ELECTION PROJECT 2014

Information on the Issues

Proposition 2
Period 2

Annie Cai
Akhila Yechuri
Rachel Laursen
Alice Zheng
Josh Mussman

US Race for Congress

Main Positions

Eric Swalwell
Democratic
Member of the House of
Representatives

Hugh Bussell
Republican
Businessman

Education
Reform/
School Funding

-against No Child Left Behind

-more funds and flexibility in schooling
-cosponsored Stepping Up to STEM
Act:grants for STEM students
-cosponsored Truth-in-Tuition
Act:transparency in school expenses for
incoming students

-supports encouraging more

students to take STEM classes
-believes education is local issue

Jobs/Economy

-help companies that create jobs

through federal tax laws
-discourage outsourcing jobs
-supports extension of emergency fed
unemployment insurance
-introduced Main Street Revival Act which
helps small businesses get started as it
allows them to put off paying payroll
taxes for their first year

-supports tax deductions for

charitable donations and home
mortgage interest deductions
-against Affordable Care Act

Budget/Spending

-against cutting taxes for high-income

earners and corporations
-supports targeted spending reductions
-supports Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013
which establish 2014 and 2015 budget,
reduces sequester, and makes
investments in future

Environment

-supports research for clean, new

energy sources
-supports San Francisco Bay Restoration
Act which grants $25 million for wetlands
restoration and conservation over five
years
-against over reliance on foreign oil

-supports Keystone XL pipeline

from Canada to Texas

Immigration

-supports pathway to citizenship for

undocumented workers
-allow same-sex partners to sponsor
their significant other for residency in US
-immigration reform
-supports DREAM Act

-supports building a fence in some

part of the Mexican border
-make people pay a fine and go
back to Mexico, but more leniency
for people born here

Foreign Policy

-supports withdrawal of troops in

Afghanistan by 2014
-supports continued alliance with Israel

-against cutting military spending

drastically

-stop adding new programs to

reduce federal spending
-reduce national debt by setting
priorities
-reform campaign finance laws

-against Iran acquiring nuclear weapons,

for US involvement to prevent this

California Governors Race

Main Positions

Jerry Brown
Democratic
Governor of California

Neel Kashkari
Republican
Businessman

Education
Reform/
School Funding

-believes schools should not be

government regulated unless the district
fails
-against considering demographics in
college admissions
-believes all school funding decisions
should be in the hands of the community
-wants to make school districts
accountable for their actions

-supports making higher

education affordable
-embraces new online
technologies to make higher
education available to more
people
-wants to ensure taxpayer
money ends up in California
public schools

Jobs/Economy

-supports extending unemployment

benefits to the entire nation
-wants to take away strict regulations
that hinder job creation

-supports decrease in strict

regulation on small businesses
-supports creation of a more
diverse job market
-supports the use of more
resources to create jobs

Budget/Spending

-believes the majority of budget and

spending should be put in the hands of
the local community

-supports bail for nations highest

banks
-believes local spending should
be controlled by government to
some degree

Environment

-Believes in clean energy technology

investments
-supports programs to regulate water
-supports regulations to protect the
marine environment off the california
coast

-supports development of
Monterey Shale Foundation
-supports use of more resources
to fuel job creation

Immigration

-Supports state aid to illegals' children and

DREAM Act.
-believes undocumented students should
receive financial support

-against immigration, believes

there should be more strict
reforms
-took the stance of the
traditional GOP Candidate -LA
Times

Pension Reform

-supports reducing pensions for new

employees
-believes that taxpayers and public
employees should share equal pension
costs

no current stance listed

California Race for Assembly

Main Positions

Tim Sbranti
Democratic
Mayor of Dublin/Teacher

Education
Reform/
School Funding

-fight for funding to improve career

technical education, science programs,
arts, and after school programs

Jobs/Economy

-Dublin is one of the only cities in

California to include economic
development as part of its General Plan.
-Dublin created a Business Revitalization
Toolkit which contains broad set of
incentives and practices used by the city
for attracting and retaining jobs.

