Senate District 12
Meet the Candidates, AD 15
Reject the recall of Senator Jeff Denham
From the May 2008 Print EditionJudy Lloyd
Occupation: Vice President, Altamont Solutions, Inc. of Pleasanton
Previous Offices Held:
1. 1985-1986 – Appointed by President Ronald Reagan – U.S. Department of Agriculture – Confidential Assistant to the Secretary and Special Assistant, Office of Congressional Relations
2. 2002-2005 – Appointed by President George W. Bush – U.S. Department of Labor – Region IX Representative for Western States & Territories of California, Nevada, Hawaii, Arizona, Guam and the Pacific3. 2005-2007 – Appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger – California Coastal Commission – Alternate Member
Family:
Tim Lloyd, Spouse Michael Lloyd, 10-year old son Father in Law Jack Lloyd serves on UC Berkeley Foundation Board; 3 Family Members are UC Berkeley Alumni
Religion: Roman Catholic
Key Endorsements:
• Former Republican Presidential Nominee & U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole • Former Republican State Treasurer Matt Fong • Former California Republican Party Chairman and Assembly Leader Bob Naylor • Former Republican State Senator & Contra Costa Sheriff Dick Rainey • Assembly Republican Women’s Caucus • Associated Builders and Contractors • Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association PAC (APAPA-PAC) • California Eye Physicians and Surgeons • California Medical Association (CAL-PAC) • California Women’s Leadership Association • Republican Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia • Republican Assemblywoman Shirley Horton • Republican Assemblywoman Sharon Runner • Republican Assemblywoman Mimi Walters • Former Republican Assemblyman Jim Cunneen • Republican Contra Costa Sheriff Warren Rupf • Republican Contra Costa District Attorney Bob Kochly • Republican Walnut Creek Mayor Sue Rainey • Republican Elk Grove City Councilman Pat Hume • Republican Pleasanton City Councilman Jerry Thorne
Briefly state your political philosophy
I believe in the free market ideals that I learned as a member of President Ronald Reagan’s Administration. I have worked hard over the years to promote the ideals of less government, lower taxes, and lower regulation. I have been very involved with the Pacific Research Institute in promoting the free market Milton Friedman philosophy.
I believe that our government in Sacramento is out of control -- out of control spending and high taxes do not help our state to thrive. Needless regulation and mandates on business and individuals only causes a greater dependence on our state and federal governments. I believe in empowering people rather than taking away their ability to make decisions about their livelihoods. I have learned what it means to be a conservative and a free market thinker from some of our country’s greatest leaders – people like Bob Dole who have served so ably to make our country and our state better. We, as candidates and potential office holders, have a responsibility to pass on this knowledge and these conservative ideals to the next generation and prepare them to make their own choices – not depend on government to make them for them.
What are your primary goals if elected?
As a small business owner, I know the heavy burden overtaxation has - it drains local businesses and stifles their ability to thrive. I will be an advocate for less regulatory burden on individuals and businesses. I will work hard to balance jobs, housing, and transportation needs and as the Delta legislator, I will work to build more water storage capacity. California must remain at the forefront of the economy as a market leader. I will also use common sense to ensure that our State lives within its means and I will always vote against state tax increases.
Unlike others running for this office, I have direct experience on immigration and guest worker issues – I will work closely with law enforcement in the region to reform our immigration laws and secure our borders.
Dr. Scott Kamena
Occupation: Optometrist
Previous Offices Held:
Twice elected Director of Parks and Recreation in Livermore
Family:
Married to Jennifer Kamena, a former Alameda County prosecutor. We have a young daughter named Audrey and a new baby boy that was born on Thursday, May 1.
Religion: Catholic
Key Endorsements:
Alameda County Sheriff Charlie Plummer, Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty, Walnut Creek Treasurer Ron Cassano, the entire Livermore City Council as well as over 250 Republican community members in the District.
Briefly state your political philosophy
Cal turned me into a Republican. I started Cal at the height of political correctness in the early ’90s. I recognized that liberals had in place almost all the policies they sought, and still were not getting the progress in outcomes that everyone wants. I was twice elected to the ASUC Senate on a conservative reform slate and was also elected ASUC Executive Vice President. Debating far-left “progressive” groups at Berkeley helped to solidify many of the conservative principles I still espouse today.
I believe wholeheartedly in the principles of self-sufficiency, personal responsibility, hard work and equality that distinguish me from my Democratic colleagues. Democrats often point out that the “privileged” do well in our society, but they think that wealth equals privilege. Real privilege is having parents that give you the values and the know-how to succeed.
I believe our budget crisis is not a result of taxes being too low, it’s a direct result of rampant spending. That is why I have joined with conservative Republicans around the state in signing the Americans for Tax Reform “No New Taxes Pledge.”
What are your primary goals if elected?
We need education reform in our State. Education is often thought of as a Democrat issue in the Legislature, but I reject that idea. We need to implement a bold platform to introduce ideas of self-sufficiency and competition into our learning system. I will fight to expand funding for private and charter schools because alternative schools introduce an element of competition into our education system. I will also fight to expand the high school exit examination to include math and science and make sure we set the bar high for high school graduates.
As a health care provider, I have unique experience dealing with health care and insurance issues. The current health care debate has been narrowly focused around expanding coverage without any thoughts to addressing the roots of high health care costs. In the legislature, I will fight for responsible health care reform and address health care costs before we look at addressing health care coverage.
As a father and husband, I care very deeply about keeping our streets and neighborhoods safe. That is why I will fight to protect the 3 strikes law and advocate for tougher sentencing for our most violent criminals.
Robert Rao
Occupation: Independent Business owner
Previous Offices Held:
None
Family:
• Wife: Linda • Daughter: Tori is a sophomore at Valley Christan High school • Son: Cole is in Jr High at Valley Christan Jr High.
Religion: Christian
Key Endorsements:
• Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Association • ‘National Tax Limitation Committee’ Lew Uhler • CRP National Committee Man Shawn Steel • Silicon Valley YRFC
A multitude of city and county officials have endorsed Mr. Rao for AD 15, and they are available upon further request.
Briefly state your political philosophy
As a conservative Republican I believe in
• Limited government that is accountable for results with every dime it spends. • Reducing the tax burden. • Use the free market to solve problems in society. • Social programs that give a hand up…not a hand out. • Strong national defense. • Control of the borders. • Traditional family values. • English is the primary language of this state and country.
What are your primary goals if elected?
Control the spending and balance the budget
• Cap spending increases to population increases and the inflation factor. • Performance data should be online for every program, grant, or board so it’s easy to access and understand the performance, cost, and goals of all California programs. • Cut underperforming, redundant, and wasteful spending. • Stop budget accounting gimmicks that are moving expenses and revenue around, deceiving the public.
End failed management practices
• Change state program management spending practices of ‘use it or lose it’ to creating incentives to cut costs and improve quality.
Schools
• Take away control of the schools from Sacramento Bureaucrats and send it down to the local level. • Protect the exit exams. • Equalize funding to our schools.
Roads
• Get roads built and BART extended into our communities.
Small Business
• Stop overregulation • Stop attempts to raise taxes and fees • Stop lawsuit abuse
Roll out the welcome mat for business and let business create jobs and opportunity for all.
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