CREATING JOBS
Our greatest imperative today is to create jobs. Unemployment is way too high and unemployment benefits for those who lost their jobs are expiring. As your legislator, I will work hard to bring jobs back to our community.
As a former labor leader, I understand the importance of good jobs with good benefits. Conversely, I understand how difficult it is for employers to meet budgets, make a payroll every week, and provide healthcare for their employees.
Creating new jobs in a stagnant economy requires progressive thinking. We cannot wait for the economy to recover; Sacramento must find creative ways... » Read more
THE ENVIRONMENT
Preserving, protecting and cleaning up our environment will be one of my top priorities as your legislator in the state Assembly. We must take every possible step toward sustainable living and reversing climate change in order to safeguard our children’s future.
As a founding member of Solar Sonoma, I am partnering with interested parties to bring about a day when we have a solar panel atop of every residence and business in the North Bay. Installing these panels will reduce dependence on our fossil-fuel powered energy grid and help our community become energy neutral. » Read more
HEALTH CARE REFORM
Our current system of healthcare is dragging our economy down. It is essential that we commit to a universal and fundamental right to health care for every Californian. Without a permanent, fair and cost effective solution, our economy will continue to founder and the number of uninsured will keep rising.
I spent four years as a nurse for the Sonoma County Crisis Clinic and I understand the complexity of this issue. I spent another 20 years as the head of a local union where I had to provide health care for my workers and fight for benefits for my members. I understand the difficulty of this task, but I believe the solution is clear and simple.
I support SB 810, Senator Leno’s Plan to provide universal healthcare for all of California. I also support the Obama Administration’s efforts to reform our healthcare system with a public option... » Read more
CHILDREN & EDUCATION
As the proud father of five grown children, all of whom attended public schools and have since graduated college, I am witness to the great potential of the California school system. But chronic deficits and neglect have led to slashed government funding for our most precious resource. Today, California consistently ranks in the bottom for per-pupil spending.
Classrooms are over-crowded, teachers are underpaid, and our state still does not provide a reasonable, public pre-school program for all. Finally, the most recent spate of budget cuts has made higher education even more expensive.
Like healthcare, the solution is reasonably simple. » Read more