Catharine Baker
Republican
Lawyer
-reform to reward good
teachers; moderate the role of
seniority in our most important
decisions affecting teachers and
end seniority-based lay-offs.
-fight to contain the
administrative costs that have
skyrocketed in our state
university system and made
college less accessible.
-will work across party lines to
modernize outdated regulations
that suppress job creation, to
make smarter infrastructure
investments that support economic
prosperity, and to promote job
opportunities for working families.

-accepted on Dublins behalf an award

from the Silicon Valley Leadership Group
as the Best Small City in the Bay Area for
retaining and growing businesses.
-will bring his proven economic record to
the Legislature, supporting policies that
spur new businesses and jobs

Budget/Spending

-he balanced the budget every year,

without major cuts to city services or
raising taxes. Today, Dublin is running a
budget surplus.
-will work to set clear budget priorities to
create a rainy day reserve, pay down the
states debt and restore funding to
essential state services like higher
education and state parks.

Environment

-active supporter of the Open Space

Initiative to preserve Doolan Canyon.
-adopted a Climate Action Plan in Dublin:
virtually every city owned building is

-will fight to stop the state from

accumulating more debt, and
fight to pay down the debt
-true rainy day fund or
savings account for the state
-where savings can be set
aside automatically and can
only be accessed when a
downturn not simply a desire
for new spending requires it.
-will fight wasteful spending
and fight to allow our local
governments and agencies to
have the flexibility they deserve
to provide local services at the
lowest cost for California
taxpayers
-oppose the Delta tunnels
project.
-supports more water
conservation projects.

powered by solar energy.

-opposed the Delta Tunnel plan.

Pension Reform

No Stance

- bipartisan pension reform so

pensions are sustainable
-tackle the debt facing our
pension funds.

Other

-will work to make sure our transportation

-opposed the 2013 BART

strikes, supports closing the
loophole in state law that
allows future BART strikes.

dollars are invested efficiently in projects

that will limit commutes and spur
economic development.

Pleasanton Mayor
Main Positions

Matt Morrison
Attorney

Jerry Thorne
Current Mayor

Crime

no stance listed

no stance listed

Public Works

no stance listed

-keep Pleasantons unique feel

Traffic

-wants easy walkability for seniors

-wants to limit growth (limits traffic)

-plans to widen State Route 84

to improve traffic
-supports Measure BB to
improve traffic

Affordable Housing

-slow/no growth
-small neighborhood developments
instead of apartments
-no development on east side
-do only enough to meet state
requirements

-plans to build affordable senior

housing
-create a comprehensive plan for
development with input from
task force/commissions and
submit it to the public for a vote

Open Space

-limit development on the east side

-protect ridgeline from development

-create a comprehensive plan for

development with input from
task force/commissions and
submit it to the public for a vote

The public's vs. city

council's role in
making decisions

no stance listed

-believes in consulting voters for

changes on the Urban Growth
Boundary and development
planning

Pleasanton City Council - Group 1

Main Positions

Crime
Public Works
Traffic

Olivia Sanwong
Global Biotechnology
Analyst
unknown (keep low crime rates)

more senior services

vocates transit-oriented development
says traffic is a nightmare (Contra
Costa Times)
supports Measure BB

Arne Olson
Retired Corporate
Finance
unknown (keep low crime
rates)
provision of exceptional city
services
more senior services
supports Measure BB

Affordable Housing

against high-density apartments

against high-density
apartments

Open Space

undecided position on East

Pleasanton Specific Plan
supports planning that considers
future city growth

keep modest growth by

continuing city planning

The public's vs. city

council's role in
making decisions

unknown

wants to use open

communication and rational
discourse when finding
solutions to community
problems

Pleasanton City Council - Group 2

Main Positions

Crime

Public Works
Traffic

Kathy Narum
City Council Member

George Bowen
Retired Insurance
Executive

supports making sure [public safety

officers] get what they need to get
the job done right

unknown (keep low crime

rates)

more senior services

more senior services

supports Measure BB

traffic mitigation a priority over

land development
only city council candidate
oppsoing Measure BB, a sales
tax increase for county
transportation

