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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.
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1. How would you prioritize the fiscal choices the Legislature must make to align the state’s income and spending?
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Answer from Marc Steinorth:
In the State Assembly I will focus on job creation and economic vitality for all Californians. This requires responsible fiscal decisions by state lawmakers, a commonsense approach to budgeting, and an elected body with experience in, and understanding of free market forces that get our economy producing again. Californians are inundated with regulations and taxes that thwart the efforts of hard-working families and small businesses. As a Rancho Cucamonga City Councilman, I have exercised prudent financial decision-making that reflects good stewardship of public monies by the City, on behalf of Rancho Cucamonga taxpayers and residents. I firmly believe that government, whether state, local, or federal, must live within its means and that it has a responsibility to justify each and every tax dollar it takes and spends. As a State Assemblyman I will be a loud and constant voice for similar financial stewardship. The state must get its fiscal house in order so that it is in a position to provide lasting relief and a higher level of economic certainty to the small business community.
Answer from Kathleen "Katy" Henry:
Fiscal discipline
Establishing a rainy day fund
Paying down debt
Answer from Melissa O'Donnell:
As we continue to bring change to California, we need to always remember the importance of job growth. I don't like that so many businesses continue to leave our State. We need to make our State business friendly again, which will improve our economy drastically. The more businesses that stay in California, the more opportunities there are for employees to grow and prosper. I would make it a priority to work with corporations to continue growth in our State.
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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?
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Answer from Melissa O'Donnell:
Our State needs to share the water supply with all counties. Northern California has water that can be used in Southern California and Southern California has the right to use that water, especially in a time of crisis because of the drought. Certain entities to not have the right to hold on to water, being that our water supply is publicly owned.
Answer from Kathleen "Katy" Henry:
Solutions are problematic since it involves urban usage, agricultural usage and environmental usage and drought is cyclical. I do not have a solution but more aggressive water conservation and water recycling should have a greater focus. The solution to the water problems is following through on a solution instead of talking about it until we are out of our drought cycle and everyone then turns to other things.
Answer from Marc Steinorth:
Our water crisis has been created in part, and seriously exacerbated, by our state's failed water storage and conservation policies. Californians need and deserve a sustainable water policy from this Legislature moving forward. We must consider all options such as mandatory conservation, building new water storage infrastructure, and enforcing existing laws and water rights. Our farms, ranches and businesses must come before environmental causes that do not pose a serious risk or harm to the citizens of California and our wildlife. Regulations must allow for the development of water resources to prevent another such crisis from occurring. If we can save more water during good years, conserve more efficiently, and put the people and businesses first that are in the most danger during drought, we will be able to solve the many issues that current policies and thinking are unable to.
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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?
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Answer from Marc Steinorth:
The Legislature must tackle the many issues in California's public education system because our investment in our children's future is failing. We cannot afford wasteful government programs that do not directly benefit the education our students receive. California is at the bottom of state education systems for a reason, and that reason is not lack of funding. We must take a serious look at reinventing how we look at public education, and take the necessary steps to improving the system at every level.
Answer from Melissa O'Donnell:
"No Child Left Behind" was designed to make sure that all students graduate school, but it also became a crutch that students started to lean on because even if they received bad grades, they would be able to pass and continue in school. This is not working and we need to make stricter policies for our students. It is so easy for them to not study and pass their grades. We need to make these stricter policies so students will learn about discipline and hard work.
Answer from Kathleen "Katy" Henry:
With the passing of AB 484 and putting the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) into place the State is moving toward a Common Core standard. The legislature must keep tabs on the success of this standard. There may be need to fund programs that target specific programs where student performance is lacking.
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4. What other major issues do you think the Legislature must address? What are your own priorities?
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Answer from Marc Steinorth:
Politicians today have a real tendency to tout their ability to "create jobs". From my extensive experience as a small business owner, community leader, and elected official, I understand that real job creation comes not simply from government, but from the millions of different people in the private sector who invest their time, energy, and material resources to pursue their own particular ends. Government plays a role in all of this, sure, but it's not as straightforward as politicians would like others to believe.
Put differently, a politician who promises to "create jobs" may very well do so once in office, at least in part; but it comes at the expense of redistributing someone else's resources, which could have been used in a more productive way by those in the private sector. So, instead of being a "job creator", I will work day in and day out as a State Assemblyman to support those in the private sector who create not just jobs, but wealth, too.
Answer from Melissa O'Donnell:
The Legislation needs to continue to work on Bills that help our environment. In San Bernardino County, some cities have the worst pollution rates in California. We need to work with corporations who are causing this pollution. Punishing them is not the answer, but creating stricter guidelines will help our environment in the long run.
Answer from Kathleen "Katy" Henry:
Economic growth should include temporary tax incentives. Improving growth in a variety of industries, not a few, will be important. Helping cities reduce their own fiscal burden so that those cities are not taxing small business out of existence may also be an avenue to examine. Water and education are my other two top priorities and are focused on finding a solution to water problems and ensuring that California schools of higher education are not charging students out of their opportunity for a higher education.
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.
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League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
