League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara, San Mateo County, CA June 3, 2014 Election
	Richard S. Gordon Answers Questions Candidate for Member of the State Assembly; District 24

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

Questions & Answers

1. How would you prioritize the fiscal choices the Legislature must make to align the state’s income and spending?

During my first two terms in the State Assembly, I have worked with my colleagues in Sacramento to take the state from a $27 billion deficit to a projected surplus for next year. We must continue to show fiscal restraint due to the fluctuations of our economy. I believe that we must prioritize the spending down of debt and the establishment of a reserve - "rainy day fund". I believe that we can also afford to make some incremental and additional funding to support education and the court system.

2. Given our current drought condition, concern for water rights and usage is an important issue. What solutions would you support to address our water problems?

California needs to develop a comprehensive water policy that reflects global warming. As the Sierra snowpack declines, we will need to capture, store, and transmit storm water. We need increased conservation, new approaches to agricultural watering, water recycling, and desalination. We also need to assure that water is priced appropriately. I have been a member of the State Assembly's Water Working Group and have helped craft a proposed water bond for the November 2014 ballot. We will need to invest in off-stream storage and ground water re-charge as part of our long term solution.

3. California high school students rank lower than many states in student performance. What do you see as the ongoing role of the Legislature in addressing this problem?

I supported the Local Control Funding Formula which was adopted last year as a new way of funding our schools. Under that formula additional dollars will be made available to schools attended by at-risk students. The formula also provides more local control to school boards and communities. I believe that educational decisions are best made as close as possible to the classroom. For that reason, the Legislature should set achievement goals and provide adequate funding for students, technology, and teacher training so that local school boards can develop approaches that will improve student performance.

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

I continue to focus on government accountability and transparency. I have supported performance based budgeting for state agencies. The Governor recently signed my AB 800 which provides additional tools to our state's political watch dog, the Fair Political Practices Commission, so that they can identify who is funding political campaigns prior to an election. I also continue to work on issues relative to our environment including land conservation and recycling.

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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.

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

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: May 5, 2014 07:40
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