State Senate: 20th District

A special election to fill the seat previously held by Democrat Alan Robbins, who resigned after confessing to felony racketeering and tax evasion charges, will be held Tuesday. Robbins’ term was to expire in 1994.

The district includes the communities of Arleta, Mission Hills, San Fernando, Sylmar, Pacoima, Panorama City, Van Nuys, North Hollywood, Valley Village, Reseda, North Hills and portions of Sun Valley, Encino, Northridge, Sherman Oaks and Tarzana. Fifty-six percent of the voters are Democrats. To find out if you live in the district, call the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder’s office, (213) 721-1100.

Questionnaires were distributed to candidates last week. Answers have been edited to fit the available space. Because of a mix-up in the delivery of the questionnaires, Republican Carol Rowen received hers too late to respond. Candidates Drew Angel, a Democrat; Glenn Bailey, a member of the Green party, and Gary Preston Kast, Peace and Freedom party, did not respond.

Business Environment

Q. Do you believe businesses are leaving California due to a hostile business environment? If yes, how would you make California more attractive to business?

August: Yes.

Dominguez: Yes. We have the infrastructure and the support services. We need enterprise zones and tax incentives and a government mind-set that works in reasonable concert with business rather than as an antagonist.

Honda: Yes. There is a “regulatory overburden” climate that prevents businesses from being able to function--the duplication of agencies, the ever-increasing stringency of standards and a general lack of responsiveness from regulatory agencies is not conducive to the creation of jobs in California.

Roberti: Yes. Businesses are leaving California primarily due to the recession. California, however, should encourage business growth through a cautious program of easing burdensome regulations and a cautious program of incentives, such as a tax credit for new research and development.

Vernon: No. A more significant question would be, what are the legitimate functions of government? Rescind the Roberti-Wilson-Brown tax increases of 1991. Licensing and bureaucratic interference with new business needs to be greatly reduced.

White: Yes. Cut taxes; create investment tax credits; reduce regulations; create free enterprise zones in areas of high unemployment.

Government Contracts

Q. Do you think state government contracts should be awarded on a “Buy American” basis, with winning bidders being those who promise to use specific percentages of American workers to produce goods and services?

August: Yes.

Dominguez: Yes. I would grant priority to California providers of goods and services, then U.S. providers. Providers should be U.S. and California chartered entities, not just hirers of U.S. labor or purchasers of U.S. goods.

Honda: Yes, with qualifications. Arbitrary quotas are not beneficial to the economy as a whole; the necessity for government to be able to obtain products at a most favorable cost is critical.

Roberti: Yes. California government is a large enough market that reasonable (“Buy California”) restrictions will encourage economic development. “Buy American” restrictions, however, do California little good, if those restrictions favor other states which themselves erect barriers against California products. Reciprocity in these matters makes sense.

Vernon: No. A more significant question would be, what are the legitimate functions of government? Such contracting as government must do should be awarded competitively on the basis of quality and price.

White: I would target these contracts for California workers and employers. I pledge to work to bring more jobs and businesses to the Valley.

Employee Insurance

Q. Do you support requiring California businesses to provide health insurance to employees or contribute to a fund to provide health care for the uninsured?

August: Yes. The state and local health care should be in force at all times.

Dominguez: No. Larger businesses would gain an unfair competitive advantage over smaller businesses. Business should not be asked to shoulder a responsibility that belongs to the public and state.

Honda: No. State-mandated plans, such as in Massachusetts, have not been successful in terms of providing necessary care to the general population. The objective is to have the best care possible at the best price. Unfortunately, this is not the case with virtually any of the proposals now before the Legislature.

Roberti: Yes. The California health insurance program that is finally enacted should primarily be the responsibility of government with some participation by business.

Vernon: No. Government funding of health care, coupled with insurance, create an upward pressure on the cost of health care. Health care for employees should be provided strictly by voluntary agreement between employer and employee.

White: It is preferable for the private sector to provide health care, rather than the government.

Health Care

Q. Do you support state Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi’s proposed $34-billion plan, financed by a state payroll tax, for health care for California workers, people with pre-existing medical conditions and the unemployed?

August: No. It’s not needed until things in Sacramento improve.

Dominguez: Garamendi’s office is not providing any specific cost and disbursement data. I sympathize with the concept of universal health care if patterned on the Canadian model.

