Creating Jobs – Getting Our Economy Back On Its Feet
The State’s number one priority must be getting our economy back on its feet.  That means creating a business environment that promotes job creation – not erecting costly hurdles for businesses or ones that cause corporations to leave California.  Sacramento should be cutting taxes and doing away with regulatory burdens that thwart growth. 

I’ve worked to overcome these economic challenges for San Ramon and will do the same in the Assembly.  I’ll focus on encouraging all businesses – small, medium and large – to stimulate profitable business relationships by creating innovative private-public partnerships.  I’ll focus on reforming our regulatory climate to promote and enhance job creation and opportunities.

California Budget – We Must Restore Fiscal Common Sense
California’s legislature has little interest in being fiscally responsible or accountable to the taxpayers. The deficit is now in the neighborhood of $15 billion.  Instead of discipline, innovation and transparency, Sacramento operates with gimmicks and broken promises – leaving you and me to pick up the tab. 

The level of partisanship and polarization has only gotten worse.  Nobody seems to want to solve the problem.

Our legislators in Sacramento should ask one fundamental question is – “Do we need to do that project or program to balance the budget?”

I have a clear record of fiscal responsibility that resulted in more than a 50% surplus in San Ramon.  We’re protecting taxpayer dollars even in these difficult economic times.  My budgetary accomplishments are built on sound economic principles, such as spending on only what you can afford.  I’ll bring that experience and success to Sacramento to return accountability and prudent government spending to our state. 

Keeping Our Communities Safe – Prioritizing Safety and Preparedness
California’s role in law enforcement, public safety, and responding to disasters is a big one.  Our state’s challenges require us to be prepared for wildfires, floods, earthquakes and a host of other natural disasters.  At the same time, our state includes one of the most dangerous borders of any state in the nation.  

That’s why I’m committed to a strong approach to public safety and disaster preparedness.  We simply can’t afford to let homes burn, farm lands be destroyed, or violent gang activity threaten us. 

As a mayor, I have worked to build effective responses to the natural disasters that affect California and have build solid relationships with law enforcement and public safety agencies to protect our communities and citizens.  My common-sense approach and experience will improve public safety, disaster preparedness, and law enforcement statewide.  

Education & Training - Preparing Good Citizens and Good Workers
Our educational system is failing our children on many fronts.  Drop-out rates are increasing, particularly for minority students statewide.  Basic skills are being sacrificed for the drive to improve school statistics. And employers simply can not rely on our public education system to produce a strong, qualified workforce. 

I believe our education system must be accountable to parents and employers – not special interest groups or public employee unions.  We need to do what is right by students by helping them engage in meaningful education that prepares them for 21st century jobs – academic as well as vocational.  We also need to understand that the primary purpose of education is to produce good citizens - not just increase test scores. 

Water and Infrastructure Stewardship – We Must Protect Our Delta Levees
Water is one of the most precious resources in our state - one that brings billions of dollars of business to California.  Farms, ranches and municipalities are dependent on water as well as the infrastructure that supports it.  We cannot allow its stewardship to be the subject of politics and unreasonable policies that harm our Delta, our state and its citizens. 

As Mayor of San Ramon, I’ve seen how lack of leadership on water policy and infrastructure in Sacramento results in ruined businesses and damaged economies.  California hasn’t built any new water storage in more than a generation and we are paying a price for this failure to plan responsibly.

In order to restore our economy, we need to prioritize water and infrastructure policy so it strengthens our Delta and protects Northern California and our systems of levees and the farms and businesses that rely on the state’s responsible stewardship of California water.  In the Assembly, I’ll fight to shore up weak levees, balance water demands throughout the state, and make sure our infrastructure serves the people – not special interests groups. 

Improving the Quality of Life in Our Communities
Every day, more families are sacrificing a bit more of their quality of life simply to make ends meet.  Unfortunate decisions coming out of the legislature affect every aspect of our daily lives – including housing, our schools, transportation, our regional economy and our quality of life. 

Government doesn’t create jobs – our business community does – regardless of whether they are small, medium or large businesses.  Our government leaders lately have not worked benefit our citizens.  They’ve added more and more regulations and provided an unhealthy environment for business.  As your Assemblyman, I’ll operate as I have in the City of San Ramon with the principle that I work for you and that government is accountable to the people.  The job of the legislature is to serve the people – not use us as their private ATM.  I’ll work for you in the legislature so we can get back to that time with a quality education, better jobs, and restore California’s dream so our residents are proud to call California home.

Caring for Veterans
As an Army veteran, I understand that many of our sons and daughters risk their lives for our freedoms in distant, hostile parts of the world.  When they return to California, we must demonstrate how much we appreciate their sacrifice by giving them the care and respect they deserve.  Many who return home from Iraq and Afghanistan face significant challenges.  In the San Ramon Valley, we started the Sentinels of Freedom program – a program which provides four year life scholarships to our most severely wounded veterans.  We have worked collaboratively with public sector agencies, local businesses and community mentors to provide a welcoming opportunity for returning veterans in the form of housing, transportation, continuing education, and jobs.

As your Assemblyman, I’ll focus on programs like the Sentinels of Freedom which has shown amazing results to support and care for our veterans.  Their sacrifice must never be forgotten. 

Preserving Health Care
Most people receive health care from their employers.  Nothing threatens health care benefits more than the government imposing irresponsible and costly health insurance mandates on businesses and families.  Employers are left with the choice of reducing their workforce to pay for more expensive health care costs, or doing away with health care benefits all together. 

We must work collaboratively with our counterparts in Congress to ensure that health care reform is done right and presents sensible solutions which enable individuals to have more access to quality health care, reduces frivolous lawsuits, and gives relief to small businesses by giving them more healthcare options.

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