Schools, Toxics, Transport Top State Issues, Candidates Agree

Most of the San Diego County candidates for the state Legislature believe that education, toxic wastes and transportation are the most pressing issues facing California.

Despite widely divergent views on numerous other issues, voiced in interviews with The Times, most of the nearly two dozen candidates running in the county’s seven state Assembly races concur on the topics they believe should receive priority in Sacramento next year.

Increased funding for education, particularly at the primary and secondary levels, draws strong support from Republicans and Democrats alike, with many candidates suggesting that the improvements should include smaller class sizes and higher salaries for teachers.

“Education is the foundation on which everything else is built,” said the Rev. Robert C. Ard, the Republican trying to unseat Assemblyman Pete Chacon (D-San Diego) in the 79th District. “Problems there lead to problems all throughout society. It would be extremely shortsighted not to make that a top priority.”

Toxic cleanup programs also were identified by many candidates as a subject that belongs at the top of the new Assembly’s agenda, as typified by the remarks of Assemblywoman Lucy Killea (D-San Diego).

“This is an area we’re only beginning to understand in terms of the long-term health impacts,” said Killea, who is running for a third term in the 78th District. “We not only need to get tougher on the companies that do the polluting, but also need to do much more research on the subject. This is a case where what we don’t know for sure now, in terms of what is or isn’t toxic, could be disastrous later.”

The transportation issue attracted comments along politically traditional lines, with the candidates calling for additional freeway construction and funding for mass transit programs.

By a wide margin, the candidates also opposed three of the most controversial statewide propositions on next Tuesday’s ballot.

Proposition 63, which would declare English as the state’s official language, was characterized by many of the candidates as an unnecessary affront to ethnic minorities.

“English is already the common language, so why even bother with this?” Chacon said. “This just looks mean-spirited.”

Some proponents, however, described the proposal as merely a reaffirmation that English, in the words of American Independent Party candidate Charles Ulmschneider, “is the glue that holds our society together.”

The candidates approached near-unanimity in their opposition to Proposition 64, which would classify AIDS as a contagious disease subject to public health reporting requirements and possible quarantine.

That measure, supported by followers of radical right economist Lyndon LaRouche, was widely seen by the candidates as, to use 77th District Democratic candidate Bill Smelko’s description, “constitutionally offensive.” Others argued that Proposition 64 is unnecessary, given that the consensus of medical experts is that the disease is spread primarily through sexual contact and blood transfusions.

Proposition 65, which would prohibit the discharge of toxic chemicals into drinking water, was described by a 2-to-1 majority of the candidates as flawed because it exempts public entities and other large polluters. In addition, the measure would pose an economic hardship for businesses and farmers, they contend.

Supporters, however, argued that the measure would solve at least part of the toxics problem by shifting the burden of proof on chemicals’ toxicity from the public to the private sector. While government now must prove that chemicals are toxic in order to block their discharge, supporters say, Proposition 65 would require companies to prove in advance that chemicals are not toxic.

California Chief Justice Rose Elizabeth Bird can expect little support from the local candidates in her uphill battle to retain her seat, though many of them claimed that their opposition has little to do with Bird’s controversial record for overturning death-penalty verdicts. Rather, the candidates faulted the chief justice as a poor administrator, for decisions that they perceived as anti-business and as being more of an advocate than an impartial arbiter.

One of the few candidates willing to defend Bird is Michael Lasky, the Democratic candidate in the 75th District.

“This whole thing is a political manipulation that has little to do with the death penalty,” Lasky said. “Rose Bird is being attacked because she is active and the Republicans want to replace her . . . and stack that court with conservatives.”

The local candidates also were strongly opposed to offshore oil drilling, long a volatile issue in environmentally sensitive San Diego. However, proponents of drilling, particularly those in the Libertarian Party, argued that offshore drilling could create jobs and help make the United States energy-independent.

Assemblyman Bill Bradley (R-Escondido) cited those factors, but also offered what is undeniably the most unusual reason given by any of the candidates as a reason to favor offshore oil drilling.

“These drilling platforms are so far offshore that they look like ships and don’t disrupt the landscape at all,” Bradley said. “Besides, to me, looking at a big tunnel of uninterrupted water is not beautiful. It’s more attractive when it’s framed on both sides. That gives you a little relief. . . . So, if the water were framed between a couple of these derricks, that makes the scene more attractive and meaningful for me.”

Although the drug issue has been a major one in many races this fall, the local candidates oppose mandatory across-the-board drug testing of public employees, and many of them noted that such tests are not 100% accurate. Assemblyman Larry Stirling (R-San Diego) also argued that widespread drug tests could be “counterproductive to the goal of a drug-free society by driving drug users underground.”

Some of the more unorthodox positions on various issues came from the Libertarian candidates, whose abiding political goal is to eliminate government intrusion into the lives of individuals. The Libertarians favor the dismantling of most government programs, and view national defense and a court system as two of the few justifiable reasons for spending tax dollars.

Don Ellis, the Libertarian candidate in the 74th District, illustrated his party’s philosophy by noting that, in the unlikely event he upsets Assemblyman Robert Frazee (R-Carlsbad), his top priority would be to try to begin scaling back his new job.

