Feb 26, 2004

Candidates for California Senate and Assembly

By Lorraine Gabbert
Staff Writer

As the March 2 election draws near, the candidates are making their stand. The Almaden Times Weekly requested that each candidate in the state senate and assembly races submit a brief statement to better acquaint our readers with their positions on the issues, as well as themselves.

Almaden is divided into two districts for the California Senate (districts 11 and 15), as well as for the California Assembly (districts 21 and 24). Candidates for California Senate, District 11, include: Ted Lempert (D), Allen Rice (L), Joe Simitian (D), and Jon Zellhoefer (R). Candidates for California Senate, District 15, include: Brook Madsen (G), Abel Maldonado (R), and Peg Pinard (D). Candidates for California Assembly, District 21, include: John Barton (D), John Carcione (D), Barbara Nesbet (D), Steve Poizner (R), and Ira Ruskin (D). Candidates for California Assembly, District 24, include: Rebecca Cohn (D), Zander Collier (L), Fred Jankowiak (R), Ernest Konnyu (R), and David Redick (R).

The following information reflects the statements of the candidates who responded to our request.

Candidates for Senate, District 11:

Ted Lempert

· Proven national leader on environmental protection.

Ted Lempert is the only candidate endorsed by the Sierra Club. Ted's Coastal Sanctuary Act permanently banned oil drilling off our coast.

· Principled champion for campaign finance reform.

Ted Lempert is the only candidate in this race honoring the voter-approved voluntary campaign spending limits. Ted's strong legislation became the heart of the Ethics in Government Act, giving California the nation's toughest ethics code.

· Passionate public education advocate.

In the Assembly, Ted never voted to cut K-12 education funding, even during the toughest budget years.

Allen Rice

My candidacy provides an alternative to the failing policies of the central planners in the Legislature. We need to send less of our tax money to Sacramento and keep more of the decision-making process at the local level.

My goals, when elected:

Balance the state budget by reducing expenditures to the levels of four years ago.

Re-empower local school boards by sharply reducing the number of spending directives imposed by Sacramento.

Make the sale of bonds and the scope of projects for redevelopment agencies subject to local vote.

Remove control of the redistricting process from the Legislature to a commission.

Joe Simitian

Top 3 priorities

1. Providing top-quality education for our children by increasing state support for school districts, keeping local funds local and working to equalize funding for low wealth school districts. Keeping our community college, CSU and UC systems strong.

2. Continued and expanded protection for our environment, particularly our coasts and forests (areas addressed by my recent legislation to ban cruise ship dumping and regulate logging practices).

3. Maintaining a healthy economy by developing a well-trained workforce; an adequate supply of affordable housing; a transportation system sufficient to our needs; a tax system which is fair and equitable; and a regulatory environment which protects the public and encourages innovation.

Candidates for Senate, District 15:

Abel Maldonado

Abel Maldonado was elected to the California State Assembly in 1998. While in Sacramento, Abel has proven himself an independent voice for his constituents on the Central Coast. He has worked with members of both parties to do what is right for California. Abel helped enact legislation to raise academic performance in our schools, make schools and neighborhoods more secure, and improve the quality of health care. He has been a strong voice for the environment and for the protection of our coast. This is the same type of common sense leadership Assemblyman Abel Maldonado will bring the State Senate when elected.

Candidates for Assembly, District 21:

Barbara Nesbet

I am committed to improving the quality of life for residents of our region by ensuring access to high quality education, protecting our open space, keeping our libraries open, and guaranteeing funding for crucial public services. As an assemblymember I will help provide educational opportunities to all Californians from early childhood through college.

With my experience as a high-technology lawyer, deputy city attorney, library board member, mayor, and council member, I have the legal and political background necessary to help California meet its challenges and return to sound fiscal management.

I was born and raised in this valley and have been active in the community for many years. I am deeply committed to the prosperity of this area and look forward to serving as a member of the Assembly.

Ira Ruskin

The Daily News calls Ira Ruskin “a regional leader” with “a solid environmental record.” Ira has the endorsement of the Sierra Club.

The Mercury News reported that Ira Ruskin's efforts to stop elder abuse in nursing homes are “unprecedented,” “a bold step,” and “a first for a California city.”

A three-term city councilman and Redwood City mayor, Ira Ruskin led the efforts to create the countywide Emergency Response System, stabilize the battered women's shelter, return music to the curriculum of elementary schools, build libraries in local schools and preserve open space. Ruskin established the first Budget Reserve Policy in his city.

With a B.A. from U.C. Berkeley and an M.A. from Stanford University, Ira Ruskin knows what an education can mean for people. As our assemblyman, Ira Ruskin will expand college opportunity and meet the challenge for affordable health care.

Candidates for Assembly, District 24:

Zander Collier

When elected assemblyman, I will work on fixing the problems immediately facing California smaller government which lives within its means, the nurturing of a healthy and growing economic atmosphere, and fixing the education system upon which our children depend.

All are broken. It's the major parties which have taken us here. California deserves better.

Born in Mountain View, I have lived 28 of my 33 years in the South Bay Area. I am one of you socially liberal and fiscally conservative. If you don't want business as usual, don't vote business as usual.

Fred E. Jankowiak

Inspired by Ronald Reagan and the strength he brought to our country—a strong military and a strong economy based on low taxation and reduced government—Fred Jankowiak is also the George W. Bush “compassionate conservative” in philosophy and in action. He has volunteered for California's largest nonprofit agency, EMQ Children and Family Services, as a mentor to disadvantaged children. Jankowiak is also executive director of the “Kids Are Special Foundation”, a soon-to-be launched nonprofit corporation whose programs teach kids drug, alcohol, and cigarette addiction prevention skills.

The 24 th Assembly District stretches from north of the city of San Jose and extends south to Saratoga and Los Gatos. It is an area hit hard by the downturn in the economy—the Silicon Valley now has one of the highest unemployment rates in the United States. One in four people lost their jobs as a result of the economic downturn. As assemblyman, Fred Jankowiak will work to bring jobs and prosperity back to the Silicon Valley by developing solutions that inspire business to grow, expand, and stay in California.

Where I stand : My top priority is job creation.

* Balance the state budget through program cuts and tax reform.

* Eliminate costly transportation public works programs that too few people use.

Ernest Konnyu

Former California Assemblymember and Congressman Ernie Konnyu, a Republican of Saratoga, is campaigning for assembly on the slogan, “Konnyu for jobs; Cohn for special interests.” Konnyu, 67, married and a father, owns a family tax consulting business. A victorious Konnyu will face scandal ridden Democrat Assemblymember Rebecca Cohn campaigning on jobs creation, elimination of the deficit without tax increases, and improvement of public schools.

Dave Redick

"Vote for David, Help Arnold"

I am a concerned citizen working for better government. Because of my career as an engineer and cofounder of a hi-tech startup, I know business and job issues well. As a father, I seek better education, with more local choice for parents, teachers and administrators.

Most elected officials take positions based on their feelings, personal preferences, and pressure from the special interest groups who gave them money or votes. My positions are based on an objective principle, which is: “The proper role of government is to protect the personal and property rights of its citizens, as individuals, from violation or threat by others.” This approach yields consistent results that build a better government, with maximum peace, prosperity, justice and ethics.