Honda: No. At a time when business is leaving the state, any increase in mandatory costs must be responsibly opposed.

Roberti: Yes. I especially favor that portion of the plan which restricts policy holders from paying three times for the same health insurance. Currently, policyholders pay for their health insurance as many as three times: through workers’ compensation, through general health insurance, and through the medical portion of auto insurance. But they receive compensation only once. This is an unnecessary expense to policyholders and beneficial only to insurance companies. The Garamendi plan reforms this system.

Vernon: No. The real effect of this plan will be to further escalate the cost of health care. This plan is a case of good intentions, with bad results.

White: I support the general concept.

National Health System

Q. Do you support a national health-care system in which the federal government would establish fees, pay all the bills and collect taxes to cover the cost?

August: Make the Social Security Administration cover more.

Dominguez: Yes. If patterned on the Canadian model.

Honda: The use and abuse of health-care systems in Canada, Scandinavia and other nations reflect a tremendous disparity in providing necessary service to the individual patients. Before imposing a new tax structure on the public, definitions of what is to be paid for must be determined--preferably not by attorneys or practitioners.

Roberti: Yes. Any national health insurance program that is finally enacted should primarily be the responsibility of government with some participation by business.

Vernon: No. Health-care costs will rise dramatically with such a plan and taxes will balloon to fund it. It is the current injections of government money into health-care provisions, plus the cost-disguising effect of insurance, which are responsible for the inflation of health-care costs.

White: I prefer a free-market economy to state-run, for the government is too inefficient to provide quality services in a cost-effective way. I, of course, support retaining Medicare.

Air Quality

Q. Should state and federal air quality rules be eased to reduce the financial burdens on California industry?

August: Yes.

Dominguez: No.

Honda: Yes.

Roberti: Yes. The laws themselves should not be changed, but the regulations must be rewritten so that the economic effects of regulations are considered as well as the environmental effects.

Vernon: Yes.

White: The decision should be made on a case-by-case basis.

Oil Exploration

Q. Barring a national emergency, would you ever support opening up more of the California coastline to oil exploration? If so, under what circumstances?

August: No. Our state has all the oil we need in California without off-shore drilling.

Dominguez: No. California, if it were a country, would be currently oil and gas self-sufficient. I do not think the majority of Californians would approve additional off-shore drilling.

Honda: Yes. It is essential that the United States become as self-reliant as possible . . . but it is equally important that development be done in an environmentally sound manner.

Roberti: No. The California coastline is a treasure which we must pass on to future generations unspoiled.

Vernon: Yes. Such exploration should be permitted with the proviso that oil companies be fully liable for any environmental damage.

White: No.

School Vouchers

Q . Do you support giving state money to parents to allow them to enroll their children in schools of their choice, public or private?

August: I do think the voucher is a good idea if money goes to private schools.

Dominguez: No.

Honda: Yes.

Roberti: No.

Vernon: Yes.

White: Yes.

College Tuition

Q. Should tuition at state universities and colleges be increased to help offset state budget deficits?

August: No.

Dominguez: No. The budget savings would be minimal and it would close the door on the children of people of moderate or limited means.

Honda: No. In general terms, the cost of attending the University of California or the state universities should be primarily covered by fees. However, the question seems to indicate that fees should be used to offset general fund expenditures. Fees and tuition should be used for necessary costs, not for general expenditures.

Roberti: No. I categorically oppose the governor’s increase of fees at the California State University system. At the University of California, the proposed fee increase is too severe. A smaller increase may be warranted to offset the current crisis in higher education funding if the fee is related to specific student-related services.

Vernon: Yes. Those who benefit--or expect to benefit--from education should bear the expense of its provision.

White: California university students should share the responsibility, but certainly tuition should not be at a level that would prevent many students from attending college.

L.A. School District

Q. Do you support the breakup of the Los Angeles school district into smaller districts? Why or why not?

August: Yes. Let’s go back to basics and do away with the billion-dollar school board.

Dominguez: The Los Angeles Unified School District begs for reform, especially lowering administrative overhead. I believe Valley residents want their own school district and, if that is the case, I would support this.

Honda: Yes. Data reflects that almost a third of the school district budget is “administration.” This must be reduced.

