Candidates compete in Assembly forum

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers MEET AND GREET-Candidates in the California Assembly 41st District race answer questions Tuesday during a forum hosted by The Acorn, the Agoura/Oak Park/Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce and Charter Communications. Please see page 33A for the forum's televised air dates. Local voters Tuesday night heard the eight candidates competing for the 41st Assembly answer questions about an array of issues ranging from soaring gasoline prices and problems plaguing education and the environment, to healthcare and illegal immigration.

The June 6 primary election will decide which Democrat and which Republican advances to the November general election. The Assembly seat is being vacated by incumbent Fran Pavley of Agoura Hills.

Eight candidates-five Democrats, two Republicans and one Libertarian-participated in the forum.

All candidates agreed that the United States must reduce its dependence on foreign oil and capitalize on alternative sources of power. Democrat Barry Groveman, a Calabasas City Council member t r s e

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pack, said that he would investigate price gouging at gas stations and return money to taxpayers.

Kelly Hayes-Raitt, a Democrat from Santa Monica, has another idea.

". . . I will not rest until we have a solar panel on every roof," Hayes-Raitt said.

To reduce oil dependancy and help lower the price of gasoline, Democrat Jonathan Levey, a professor at Cal State University Channel Islands, said Californians need "fast public transportation" that is accessible to everyone.

Regarding illegal immigration, Republican Tony Dolz, himself an immigrant, called the problem a "hideous monster that devours the land."

And as for education, all candidates were pleased that Gov. Schwarzenegger will return $5 billion to public schools now that the state's budget is in better shape, but Hayes-Raitt said she has sued President Bush over the No Child Left Behind Act, which places an added financial burden on schools. If the lawsuit prevails, Hayes-Raitt said school districts would be allowed to opt out of NCLB without losing federal funding.

Julia Brownley, a Democrat and president of the Santa Monica/Malibu Board of Education, said the funds being restored to schools are "highly restrictive," and wants more flexibility.

Levey wants to create universal preschools and a "21st Century Scholars" program that guarantees a college education for low income students who pledge to stay alcohol and drug free.

Conrad Stefan Frankowski, the Libertarian candidate, supports a voucher system to allow parents to choose between private and public schools.

The skyrocketing cost of healthcare was another hot-button issue for the candidates. Levey thought that allowing all citizens the right to purchase the same insurance as government employees would drive healthcare costs down.

Democrat Shawn Casey O'Brien proposes a single payer, national health care program. Dolz doesn't believe that healthcare is a function of government, while fellow GOP candidate Adriana Van Hemert says tort reform would reduce health care costs.

As for the environment, Brownley's focus would be on urban runoff and water conservation and reclamation.

Groveman said Calabasas serves as a model for environmental standards. Groveman wrote the landmark water protection bill, Proposition 65.