Candidate for
State Senator; District 12; Democratic Party

EDUCATION

I believe that California's public education system should be number one in our country. Every child should be taught the basic skills necessary to obtain a meaningful job that supplies a middle-class living. I support early childhood education, advanced technology in the classroom, and vocational education training. I will work to ensure that our schools are funded and all children have the opportunity to succeed.

WATER

Water is the backbone of our economy in California. California's severe water crisis is hurting people, businesses and the environment and immediate solutions to deal with the short and long term water needs of California must be finalized as soon as possible. This crisis has forced growers to leave land uncultivated and hundreds of farmworkers without jobs. As one of the chief negotiators for Speaker Bass on the water issue, the Assembly successfully passed a bond that will help every region in California to provide clean drinking water to its residents.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Working families should have the opportunity to own their own home. Home ownership is an essential element in the stability of families, neighborhoods and communities. But it is an element beyond the means of many families. If we work together we can create solutions. I have worked with home builders and families to implement plans that put families in homes and give them savings in future equity. It's working to build strong families and safe, stable neighborhoods.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Our children deserve to live in safe neighborhoods. Children who drop out of school drop into street gangs, and prisons are expensive alternatives to decent schools. In Salinas, I headed up a non-profit agency dedicated to violence prevention among teens. While I am a supporter of tough sentence guidelines for violent criminals, I also believe in crime prevention+investing in our young people.

AGRICULTURE

Agriculture is one of the greatest economic engines in the State of California. We are both a national and world leader in agriculture innovation, including value added agriculture, family farms, organic farming, and the tremendous advances of technology and production in traditional agriculture. But there are a great number of issues pressing our agriculture industry today, and they play a central role in the lives of many of our citizens - our farmers, consumers, labor unions, farmworkers and their children. I look forward to continuing to be a stong voice for agriculture and a leader on these issues.

HEALTHCARE

Every Californian deserves access to quality health care. Nearly one million children lack basic health insurance in our State. California should be a leader in providing basic health care coverage. In the State Assembly, I have worked to ensure that our children, working families, and senior citizens are protected and health care is a priority. I believe that medical professionals should drive health policy in California+not insurance profits, and that we need to change our model of health care to focus on prevention.