Assembly: 35th District

Questionnaires were distributed to candidates last month. Answers have been edited to fit the available space.

School Vouchers

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

Ebenstein: Yes. Parental choice in education is the surest way to achieve student achievement and school quality.

Gray: Yes.

O’Connell: No. I do not support the use of vouchers for private schools. I believe that vouchers would lead to public funds being used at private schools. I do not believe that taxpayer money should be used to finance private education that is not accountable to the public for how those funds are spent. Essentially any curriculum could be taught and the schools could reject a student on the basis of race, religion, sex or any other criterion. I believe that education should be affordable and equal to all California students.

Pillmore: Yes. Competition and flexibility are critical in the delivery of any product or service. Like any new product, however, I would prefer a test market to immediate full-scale implementation.

School Bond Votes

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

Ebenstein: Yes.

Gray: No.

O’Connell: Yes. My bill, ACA 6, provides the foundation for a comprehensive, long-term solution to California’s crisis in school classroom construction. It would allow local school construction bonds to be approved by voters with a majority vote rather than the current requirement of a two-thirds vote. Before ACA 6 becomes law, it must be passed by the voters statewide and then each new school construction bond will be voted on separately, leaving the ultimate decision in the hands of local voters. I believe ACA 6 is a necessary and positive step to meet the future educational needs of our children.

Pillmore: No.

Abortion

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

Ebenstein: Yes.

Gray: Yes.

O’Connell: Yes. I have always supported the pro-choice position. The question of whether or not to have an abortion is a difficult one. What is clear is that government should not be involved in it.

Pillmore: Yes.

Abortion Funding

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

Ebenstein: No. Except in cases of rape, incest or if the mother’s life is in danger.

Gray: No.

O’Connell: Yes. I strongly support equal access to abortions regardless of income levels and have therefore supported Medi-Cal funding for abortions for low-income women. Neither income nor where a woman lives should affect her ability to obtain a legal abortion.

Pillmore: Yes.

Death Penalty

Q. Do you support the death penalty for any crimes? If so, which ones?

Ebenstein: Yes. I favor the death penalty in cases of premeditated murder with circumstances such as multiple murders, torture or murder of a child. I also support the death penalty when a police officer is killed.

Gray: Yes. Murder.

O’Connell: Yes. I support the death penalty for individuals convicted of premeditated murder.

Pillmore: Yes. Current law already encodes a list of special circumstances of murder punishable by death. Further, the habeas corpus appeal process needs to be reformed.

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?

Ebenstein: Yes.

Gray: Yes.

O’Connell: While controlling the number of immigrants entering our country must be handled at the federal level, I continuously support efforts to ensure that legal California immigrants are quickly and efficiently brought into our culture. Last year I supported SB 112, which would have ensured funding for immigrants who want to learn English and have demonstrated their desire to become part of our society.

Pillmore: Yes. Although we all feel compassion for those with less opportunity, we need to care for our legal citizens first; our resources are finite.

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?

Ebenstein: Yes. We need to cut down on the over-regulation and high taxes that are driving businesses--and jobs--from the state. Workers’ compensation, too, is in need of reform.

Gray: Yes. No corporate taxes. One regulatory agency statewide. Regulatory laws that any person can understand.

O’Connell: Yes, to some degree. There are a number of issues that need to be addressed in order to make California more attractive to businesses. These include: workers’ compensation reform, repairing and adequately maintaining our infrastructure, streamlining environmental requirements, ensuring that California’s educational system is one of the country’s best and the need for structural reform in our state budget process. Another important aspect is ensuring that California does a better job of attracting and retaining businesses. My legislation, AB 3105, would require the use of existing state funds and current programs to create a new economic development agency whose whole purpose will be to retain and attract new businesses to our state.

Pillmore: Yes. Lower taxes, freeze government spending and enact reforms cited in the Ueberroth report. This report is clear on what needs to be done. In addition, the Los Angeles Times analyzed the obstacles to reform created by incumbents and special-interest groups. We have to break up these power blocs and allow California to effectively compete against other states and nations.

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?

Ebenstein: No. I strongly support free trade. California, as a Pacific Rim state adjacent to Latin America, is particularly dependent on imports and exports for its economy.

Gray: Yes. If we can’t take care of our own, who will?

O’Connell: Yes. I support both a “buy American” and a “buy California” preference policy for all government contracts.

Pillmore: I would favor some weight in the award evaluation process for using American workers. I think taxpayers should get the best value for their dollar, regardless of the source; this is a very global economy.

Health 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?

Ebenstein: No. Businesses are already overtaxed and over-regulated. This proposal would harm the state’s economy.

Gray: No.

O’Connell: It is now estimated that over 6 million Californians do not have health insurance. In order to remedy this situation, I believe that a number of approaches will be necessary, including tax incentives to provide such coverage, exempting small businesses if it would be economically infeasible, as well as the adoption of cost-containment measures to address escalating health care costs.

