Alumnus campaigns to LGBT group

Campaign Photo Kevin Feldman

By Crystal Betz
Daily Bruin Contributor

With 13 days left until the March 5 primary election, 30th
Congressional District Democratic candidate and former Bruin Kevin
Feldman returned to campus to seek support from a student group he
co-founded 11 years ago.

Feldman spoke to GALA, the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and
Transgender Association, Tuesday night to address his concerns for
the gay community as well as top issues on his campaign agenda.

Feldman ““ who is challenging a 27-year incumbent and
fellow UCLA graduate, Henry Waxman, D”“Los Angeles ““
said to the small crowd of students that he did not enter the race
with the sole motive of becoming the first openly gay man in
Congress.

“I’m openly gay and am proud to talk to anyone about
it, but I have to be equally representative of the whole public. I
don’t like to be narrowed down,” Feldman said.

Campaign Photo Henry Waxman

Restoring the health of the economy, creating a metrorail
service to help with the city’s transportation problem, and
fighting for high-quality and safer public schools are the three
top issues in Feldman’s campaign.

“I have talked to thousands of people from West L.A. to
Westlake Village, and these are the only three issues of importance
they all agree on,” Feldman said.

The majority of students at the event also agreed with this.

“I was a little skeptical about his platform, but I have a
different impression of him after tonight,” said Adam Simon,
a fourth-year theater student.

Feldman admits it won’t be easy challenging the nearly
impossible-to- beat Waxman in the primaries.

But a major factor that Feldman said may give him an advantage
during this election race is the recently redrawn map of the 30th
district, which includes many new areas that were a part of
Waxman’s old 29th district.

The one area in which Feldman said he differs from Waxman
““ and on which he prides his grassroots campaigning style
““ is the principle of focusing on local problems he feels
matter most to voters with whom he has spoken with.

“The old part of the district knew Waxman, but
couldn’t tell me what he did that’s important to
them,” Feldman said.

But one Waxman spokesman said the congressman is working on
issues very important to his constituents.

With the primaries just around the corner, campaigning will be
more of a crucial issue for Feldman than for Waxman.

“Mr. Waxman is not doing any campaigning per se. He will
be attending to his congressional duties in both L.A. and
Washington,” said David Sadkin, campaign spokesman for
Waxman.

Some of these duties include a hearing to discuss Waxman’s
opposition to a housing development at Ahmanson Ranch as well as
hearings on gun control.

Waxman fought for the 1990 Clean Air Act and has been involved
in numerous efforts to push for gun control, calling for
investigations into semi-automatic rifle accessibility.