League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	San Diego County, CA November 4, 2014 Election
	Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues Member of the State Assembly; District 78

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 Fiscal Choices, Water, Education, Your Priorities Click on a name for candidate information.   See also more information about this contest. 1. How would you prioritize the fiscal choices the Legislature must make to align the state’s income and spending? Answer from Barbara Vittek Decker: Decrease regulations and start up fees for the business climate. California needs jobs for all the men, women and college graduates who looking for work or are out of work. With increased fields of employment, our tax base will increase and we will be able to sustain all the businesses that benefit a healthy economy. We will also have more money to help those in need. 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? Answer from Barbara Vittek Decker: Reduce time for setting up desalination plants similar to the one being constructed in Carlsbad. San Diego had a desalination plant 25 years ago that was shipped to Guantanamo Bay. Explore the possibility of working with Navy aircraft carriers. They have water purification on them and there might be a way to coordinate use of their facilities to help the local water shortage. 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? Answer from Barbara Vittek Decker: The local school boards, school principals, teachers and parents are best suited to address this problem. Keeping it at the local level works best rather than having top down, one size fits all legislation. 4. What other major issues do you think the Legislature must address? What are your own priorities? Answer from Barbara Vittek Decker: Decrease regulations and taxes for businesses; particularly the smaller businesses so they can afford to stay in business in California. Welcome technology, research and development. Without jobs, our tax base remains low, businesses can't stay in business that supply goods and services to working families in the community. 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.