Candidate for
Member of the State Assembly; District 35; Democratic Party

California's economy is on the ropes -- Susan will work to get California back on track

Susan Jordan is the only candidate for the 35th District Assembly seat who has a strong background in business management and the experience to build partnerships with the private sector to bring good jobs to our communities. She has real-life experience meeting a payroll and managing a business, and understands both the struggles that small businesses face as well as what policies help businesses attain sustainable growth. We can count on her to fight for working families and small businesses, and advocate for policies that promote good-paying jobs in our district, as she did when she served on the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission.

During the last nine years, California for the first time failed to outpace the nation in job growth during a period of economic growth. But our state is still a leader in technology, health care and telecommunications, and the burgeoning green economy holds great promise for our future. Susan Jordan knows that good public policy must encourage these sectors to flourish and grow. And she will fight to protect the natural resources that make California and the Central Coast great magnets for tourism + an important driver for our local economy.

Susan knows we must invest in education, because our local and state economy needs an educated workforce to meet the demands of the future. She will support specialized career vocational training through community colleges and high schools, and regional sector-specific training for students new to the workforce and for workers seeking a new career. And she will fight to restore the funding and jobs that were cut at all of the public higher education facilities in the district, including UC Santa Barbara, CSU Channel Islands, Ventura College, Oxnard College and Santa Barbara City College. These institutions are essential to our local economy, and will continue to be economic engines if they are supported.

Susan will partner with our local higher education institutions by focusing on the fastest growing sector of our economy: health care. Susan will work at the state level to expand health care training courses and professional degree programs at Ventura County Community College District's School of Nursing and Allied Health, and Santa Barbara City College's School of Nursing. Susan knows it is equally important to re-invest in infrastructure, public transportation, roads, and expanding the energy grid to allow more green energy to reach consumers. This type of reinvestment will attract businesses and high-paying jobs to our region and help keep them here. She supports incentives for "local hire" to make sure that qualified local workers are in line for good local jobs.

Small business is the heart of our local economy and the fastest growing area for jobs. More than 98 percent of the businesses operating in California have fewer than 100 employees. Susan believes that small business must be supported through programs that increase access to federal and state resources and capital from tight credit markets that are inhibiting our economic recovery.

As our State Assemblymember, Susan will oppose the counterproductive efforts of the current administration that are undermining California's economic recovery;  instead of cuts to education, Susan will work to create green jobs and economic growth compatible with the Central Coast.

Putting the Shine Back on Public Education.

Quality schools, colleges and universities were an essential component in making California the "Golden State." But our state has allowed the shine to fade over the last twenty years.

Even though California is home to some of the most highly motivated teachers in the nation, year after year through numerous budget cuts we have failed to give them the support they need. There is nothing more important than the education of our children and Susan will work to make sure no more decimating cuts will further erode our education system.

One proven way to bridge the learning gap is to fund early childhood education and intervention programs. Studies have shown these programs have long-term and profound impacts on keeping children in their important early formative years interested in learning and on a path to success. Recent studies have also shown that standards established by No Child Left Behind have set schools up to fail. The constant drone of standardized testing has stolen some of the spark from our classrooms.

We need to reward new, innovative programs which are working in our schools and re-evaluate those which don't. Public policy should center around making sure school districts have more control over how their funds are spent.

In addition, cuts to higher education been an extreme hardship on our students. This generation of college students is blessed with a highly developed sense of social responsibility. We need to nurture this future workforce, not saddle it with mounds of debt forced by high college costs.  We cannot allow increased fees and tuition to force willing students out of our higher education institutions.

At a time when more people than ever need re-training efforts to compete, class sections are being closed and popular programs have long waitlists. There is no greater investment in our future than higher education.

Ending the Gridlock in Sacramento

During the legislative session, many good bills are passed with bipartisan support but the gridlock during the most recent budget process has now brought our state to its knees. Our state's credit rating is just above junk bond status and billions are spent each year just paying off budget-related debt because of partisan gridlock and the influence of powerful special interests.

Susan has decades of experience fighting for what she believes is right and this transcends partisan politics. Through her award-winning statewide non-profit work, she has successfully worked with people on both sides of the political aisle to devise policies on the environment and energy + because what's best for the people is always foremost in her mind.

During her tenure on the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission, Susan proved she could listen to all sides and make fair and balanced decisions. Susan also supports improving disclosure laws so that all Californians have easy access to information about how much money is spent on lobbying on specific legislation and all state regulatory agencies, including the Coastal Commission.  Susan believes that transactions in government should be transparent and that the public should be fully informed and their voices heard on major policy decisions.