Affordable Housing

against high-density apartments

against high-density
apartments

Open Space

growth that keeps characteristic

Pleasanton feel and densities

against further city planning of

East Pleasanton Specific Plan

The public's vs. city

council's role in
making decisions

wants greater community input (in

East Pleasanton Specific Plan)

wants public servants to

represent community on issues
important to them

Pleasanton Unified School Board - Group 1

Main Positions

Joan Laursen
School Board Member

Jeff Bowser
School Board Member

Platform

-strengthen student learning and

engagement (using digital technology
and project-based learning)
-prepare students for college and
career readiness
-partner with parents and the
community
-prudently manage the budget
-ensure we are
training/recruiting/retaining high
quality staff

-expand access to digital learning

(digital textbooks, Kindles,
Chromebooks)
-balanced budgets
-update facilities
-support teachers
-improve students access to
health + nutrition services
-career/college mentors for
students

Experience /
Accomplishments

-Pleasanton resident for 20 years

-elected to school board in 2010
-school board president in 2011
-completed California School Boards
Masters in Governance program
-was president of Pleasanton PTA
Council
-revitalized Pleasanton Partners in
Education (PPIE)
-member of Pleasanton Chamber of
Commerce
-financial analyst by training

-Pleasanton resident for 43 years

-elected to school board in 2010
-school board president in 2012
-teacher & administrator for 14
years
-worked in technology +
education for 15 years
-masters degree in educational
leadership from Cal State
Hayward

Pleasanton Unified School Board - Group 2

Main Positions

Platform

Mark R. Miller
Parent / IT Manager

-restore trust in School District and

Board
-stop weakening of administrators
and teachers
-delay calendar change so a

Paige Wright
Substitute Teacher / Mother

-meet needs of students

-transparency and open
communication between
teachers, parents, and
students

satisfactory compromise can be

reached

Experience /
Accomplishments

-volunteer at Two Sentinels Girl Scouts

Camp
-Lived in Pleasanton for over 16 years
-helped out with Foothill Band
program
-coach for girls and boys soccer and
baseball teams
-IT manager
-Dublin School Technical Advisory
Committee

-use experience to make good

decisions

-paralegal/office manager for

small law firm
-PTA Executive Board of
Elementary school
-fundraising for
underprivileged kids
-volunteering for 8 years
teaching preschool Sunday
school

California Ballot Initiatives

Summarize
The Prop

Arguments
For

Prop 1

-Will clean up contaminated

groundwater which serves
as a buffer against drought.
-Invests in new storage
increasing the amount of
water that can be stored
during wet years for the dry
years.
-Protects Californias rivers,
lakes and streams from
pollution and contamination.
-Prop 1 will strengthen
Californias water system by
investing in much-needed
local water supply projects
like water recycling,
groundwater cleanup,
stormwater capture, water
conservation, and other
regional water supply
projects

Prop 2

-Rainy Day Fund would

protect state in times of
economic recession.
-Limit spending of politicians.

Arguments
Against

Considering this
Information, how
would you vote
and why?

-It does little to relieve

the drought or improve
regional water
self-sufficiency.
-drains funding for
schools, health care,
roads and public
safety.
-Funds for recycling,
conservation and
groundwater cleanup
were slashed 36% in
the final version of the
Bond in order to
provide money for
different water
purchases and new
dams.

I would vote yes on

Prop 1 because I believe
that the arguments on
the opposing side are
merely speculative. It
doesnt raise taxes, and
will stop our state from
being in such an awful
drought situation ever
again.

-Further delays
payments to schools
-School districts face
higher borrowing costs

I would vote yes on Prop

2 because it better
protects the general
community in times of
crisis. It offers a blanket

Prop 45

Prop 46

-Protect against unnecessary

tax increases.
-Accelerate states debt
payments.

and deeper cuts

-School districts only
allowed to save a few
weeks of expenses

-Prop. 45 will stop the price

gouging by requiring health
insurance companies to be
transparent and publicly
justify rates before
premiums can increase.
-an elected official be able
to publicly review and say
no to excessive rates.
-Thirty-five other states
require health insurance
companies to get approval
before raising rates.

