--we don't need one-party domination of all branches of state government.
Answer from Sharon Quirk-Silva:
My priorities are very straightforward. We need to create jobs and reduce unemployment, build a first-class public school system, and listen to my constituents and end the partisan bickering and gridlock that has dominated Sacramento in recent years.
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
