Representative has landslide win

Democratic Congressman Henry Waxman, won his bid for re-election
Tuesday to the U.S. House of Representatives as a representative of
California’s 30th Congressional District, which includes
UCLA.

Waxman received 70 percent of the vote while his challenger,
Republican Victor Elizalde, received 30 percent with 20.7 percent
of California precincts reporting Tuesday night.

The landslide win was expected, as polls leading up to the
election placed Waxman ““ a UCLA alumnus who has represented
the Los Angeles area since 1974 ““ squarely in the lead.

Lisa Pinto, district director for the congressman, said Waxman
considered himself “very fortunate” to have such
consistent voter support and called his win a “vote of
confidence.”

Waxman has been especially involved in health care concerns and
issues regarding the environment as a member of the Congressional
Committee on Energy and Commerce.

He is also a member of the Committee on Government Reform, which
has submitted reports accusing the Bush administration of
misconduct and criticizing Congress for failing to properly
investigate these allegations.

His opponent Elizalde, an economist from Illinois who now lives
in Hollywood, faulted Congressman Waxman for failing to address the
district’s transportation and economic problems. Elizalde
also accused Waxman of failing to protect the jobs of workers in
the entertainment industry and pledged to crack down on copyright
piracy.

Both candidates emphasized the need for better access to
education at all levels, regardless of economic status.

After visiting an elementary school earlier this week and
speaking with faculty and staff who were frustrated with the
funding they received, Waxman spoke out against the Bush
administration’s education policies.

He expressed disappointment that President Bush’s No Child
Left Behind act did not have adequate funding, Pinto said.

With regard to university education, Pinto said the congressman
“feels very strongly that youth should have access to the
political process and to higher education.” She added that
ideally, “everyone who’s interested can have access to
higher education.”

Both candidates also expressed disappointment over the divisive
nature of what turned into a politically divisive presidential
campaign.

Pinto said the congressman stresses that “when legislation
passes, it’s due to bipartisan support.”

Likewise, Elizalde denounced partisan politics, saying the 30th
District “could do with a lot less.”

Waxman also defeated his opponent handily in 2002, garnering 70
percent of the vote, as opposed to 30 percent for his opponent
Republican Tony Goss.

Nationally, the Republican Party retained control of the House
of Representatives, gaining two seats in the House and increasing
their seats from 229 before the election to 331. Meanwhile, the
Democrats lost three seats in the House, ending up with 202 total
seats.