Roberti: No. There is already too much administrative cost in the district. Having 10 districts, for example, where there is only one, means 10 new sets of administrative costs. A better solution is to mandate that every region of the school district--starting with the San Fernando Valley--receive its fair proportion of education funding.

Vernon: Yes. Central bureaucracy now consumes almost one-third of every dollar spent on K-12 education. Schools would tend to improve if they were under more direct control of the parents in smaller districts. It is evident centralization has had a negative effect on the cost and quality of education.

White: Yes, absolutely. With individual exceptions, the current school district is an unequivocal failure at all levels.

School Bonds

Q. Do you support reducing the votes needed to pass a school construction bond issue from two-thirds to a simple majority?

August: No. We have many schools closed in the Valley and I see new construction now on old school sites. Where is the money going?

Dominguez: Yes. I would prefer a 60% majority.

Honda: No. Citizens must have the ability to vote to encumber themselves. It is essential that due process and thoughtful consideration be employed to ensure informed decisions are reached that will benefit the electorate.

Roberti: Yes.

Vernon: No. Simple majorities represent the will of well-organized minorities. These “simple majorities” are consistently a minority of registered voters, taxpayers and citizens and usually are controlled by groups with a financial interest in the spending of bond and tax money.

White: I believe in the tenets of Proposition 13 and the need for an overwhelming majority of people to want a specific bond for it to pass.

Death Penalty

Q. Do you support capital punishment for any crimes? If so, which ones?

August: Yes. Murder and capital crimes.

Dominguez: Yes. Murder.

Honda: Yes. Murder, rape, kidnaping.

Roberti: No. I am personally opposed to capital punishment. The chance is always too great that an innocent individual may be executed. However, the people have voted on two occasions by an overwhelming majority for capital punishment. Since that time, I have voted on several occasions to implement the will of the people.

Vernon: Yes. First-degree murder.

White: Yes.

Gun Control

Q. Do you support any form of limit on the sales of guns to individuals? If so, what?

August: Yes. Three-week waiting period to check background to see if buyer has a police record.

Dominguez: Yes. Persons under 18, convicted felons and persons who have been adjudicated to be a threat to themselves or to others.

Honda: Yes. “Any” is a difficult question to answer. The Second Amendment is clear. However, technology has progressed considerably since “smoothbore muskets” and the societal requirements of responsibility must be observed.

Roberti: Yes. There is no reason that assault guns and machine guns should be sold and made available to the public. Drive-by shootings are intolerable and we should do everything available to stop them. Requiring a waiting period for the sale of weapons also should be maintained.

Vernon: Yes. Convicted violent felons and the criminally insane could be so limited.

White: No. I support the Second Amendment.

Police Force

Q. Do you support making it a crime for a police officer to fail to intervene if he or she witnesses a fellow officer using excessive force against someone? Briefly explain.

August: No. The police are well trained to work with all kinds of people. They know what to do.

Dominguez: It is already a crime for police officers to use excessive force. It is called assault and battery. A badge does not give them any special privilege. If police officers fail to intervene, they are violating their oath of office. I would support a law that would demand independent review and dismissal in such cases.

Honda: The manner in which the question is posed makes it almost impossible to answer in that the individual civil rights of the officers must be upheld, as well as the rights of the individual in custody. It is assumed that existing law does already cover this issue.

Roberti: Failure to intervene should subject an officer to professional sanctions or administrative discipline, including suspension or expulsion from the police force where appropriate. In cases of gross negligence, it should be a crime.

Vernon: Yes. Police are charged with enforcing the law. Individual officers must be accountable to the laws. To do otherwise is to create an elite class.

White: A police officer should not stand idly by while witnessing any crime.

Campaign Funding

Q. Should political campaigns be taxpayer-funded to reduce the importance of special-interest money?

August: In part. No special-interest money should be spent.

Dominguez: I would limit spending to $1 for every voter that voted in the last election. In New Zealand, candidates are given air time and print access. It allows candidates to run without having to raise campaign funds.

Honda: No. There are already sufficient restrictions on special-interest groups, which, at least theoretically, should preclude undue influence.

Roberti: Yes. We should move toward public financing of political campaigns, but there are two important caveats: 1) The extent of the current budget crisis means that public financing can be considered only if it doesn’t add new expense to the running of government; 2) Safeguards must be devised so that extremist candidates such as David Duke do not receive taxpayer funds.

