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Reconstructing Government
"Just as President
Reagan sought to devolve power from Washington, D.C. back to the
states, we need to devolve power and dollars from Sacramento
back tot he cities and counties where county supervisors, city
council members, school boards -- as well as parents and
business owners -- know best how to address the challenges
facing their communities. In the areas of education,
transportation and health care, we must abandon the idea that
'Sacramento knows best' and allow local leaders to plan and
provide for the needs of their people."
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Education
"The expenditure of more than $50 billion per year on
California's education system isn't buying us better schools or
teachers. It's buying us more bureaucracy and more control by
the politicians in the State Capitol. By returning tax dollars
to our local communities, we can empower school boards, teachers
and parents to make those decisions which will truly improve the
quality of education in our state."
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Transportation
"California's roads and highways are potholed
and gridlocked. Each year, more and more hours are wasted
in traffic jams instead of being used to produce goods and
services or spend time with family and friends. California
once had a transportation system that was the envy of the world;
today, it is a broken symbol of our dysfunctional state
government. For our state's economy to thrive, we need to
invest in a 21st-century transportation system that repairs our
crumbling infrastructure, plans appropriately for future growth
and develops more efficient means of conducting commerce."
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Water
"As the agriculture industry is the lifeblood of our
local economy, water is the lifeblood of the agricultural
industry. We must ensure that our farmers and ranchers
have the supply they need to produce the crops that feed our
families and the world. We should look to the power of
modern technology to give us the greater option for saving,
storing and recycling water so that our farms and ranches can
count on a stable and reliable supply throughout the year."
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Growth
"The issue of growth versus no-growth is tearing apart
many of out local communities. The rhetoric on both sides
is often over heated and extreme. We must recognize that
growth is inevitable, but the key is how to manage growth
properly. Sensible land -use planning means centering
growth in the cities (where infrastructure already exists),
preserving prime farmland, avoiding sprawl and insisting that
roads, water, sewers and schools are in place before large-scale
developments are approved."
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Crime and Gangs
"The greatest challenge facing law enforcement
is the seeming never-ending problem of gangs and gang violence.
We need a greater commitment at the state level to provide our
law enforcement agencies with the resources to combat this
crisis. At the same time, we must redouble our effort to
provide mentoring services and recreational activities to
at-risk youths. We must show our young people that the
path to success is life lies not in bloody street battles, but in
obtaining a good education, staying close to family and faith
and learning the skills required to build a prosperous future."
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Political Corruption
"Corruption flourishes at all levels of
government. This is a sad commentary on the state of our
modern political system and explains why so many voters distrust
government. Votes are traded for campaign contributions.
Elected officials engage in elaborate money-laundering schemes
to benefit family and friends. Politicians leave office
and sign on as influential peddlers for high-priced lobbying
firms. I have taken on political corruption in San Benito
and will do the same in Sacramento."
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