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LWV League of Women Voters of California Education Fund

Smart Voter
State of California (Butte, Colusa, Del Norte, Glenn, Nevada, Placer, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Yuba Counties) November 6, 2012 Election
Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues
State Senator; District 4-2010


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 Jann Reed:

According to recent surveys, the majority of Californians want a strong public education system. For the past eight years I have served on the Chico unified School District Board of Education and dealt with reduced funding for public education from Sacramento. This is in direct opposition to the will of the people and must be addressed with a new approach to funding, career technology options, and innovative technology in the K-16 classrooms.

? 2. What types of changes or reforms, if any, do you think are important to make our state government function more effectively?

Answer from Jann Reed:

California is no longer flush with money. It is time to review every facet of spending by the state to determine where there is waste. Californians are not going to be willing to consider additional spending until they know the money currently going to Sacramento is used wisely and efficiently.It is time for the legislature to clean house before more hidden pots of money are uncovered by other sources.

? 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 Jann Reed:

A definite priority concern. We need to provide the young adults of California an affordable way to earn a degree of higher education that prepares them for real jobs to grow our economy. We need to consolidate programs and resources, find new funding sources, keep kids on track to graduate, look at the reasons for soaring costs and address the problem.

? 4. What other major issues do you think the Legislature must address? What are your own priorities?

Answer from Jann Reed:

Public education for California's kids is my top priority. California was the leader in the 60's and reaped the benefits of a well-educated population. Over time we have slipped to last in almost every measurable category from funding to class size. let's show the kids we believe in them, their futures, and the future of California by finding stable reliable funding and a robust curriculum relevant to today's youth.

The long list of major issues include prison overcrowding (and mandatory sentencing), foreclosures and reduction in home prices, health care access for all Californians, loss of jobs, to name a few.


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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Created: December 17, 2012 13:48 PST
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