Vernon: No. This would inevitably lead to distinctions between who is and is not a “legitimate” candidate, with an explosion in the cost of electioneering.

White: No. I wouldn’t want a Nazi or a KKK candidate getting the same help as a decent and responsible candidate.

Affirmative Action

Q. In general, do you think affirmative action in employment of women and members of minority groups has not gone far enough, or has gone too far, or is about right? Briefly explain.

August: All people should have the right to work. Let’s bring back manufacturing centers to California.

Dominguez: I think a balance has been struck. If there are failures or abuses it lies in the area of enforcement.

Honda: The rights of individuals of all groups is clearly established in the body of law. It is essential that existing law be allowed to operate and to become effective before new and additional laws are brought forward.

Roberti: I favor affirmative action. Extension depends on the activity involved. Public employment especially should reflect the diversity of California. There is no reason why some agencies of government have minimal employment of either women or minority workers.

Vernon: Too far. It has had the effect of sending the message that these individuals or groups are inherently “inferior” and cannot succeed or find employment without interference by government. Affirmative action has created a negative backlash.

White: I oppose discrimination in employment or in any other area. I oppose quotas.

Abortion Rights

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

August: Yes.

Dominguez: Yes.

Honda: Yes.

Roberti: No. However, there should be exceptions in the cases of rape, incest and protection of the life of the mother.

Vernon: Yes.

White: No.

Abortion Funding

Q. Do you support state funding of abortions for women who cannot afford them?

August: Yes.

Dominguez: Yes.

Honda: Yes.

Roberti: No. I have voted for state funding of abortion as part of the general health budget in cases of rape, incest and protection of the life of the mother.

Vernon: No.

White: No.

Parental Consent

Q. Do you support requiring minors to notify their parents or a judge before having an abortion?

August: Yes.

Dominguez: No.

Honda: Yes. As a parent, I believe this is one of my responsibilities.

Roberti: Yes.

Vernon: Yes.

White: Parents have a responsibility for a child’s health and welfare.

Illegal Immigration

Q. Do you support the adoption of new measures such as increased border patrols and physical barriers to try to stem the flow of illegal immigration from the south?

August: No.

Dominguez: No answer.

Honda: Yes.

Roberti: This is hardly a yes or no question. I favor full and tough enforcement of the current laws regulating immigration.

Vernon: No.

White: We need to stem the flow of illegal immigrations. Laws ought to be respected and obeyed. Better training and state-of-the-art equipment should be given to our border patrols.

Terminal Illness

Q. Do you support the initiative likely to appear on the June ballot that would allow doctors to end the lives of people who are terminally ill in a “painless, humane and dignified manner.”

August: No. Only by the person involved.

Dominguez: No answer.

Honda: Yes.

Roberti: No.

Vernon: Yes. Individuals should be free to determine when to terminate their own life.

White: More information is needed on, for example, what constitutes “informed consent.” One needs to know what the exact working of the initiative will be to answer the question.

Welfare Benefits

Q. Do you support Gov. Pete Wilson’s proposal to reduce welfare benefits for a family of three by 10% immediately, to $597 a month, and by another 15% for families with able-bodied adults who were not working?

August: No. Let industry train for new employment and make jobs for welfare recipients. That’s the way to make it happen.

Dominguez: No. Less than 5% of our budget goes toward welfare aid for families with children. Such automatic cutbacks will not save much and will create enormous social problems by creating an abject underclass. Welfare reform should focus on empowerment, life skills and rehabilitation. Wilson’s proposal aims to scapegoat budget shortfalls on an insignificant, but highly emotional, issue.

Honda: Yes. It is essential that California take the lead in using all our resources. This includes the skills and abilities of able-bodied citizens to assist in the needs of all of us.

Roberti: No. The proposal is deficient. For example, it would not give a family of three, a mother and two children, enough money to rent anywhere in the San Fernando Valley, not to mention clothes, food and transportation.

Vernon: Yes. I also support a 12-month eligibility limit for all able-bodied adults without the responsibility of children.

White: I don’t wish to hurt the truly needy. We do, however, need to bring our budget deficit under control and I’m against raising taxes. I favor the concept of not making California a magnet for welfare recipients.

Child Care

Q. Should businesses be required to subsidize child-care for employees?

August: No answer.

