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Local candidates debate issues at Ackerman

By Daily Bruin Staff

Oct. 29, 1996 9:00 p.m.

Wednesday, October 30, 1996

DEBATE:

Contenders for State Assembly and Senate discuss UC system,
Prop. 209 to low turnout of 60By Hannah Miller

Daily Bruin Contributor

The local races for the 42nd Assembly District and the 23rd
Senate District came face to face Tuesday in the Ackerman Grand
Ballroom, in a surprisingly issue-oriented but poorly-attended
debate.

State Assembly candidates Democrat Wally Knox , Republican Adam
Ross and Libertarian Eric Fine spoke first. Incumbent Knox focused
on his efforts over the last two years to "repel the Gingrich
revolution," including staving off annual UC fee increases for the
first time since Gov. Pete Wilson’s election.

Fine explained the Libertarian party philosophy: "You should be
able to do what you want to do as long as you don’t infringe on
other people’s rights."

He argued in favor of privatization of education and
legalization of drugs.

Ross highlighted educational issues in his statement, noting
California’s last-place position in national reading and math
scores. A UCLA graduate, Ross recalled that student fees were $300
per quarter in 1985.

The three candidates then responded to questions from a panel
consisting of Daily Bruin Assistant News Editor Marie Blanchard,
Bruin Democrats representative Tristan Sotomayor and Bruin
Republican Todd Smith.

Ross differentiated himself from some of the more draconian
Republican measures recently proposed in the Assembly (such as a
reinstatement of corporal punishment in schools) and Fine came out
in favor of Proposition 209, saying that it "doesn’t miss anything
mentioned in the 1964 Civil Rights Act."

Education issues surfaced as divisive amongst the 42nd District
candidates. Knox warned that "funding for the state correctional
system has exploded at the expense of funds for the UCs and the
California State Universities." Ross detailed for the audience his
proposed Family Grant program, which would divert the
$4,500-per-pupil state educational outlay to parents, resuscitating
the idea of school vouchers.

As the first round of candidates stepped off stage and smiled
for photographers, the candidates for the 23rd Senate District took
the stage. Those present were incumbent Democrat Tom Hayden,
Republican Scott Schrieber and, from the Peace and Freedom Party,
Shirley Rachael Isaacson.

In his opening statement, Hayden recalled his efforts of the
last few years, mentioning anti-smoking laws, the criminalization
of domestic violence, chairing the Senate Environmental Committee,
and harsher penalties for date rape involving the drug
Rohypnol.

Isaacson, a Los Angeles Unified school psychologist, said that
"public education is the most democratic institution in this
country." She came out against school vouchers, and the proposed
breakup of the LA Unified school district.

Schrieber stressed the rising cost of education and placed blame
on Hayden for not averting past fee increases. He also attacked
Hayden for preventing economic expansion in the Los Angeles area,
notably the proposed construction of the Fox and Dreamworks
studios.

Isaacson endorsed free college education for all those who
qualify and want to go. "Are we only concerned about the brain
cells of middle-class and upper-class children?" she asked.

Hayden responded that he "had stopped fee increases, but they’re
still way too high." He focused on public transportation, decrying
the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s $6 billion subway plan as a
"terrible insult to the need for public transportation."

Schieber spoke again on education funding, lamenting that "most
of the money spent is not showing up." Isaacson responded that
"teachers are not making a bundle," and faulted the increase of
state spending on prisons.

Hayden said that the "big difference between the haves and the
have-nots is the access to the technology of the future," and
warned that downsizing is already spreading to public
education.

In regards to Proposition 209, Isaacson spoke of the economic
hardships faced by women and minorities in the days before
affirmative action. Schrieber said that "when we tell people for
long enough that we don’t believe in them, they will believe
it."

The audience consisted of approximately 60 people, including
UCLA extension student Richard Zrehigian.

"I’m here for Tom Hayden," he said. "He speaks the truth. He
doesn’t have any ulterior motives."

"Local candidates aren’t known about and are overshadowed by
Presidential elections," concluded Bruin Democrat Angie Foster
about the poor turnout. She added that the outcomes of 10 key races
in the Assembly could shift the power balance in the assembly from
Republican to Democratic.

KRIS FALLON

Assembly candidate Wally Knox spoke Tuesday night at AGB.

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