Pillmore: No. Employer-mandated health insurance will hurt those it is supposed to help. The majority of uninsured workers are employed by small business; a mandate would force many out of business.

State Payroll Tax

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?

Ebenstein: No. This plan would raise state taxes by two-thirds! This simply is not affordable.

Gray: No.

O’Connell: In concept, I support the proposal that Garamendi has put forward. I also believe that consolidating workers’ compensation with health care makes sense.

Pillmore: I have not analyzed his proposal. However, I am very hesitant to create and empower another state-run bureaucracy.

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?

Ebenstein: No.

Gray: No.

O’Connell: No.

Pillmore: No.

Air Quality

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

Ebenstein: No.

Gray: No. We need one agency with one set of laws that don’t contradict each other.

O’Connell: No.

Pillmore: No. Most businesses merely want to pay a true market rate for environmental regulation, not the inflated prices caused by redundant bureaucratic activity. There is no logic in destroying the place we live and work. Employers and employees understand this.

Gun Sales

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

Ebenstein: Yes. I support current laws that prohibit felons from purchasing firearms, establish a 15-day waiting period to purchase handguns and ban the purchase of military-type, fully automatic assault weapons.

Gray: No. The Second Amendment of the Bill of Rights is clear as to a person’s right to have whatever weapons they choose as long as they are not involved in criminal activity.

O’Connell: Yes. I support a ban on all fully automatic or semiautomatic assault weapons, a 15-day waiting period and a background check. In addition, I have supported efforts to promote firearm safety courses to ensure that firearms are used, maintained and handled in a responsible manner. I do not, however, believe that our government should confiscate or take away firearms from law-abiding citizens.

Pillmore: Yes. We have the right to bear arms. However, I have no objection to banning Uzi-style machine guns.

Officer Intervention

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

Ebenstein: Yes. Police officers should be held to high standards of accountability.

Gray: Yes.

O’Connell: Yes.

Pillmore: No. The officer committing the act should be tried, if appropriate. A law of this type seems unenforceable and very divisive for a team law enforcement effort.

Job Bias Veto

Q. Do you support Gov. Pete Wilson’s veto last year of legislation that would have outlawed job discrimination against homosexuals?

Ebenstein: Yes. As Governor Wilson explained in his veto message, adequate legal safeguards now exist.

Gray: Yes. Giving certain rights to one group and not others is discrimination.

O’Connell: No. I have always supported legislation such as AB 101 because I believe the issue addressed by it is that of preventing discrimination. Discrimination is an age-old problem that has to do with the moral obligation of treating one’s fellow man with compassion and respect. I believe that this bill would have secured for everyone the same rights and opportunities that many of us currently take for granted.

Pillmore: Yes.

Affirmative Action

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

Ebenstein: I favor affirmative action programs that concentrate on equality of opportunity as opposed to equality of result.

Gray: If a person performs on the job it doesn’t matter who or what the person is.

O’Connell: I believe that at the state level, we have made good progress in employing women and minorities. I believe that we must continue to set and pursue affirmative action goals that reflect the changing demographics of our state. I do not support quotas.

Pillmore: Personally, I have no bias on the job; I think that is a function of my generation. I think the person best qualified should perform the task, period; I demand that value for my tax dollars.

‘Right to Die’ Initiative

Q. Do you support the so-called “right to die” initiative on the November ballot that would allow doctors to end the lives of people who are terminally ill in a “painless, humane and dignified manner”?

Ebenstein: Yes. Terminally ill people who sign living wills not to have life support continued should have their wishes respected.

Gray: Yes. As long as the person can make a choice, it is a person’s right to end their life.

O’Connell: I have not taken a position on this measure at this time.

Pillmore: No. I think families have to begin to plan for these eventualities by discussing personal choices in advance.

Cuts in 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?

Ebenstein: Yes. California’s welfare system is in urgent need of reform. It costs too much and it has fostered long-term reliance on welfare. I strongly support Gov. Wilson’s comprehensive proposal, which would provide higher benefits to teen-age mothers who stay in school and with their families, would not provide additional benefits for children born after a parent was on welfare and would require that new residents of California live here a year before receiving higher benefits.

Gray: Yes.

O’Connell: No. I am opposed to this measure because I do not support all of its provisions. I do, however, support several of its provisions, including the requirement that recipients who have recently moved to California will, for their first year of residency, receive the same payment they would have received in the state from which they moved. I also support increasing workfare and incentives for teen-age mothers to stay in school. My primary opposition to his measure stems from the budgetary language contained in the initiative that would give the governor unilateral power to cut any part of the state budget at any time during the year without approval from the Legislature. This provision will completely remove the Legislature’s authority to be an equal partner, with the executive branch, in adopting and implementing the state’s budget.

Pillmore: Yes. Welfare costs are skyrocketing. The recently released GAIN report shows signs of success in motivating able-bodied people to work.

Child-Care Subsidy

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

Ebenstein: No.

Gray: No.