-power grab by special

interests to take control
over health care
benefits and rates from
California's
independent
commission

-less prescription drug

abuse because of less
prescriptions being written
if health care providers
check CURES database (not
required)
-could decrease insurance
costs
-raise the quality of health
care by requiring providers
to take drug and alcohol
tests\
-lower prescription costs
due to lower demand
-would likely result in
savings to state and local
governments, although
highly uncertain

-Gives one politician

power over co-pays,
deductibles, benefits, and
even what treatment
options your health
insurance covers.

-could cost the

state/taxpayers
hundreds of millions of
dollars more on health
care services because of
extra costs
-will cost the state
potentially hundreds of
millions of dollars more
per year in medical
malpractice awards due
to an increased award
cap
-could increase
insurance costs
-because checking
CURES database is not
mandatory, abuse of
prescription drugs may
not lessen
-issue of privacy as
more personal
information is collected
and stored

for the economy to fall on

by creating a fund that
can be split up between
certain industries and
groups, including school
districts, when times are
bad. Although it does limit
the amount of money that
school districts can save
in expenses, they are
included in the program of
funding when times get
rough.
I would vote yes on
Proposition 45 because I
believe that companies
should have a clear
justification for raising
insurance premiums.
This external politician
can keep the companies
in check. This cycle of
checks has to end
somewhere, comparable
to how the Supreme
Court is not checked.
Insurance companies
are pouring money into
influencing taxpayers to
vote no.

I would vote no on Prop

46. The benefits to
taxpayers are not
exactly clear. Requiring
drug testing of doctors
and registration for the
prescription database
might be good, but it
reduces the privacy of
both doctors and
patients (and sounds
socialist). In addition,
trial attorneys may be
the only ones who profit
from the increased
medical malpractice cap.
The no campaign is
sponsored by medical
trade associations,
compared to an
outspoken father of
malpractice victims and a
consumer watchdog.

Prop 47

-estimated to save the

state hundreds of millions of
dollars per year primarily by
reducing the prison
population
-money saved will go
towards truancy prevention
programs in schools and
mental health, drug abuse,
and victim services

-more ex-cons in
society soon
-reduce the penalties
for drug and theft
offenses, including
theft of a gun and
possession of heroin
and date-rape drugs
-increased short-term
court costs associated
with the early release
of eligible prisoners

I would vote no on Prop

47. Although I feel the
proposition is
well-designed, I strongly
believe that both drug
possession sentences
and theft sentences
should not be reduced in
the name of
cost-cutting. I am
dubious about the
success of school
prevention programs as
well. I think that the
current penalties for
felony violations do not
need to be reduced.

Prop 48

-create jobs in a
poverty-stricken
area(Madera County)
-support local control, public
safety, and opportunity
-promote tribal
self-sufficiency
helps avoid potential casino
construction on sensitive
environmental areas

-promotes reservation
shopping
-no additional funds for
CA schools or state
general fund
-does not protect
environment as
increased number of
people will pollute more

I would vote yes,

because it would bolster
the local economy and
help tribes be
self-sufficient. Creating
good-paying jobs while
diverting potential harm
to environmentally
sensitive areas is a
cause worth supporting.
No on 48 is also funded
by Wall Street hedge
funds and rich gaming
tribes, which arouses
suspicion concerning
their arguments.

Measure
BB

-expand BART, bus and

commuter rails
-maintain affordable fares for
seniors, youths, and
disabled people
-create good jobs
-provide traffic relief
-good for environment-less
pollution

-will raise transportation

sales tax to 1%
-will not reduce traffic
congestion as miles
traveled by vehicles is
expected to increase by
46% by 2035
-is similar to past
measures, which did not
have much impact on
reducing traffic
congestion or sustain
transit use

I would support Measure

BB as it is good for the
economy and helps
sustain public transit. It
would help low-income
people by allowing them
more mobility, and
reduces traffic congestion.
Without Measure BB, the
congestion on roads
would be undoubtedly
worse.