“Reducing the state Legislature to a half-time basis would be my No. 1 priority,” Ellis said. “The longer the Legislature’s in session, the more damage it can do . . . by passing more useless laws that just restrict people’s lives.” ASSEMBLY CANDIDATE VIEWS

74TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 1. Don Ellis (Libertarian) 2. Assemblyman Robert Frazee (Republican) 75TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 3. Michael Lasky (Democrat) 4. Assemblywoman Sunny Mojonnier (Republican) 5. John Murphy (Libertarian) 6. Arnie Schoenberg (Peace and Freedom Party) 76TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 7. Assemblyman Bill Bradley (Republican) 8. Bob White (Democrat) Peace and Freedom Party candidate Jill Thornsberry could not be reached. 77TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 9. Bill Smelko (Democrat) 10. Assemblyman Larry Stirling (Republican) 78TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 11. Earl Cantos Jr. (Republican) 12. Assemblywoman Lucy Killea (Democrat) 13. Joseph Shea (Libertarian) 14. Charles Ulmschneide (American Independent Party) 79TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 15. The Rev. Robert C. Ard (Democrat) 16. Assemblyman Pete Chacon (Democrat) 17. Pat Wright (Libertarian) Peace and Freedom Party candidate Bernice Wertheimer could not be reached. 80TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 18. Tom DuBose (Republican) 19. Randy Myrseth (Libertarian) 20. Assemblyman Steve Peace (Democrat)

Proposition 65-- Proposition 63-- Proposition 64-- prohibits discharge declares English the declares AIDS a of toxic chemicals official state language a contagious disease into drinking water 1. Yes No No 2. Yes No No 3. Yes No Yes 4. Yes No No 5. No No No 6. No No Yes 7. Yes Yes No 8. No No No 9. No No Yes 10. Yes No No 11. Yes No No 12. No No Yes 13. No No 5 14. Yes Yes Yes 15. No No No 16. No No Yes 17. No No No 18. No No No 19. No No No 20. No No No

Retention vote on California Chief Justice Drug testing Rose Elizabeth Bird Offshore oil drilling for public employees 1. No Yes No 2. No 4 1 3. Yes No No 4. No No 1 5. No Yes No 6. Yes No No 7. No Yes 5 8. No No No 9. No No No 10. No 2 No 11. No No 1 12. No No No 13. No Yes No 14. No No Yes 15. No No 1 16. No No 1 17. 5 3 No 18. No No 1 19. No Yes No 20. No No No

Most pressing issue facing state Top three spending priorities

1. “Reducing the state Legislature to a Top three cutting priorities half-time basis.” are education (to make way for Libertarians’ voucher-private school plan), welfare and “redundant and useless regulations.”

2. “Effective land-use management” Education, transportation, criminal justice system.

3. “Rampant development and the Social spending, mass transit resulting profiteering” in the programs, elimination of 75th District pollution and toxic wastes.

4. Elimination of drug problem through Mental health programs, child tougher laws and drug abuse care, senior citizen programs. programs.

5. Elimination of the “public school “We look for ways to cut monopoly” through a voucher plan spending, not increase it. You name it, we’ll cut it.”

6. “Among the numerous contradictions Education, health care, in society, such as racism, “child care-affirmative action.” sexism and homophobia, capitalism is one of the major ones I’d like to eliminate and replace ... with socialism.”

7. Improving education. Trade schools, senior-citizen housing, community college improvements.

8. Education programs. Education, law enforcement, adequate clean water supply.

9. “Changing the political process to Education, transportation give people a real, meaningful including “mass-transit- choice.” compatible freeways”) and toxic waste enforcement.

10. “Diversifying and broadening our Education, completion of state’s economy.” California 52, mental health coverage and research.

11. “Tougher laws to hold criminals Homeless programs, construction accountable.” of additional prisons, education.

12. Control of toxic wastes. Education, toxic cleanup programs, transportation.

13. Education “That’s a real tough question for a Libertarian ... I’d give tax rebates to everyone.”

14. “All the initiatives and Education, health care, crime. propositions rolled into one.”

15. “Economic development in my Education, health care, district.” anti-crime programs.

16. Water pollution programs. Additional rental housing, environmental protection programs and the “prevention of school dropouts so we don’t end up with an underskilled, undereducated generation.”

17. “Reversing the declining standard of “Police protection against living.” violent crime, a court system and I can think of no other reason the state government should spend money.”

18. “Industrial growth in the South Bay New jobs, anti-drug programs, and Imperial County.” toxics programs.

19. “The lack of Libertarians in state “I’d like to see more money government.” spent on stopping burglaries.

20. Liability insurance problem and Education, sewage treatment, tort reform. including the border sewage problem, health care.

Footnotes: 1. Favors drug testing only for public safety jobs. 2. Opposes oil drilling off San Diego County coastline, but might permit it elsewhere “if the benefits . . . outweigh the environmental burdens.” 3. Favors offshore oil drilling “only if it’s guaranteed that taxpayers won’t get stuck with any (spill) cleanup bills.” 4. No comment. 5. Undecided.