ELECTIONS : CONGRESS : A Guide to Candidates, Issues in District 20 Races

Overview

Rep. William M. Thomas (R-Bakersfield) is being opposed in the GOP primary by former Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Rod Gregory. In the Democratic primary, Michael Thomas is challenging Lita Reid, who lost to Rep. Thomas in the 1988 general election, 71% to 27%. Rep. Thomas did not return the Times’ questionnaire.

Contenders

Rep. William M. Thomas, 48, of Bakersfield is serving his sixth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he is on the Ways and Means Committee, the Budget Committee and the Committee on House Administration. From 1974 to 1978, he served in the state Assembly. A graduate of Santa Ana Community College, Thomas also holds BA and MA degrees from San Francisco State University. He is on leave from Bakersfield College, where he taught American government. Thomas and his wife, Sharon, have two children, Chris and Amy.

Rod Gregory, 33, of Santa Clarita owns a swimming pool service and repair company. He attended College of the Canyons and Los Angeles Baptist College, studying criminal law. He was a deputy in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for five years. Gregory has been endorsed by the California Republican Assembly and the Young Americans for Freedom. He and his wife, Lori, have two children, Andy, 8, and Adam, 7.

Lita Reid, 60, of Ridgecrest is a free-lance journalist and former newspaper reporter and editor. She attended Sacramento State University, studying journalism and government, and did independent study in legal issues. Her first political race was in 1988, when she lost to Rep. Thomas in the general election. Reid and her husband, Robert, an engineer at the Naval Weapons Center, have four grown children and six grandchildren.

Michael A. Thomas, 29, of Nipomo owns a professional attorney service and specializes in serving legal papers in difficult cases. He holds a general equivalency diploma. He ran unsuccessfully for the Moorpark City Council in 1986. Thomas is married and has two children, Heather, 3, and Michael, 8. His wife’s name is Carolyn.

Questionnaire

Questionnaires were distributed to candidates in contested primary races and were returned this month. Answers have been edited to fit the available space.

Q. Do you believe that there will be a “peace dividend” as a result of reduced tension with the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact nations?

If yes, would you generally be most inclined to use the dividend to: a) spend more on domestic needs, b) reduce the deficit, c) cut taxes?

Gregory (R): No.

Reid (D): Yes. First domestic needs, then deficit and taxes.

M. Thomas (D): Yes. All of the above.

Q. Do you believe our present system of criminal prosecution, interdiction of supplies and imprisonment of dealers and users will ever significantly reduce the level of drug use in the United States?

If no, what should be done?

Gregory (R): No. Use of military, death penalty for traffickers, education on the user/demand side.

Reid (D): No. Need a national sense of purpose that says we will not become a drug-addicted nation. Use positive messages about health. Prosecution should include mandate for treatment.

M. Thomas (D): No. All of the judicial system should be stopped from being lawmakers.

Q. Would you consider the possibility of decriminalizing drugs?

Gregory (R): No.

Reid (D): No.

M. Thomas (D): No.

Q. Under the Gramm-Rudman law, the federal government is supposed to cut the budget deficit to zero by 1993. Is that a realistic goal?

Briefly explain your answer.

Gregory (R): Yes. If we hold the line on no new taxes and the voters demand spending cuts by holding Congress accountable on election day for the next three years.

Reid (D): No. Current election trends show same representatives who have not controlled excessive spending will return to office.

M. Thomas (D): No. They cannot cut the budget deficit until they stop sending money all over the world.

Q. Rising property values in the Santa Monica Mountains have made it more difficult for state and federal parks agencies to buy land for public use. Land prices have escalated in part because local officials have allowed developers to build more houses than provided for under zoning laws. To keep property prices more affordable to parks agencies, should governments in Los Angeles and Ventura counties refuse such so-called “upzoning”?

Gregory (R): No. Federal government should not be allowed to artificially interfere with land prices in a free market, or to intrude in local government policy or private property rights.

Reid (D): Yes. Unless county officials practice some self-control by adhering to zoning guidelines, prime recreation and natural areas will disappear.

M. Thomas (D): Yes.

Q. Do you support capital punishment?

Gregory (R): Yes.

Reid (D): Yes, when applied fairly so that poor minorities are not the only ones to suffer the death penalty.

M. Thomas (D): Yes.

Q. Do you support a woman’s unrestricted right to an abortion within the first three months of pregnancy?

Gregory (R): No.

Reid (D): Yes, but women should be discouraged from deciding on abortion because baby is not the desired sex.

M. Thomas (D): Yes.

Q. Do you support President Bush’s policy of seeking to maintain good relations with China’s current regime despite its violent suppression of the pro-democracy movement last year?

If no, what specific measures should the United States take against China?

Gregory (R): No. Cut diplomatic relations, invoke economic sanctions, grant asylum to Chinese national students and dissidents.

Reid (D): No. Stronger protest and cutbacks in trade.

M. Thomas (D): Yes. Just do not send money to them.

Q. Do you favor opening up additional parts of the California coastline to oil exploration under any circumstances other than a national emergency?

Gregory (R): No.

Reid (D): No.

M. Thomas (D): No.

Q. Would you support a national gasoline tax increase if the proceeds were dedicated to improving transportation?

Gregory (R): No.

Reid (D): No. Use money already allocated.

M. Thomas (D): No.

Q. Do you support limiting the amount of money a candidate for national office can spend on the campaign?

Gregory (R): Yes.

Reid (D): Yes.

M. Thomas (D): Yes.

Q. Would you support at least a partial taxpayer-financed campaign funding as part of a reform package that limited spending?

Gregory (R): No.

Reid (D): Yes.

M. Thomas (D): No.

Q. Do you support limiting the number of terms that U.S. senators and representatives can serve?

If yes, what should the limit be?

Gregory (R): Yes. Senate, two 6-year terms. House, three 4-year or six 2-year terms.

Reid (D): No.

M. Thomas (D): Yes. Two terms Senate, three terms Congress.

Q. Do you favor more control over the availability of handguns to the general public?

If yes, what specific controls?

Gregory (R): No.

Reid (D): Yes. “Brady Bill” waiting period, background screening. Keep guns away from children and out of schools.

M. Thomas (D): No.

Q. Do you support the current program to build a “Star Wars” anti-missile system?

If yes, do you think the program is adequately funded?

Gregory (R): Yes. I don’t have enough information to honestly know. Much of it is classified.

Reid (D): Yes. Yes, funding should allow research to maintain parity with Soviet research. I do not see the need to fund production, deployment.

M. Thomas (D): Yes. No. it is not adequately funded.