Dominguez: No. But incentives should be provided.

Honda: No.

Roberti: Child care should be provided as an adjunct of our education system. However, it is primarily the responsibility of the family with assistance for those who cannot afford it. Gainfully employed people should be able to buy into child-care systems governed by a sliding scale based on their ability to pay.

Vernon: No.

White: I prefer this to be worked out between employers and employees. For families with children, it could be a very important benefit as part of an overall employment compensation program.

Proposition 13 Change

Q. Do you support any change in the laws enacted by election in 1978 as Proposition 13?

August: By all means make it permanent so it can’t be changed.

Dominguez: No.

Honda: No.

Roberti: No. However, when the state is out of its current budget crisis, tax relief must be offered to post-Proposition 13 homeowners. They are paying a disproportionately high cost for local services through property taxes.

Vernon: No.

White: No. I strongly support upholding Proposition 13 and would extend it to more recent home buyers.

B-2 Bomber

Q. President Bush has urged that production of the B-2 bomber--which is assembled at a Palmdale plant--be cut from 75 to 25. Do you support this reduction?

August: Yes. We now have all the bombers we need. Let them make private aircraft for use here and abroad.

Dominguez: This is a question for a federal senator or Congress person. I am sorry to see the jobs go.

Honda: No. The technology and equipment necessary for the development of the B-2 is also necessary for the continuing expansion of domestic equipment. In addition, although the overt threat of the former Soviet Union has been removed, our security still can be threatened by other nations as we recently experienced in the Persian Gulf.

Roberti: No. President Bush’s defense cuts hit California far worse than any other region of the country, especially as compared to the South, specifically Texas. Budget cuts which are regionally equitable and legitimately needed to reduce defense costs, I would support.

Vernon: Yes. War production is a very substantial drain on the productive energies of the American people, and contributes a large part of the $400-billion deficit.

White: No. It provides badly needed jobs in California.

Personal Automobile

Q. What make and model car(s) do you drive?

August: All made in the U.S.A.

Dominguez: Dodge two-door sedan.

Honda: 1923 Ford Roadster.

Roberti: A 1983 Oldsmobile and a 1985 Oldsmobile.

Vernon: 1989 Ford Aerostar, 1984 Peugeot station wagon.

White: A Saturn and an old Honda.

Thomas or Hill?

Q. Who do you think more likely told the truth, Anita Hill or Clarence Thomas?

August: No comment.

Dominguez: Both sides presented credible arguments and, short of knowing them personally or having independent witnesses, what was there to base a judgment on?

Honda: As reported in the Sacramento Bee, apparently Justice Thomas “won” the contest.

Roberti: This is an impossible question to answer, since I do not believe that Clarence Thomas was questioned nearly as thoroughly as Anita Hill.

Vernon: Anita Hill.

White: I don’t honestly know. Each probably did from his or her perspective. But sexual harassment is a definite problem.

California Life

Q. What single change would most improve life in Southern California?

August: A plastic card for all health care needed in any hospital or doctor’s office funded by all governments.

Dominguez: We need jobs. Seventy percent of the state’s general fund comes from individual sales and income taxes. No jobs, no tax revenues. No tax revenues, no government services.

Honda: Follow (Paul) Conrad’s cartoon. “Grass roots . . . THROW THE RASCALS OUT!”

Roberti: Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!

Vernon: A substantial reduction in the prevalence of government in virtually all aspects of life.

White: Reducing traffic congestion.

Public Figure

Q. What public figure do you most admire?

August: S. I. Hayakawa, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy.

Dominguez: Charles Everett Koop.

Honda: Abraham Lincoln.

Roberti: I assume you mean living public figures. Corazon Aquino for her fight for democracy.

Vernon: Ralph Waldo Emerson.

White: Mother Teresa.

Literary Influence

Q. What, if any book, have you recently read that influenced your view of public policy?

August: I make up my mind by fact, not fiction.

Dominguez: The governor’s budget, 1991-92, and analyses of the 1991-budget bill.

Honda: “The Art of War,” Sun Tzu.

Roberti: “Citizens” by Simon Shama. “Days of the French Revolution” by Hibbert.

Vernon: “Modern Times” by Paul Johnson.

White: “Education Assumptions Versus History, Collected Papers” by Dr. Thomas Sowell.