O’Connell: At this time, I believe one of the most effective ways of increasing child care is to provide incentives for businesses to provide child care for their employees. I have supported legislation which provides such tax credits. Businesses that provide or help to provide child care for their employees have been rewarded with increases in productivity and stronger commitments from employees to stay with their employers.

Pillmore: No. I think businesses should receive incentives to provide child care and leave it up to employers to decide how best to compensate their employees.

Tuition Increase

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

Ebenstein: No. Enabling young people to go to college is one of the wisest investments the state can make.

Gray: No.

O’Connell: No. Although I believe that fees at these campuses should be increased to help cover the costs of providing educational services to their students, such increases must be within reason. Over the last three years, University of California students will have had to bear an approximately 85% fee increase (if the governor’s current proposal is approved). This is not reasonable.

Pillmore: No. This is a vicious, last-minute tax on parents who have planned their children’s education for years and on the students who will either be forced not to attend or will be burdened with excessive debt to start their working lives.

Proposition 13 Change

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

Ebenstein: No.

Gray: Yes. The same benefits under Proposition 13 should be extended to all property owners.

O’Connell: There is no doubt that Proposition 13 has brought stability and predictability of property tax rates for many homeowners. However, it has also produced great disparity between adjacent homeowners who have similarly valued homes but enormous differences in property tax payments. I believe that some modification, to assist those who are paying the highest property taxes, will occur at some point. I supported AB 851, which will prevent any retroactivity in assessments should the Supreme Court find Proposition 13, or portions of Proposition 13, unconstitutional. In addition, should Proposition 13 be found unconstitutional, any modification should be revenue neutral.

Pillmore: No.

Presidential Nominee

Q. At the beginning of the campaign season, whom did you support as your party’s presidential nominee?

Ebenstein: George Bush.

Gray: None.

O’Connell: No endorsement was made.

Pillmore: President Bush

Campaign Financing

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

Ebenstein: No.

Gray: No.

O’Connell: I support partial public financing for campaigns, similar to the presidential public financing mechanism. I believe that funds raised from within the candidate’s district should carry the greatest weight in any formula to obtain matching funds.

Pillmore: We absolutely need campaign reform. For example, Assemblyman Jack O’Connell transferred over $160,000 of campaign funds in less than 12 months to Willie Brown-influenced organizations. However, taxpayers should not be asked to fully fund political campaigns.

Public Policy

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

Ebenstein: “The De-Valuing of America” by William Bennett, “Politics, Markets and America’s Schools” by John Chubb and Terry Moe.

Gray: “Beyond Self-Interest” by Adam Smith.

O’Connell: No specific book, in and of itself.

Pillmore: “Powershift: Knowledge, Wealth and Violence at the Edge of the 21st Century” by Alvin Toffler.

Hill or Thomas?

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

Ebenstein: I do not think this has any relevance to the office I seek.

Gray: Clarence Thomas.

O’Connell: No reply.

Pillmore: Rush Limbaugh.

CONTENDERS

Alan O. (Lanny) Ebenstein, 32, is a political science instructor at Antioch University of Santa Barbara. A Republican, Ebenstein is a native of Santa Barbara. He has a master’s degree in economics from UC Santa Barbara and a doctorate from the London School of Economics. He is a member of the Santa Barbara Board of Education, a position he was elected to in 1990.

Aaron Gray, 39, a self-employed hat maker, is a native of Santa Barbara. A Republican, Gray said he worked to gather local signatures for Proposition 140, the initiative that limited Assembly terms. He is seeking public office for the first time. Gray said he is running his own campaign and does not plan to spend any money on his election bid.

Jack O’Connell, 40, a Democrat, was first elected to the Assembly in 1982. A Carpinteria resident, he was a teacher at Oxnard High School and an aide to former state Sen. Omer Rains (D-Santa Barbara) before becoming a legislator. He now serves as speaker pro tempore of the Assembly.

Paul Pillmore, 32, a Republican, is the owner of a money management and arbitration firm in Santa Barbara. He moved to Santa Barbara from New York City in 1987 to take a job with Santa Barbara Savings & Loan. Before coming to California, Pillmore worked on Wall Street for six years as an investment banker. He is seeking public office for the first time.

Assembly District 35

Overview: For the past decade, this seat has been held by Assemblyman Jack O’Connell (D-Carpinteria). The decennial redistricting changed the district’s boundaries, dropping Democratic-leaning sections of Oxnard and picking up Ventura, the Ojai Valley and conservative areas of Santa Barbara County.

Where: The district includes the Ventura County cities of Ventura, Ojai and Santa Paula, and the Santa Barbara County communities of Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, Buellton and Solvang. To find out if you live in the district, call the Ventura County elections office at 654-2781.

Demographics Anglo: 71% Latino: 24% Black: 1% Asian: 3%

Party Registration Demo: 44% GOP: 42% Others: 14%

Candidates Democrat Jack O’Connell, assemblyman Republican Lanny Ebenstein, political science instructor Aaron H. Gray, hatter Paul Pillmore, financial adviser