League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Los Angeles County, CA June 3, 2014 Election
	April A. Saucedo Hood Answers Questions Candidate for Supervisor; County of Los Angeles; Supervisorial District 1

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. What steps do you think the Board of Supervisors should take to improve the foster care system and in particular to provide safe emergency or temporary placement for infants and children?

Social workers need to be better trained to identify abuse. It is unacceptable for any child to die due to sloppy investigations. Caseloads need to be reduced by either hiring experienced social workers or reorganizing DCFS. Policies and procedures need to be uniform and streamlined.

2. The County Supervisors sit also on the board of the Metropolitan Transit District. What would be your top priorities for the MTA?

I believe the MTA needs to begin looking at long term solutions to attracting new riders. Los Angeles County will continue to grow and more vehicles will be added to our already congested roadways. Recently, MTA has lost several experienced executive managers due to restructuring. I would ensure that we continue to attract and hire the best transportation experts from around the country to lead MTA.

3. Do you support the creation of an independent oversight commission for the Sheriff's Department?

I oppose the creation of an independent oversight commission. It would be difficult to create a true independent commission because members would be appointed and lack the necessary expertise to make meaningful recommendations. Without changes in the current law, all decisions would still be up to the elected sheriff. Any independent oversight commission would have little influence or decision making power. I do support the newly formed Inspector General. I believe the Sheriff's Department is in need of a culture change. No amount of oversight can change the culture of an agency. Change starts at the top level management and trickles down to the line level employees. Furthermore, we need to re-evaluate how the Sheriff's Department hires and trains deputies.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' answers are presented as submitted.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: March 29, 2014 15:47
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