Maia Ferdman: Waxman’s successor should focus on education, cooperation

Henry Waxman, a longtime fixture in the House of Representatives and UCLA’s congressional representative, plans to retire this year, leaving a difficult legacy to follow.

In his 40 years as a representative, Waxman, a UCLA alumnus, has championed a wide range of progressive causes. His seniority has given him a prominent position in Congress, while his outspoken commitment to public health and environmental issues has won him a number of noteworthy legislative successes.

The newly open seat for California’s 33rd Congressional District, which represents the traditionally liberal stretch of coast between Malibu and Palos Verdes, has already attracted a number of potential candidates. As the midterm elections near, voters at UCLA and throughout the larger district should seek a candidate who demonstrates the same kind of long-term and progressive vision that has characterized Waxman’s political career, but with an ear toward education issues that will directly affect students on this campus.

While Waxman’s long-standing incumbency in Congress may have barred new politicians from entering the House, it has provided his district and its constituents with consistency as well as an experienced representative. He has been able to use his considerable political payload to advocate for local, national and global issues. His focus has ranged from public transportation in the Wilshire area, to the American health care system, to global climate change.

“It’s time for me to give someone else a chance, ideally someone young enough to make the same long-term commitment required for real legislative success,” Waxman said in a statement.

To be sure, the upcoming midterm election provides an opportunity for new candidates and thus fresh ideas. But these candidates should also seek to provide Waxman’s same reliability and commitment to delve deeply into the needs of our district.

A long-term mindset must also be coupled with a focus on the district’s most salient concerns. These could include traffic alleviation, local business development and most importantly for UCLA, higher education.

UCLA only came under Waxman’s jurisdiction after redistricting in 2012, and he did not show much, if any, focus on higher education during his career. A constituency as large as the UCLA community should make itself heard in Congress through its next representative.

Just last year, the House of Representatives came to a deadlock surrounding student loan interest rates, resulting in their automatic doubling. Although the Senate just passed a bill that will retroactively decrease these rates, we need representatives who will avoid this kind of harmful and counterproductive stalemate in the future.

Already, three Democratic candidates and two nonpartisan candidates have entered the race, and several more have said they are considering it.

Of those candidates, former Los Angeles City Controller and mayoral candidate Wendy Greuel and State Senator Ted Lieu stand out as established figures with a prominent backing. However, neither candidate has had significant involvement in education initiatives.

Students should look for a representative with a clear commitment to curbing student debt, increasing federal support for public higher education and battling unemployment for recent graduates – and a willingness to collaborate with the opposing party in order to do so.

While Waxman has demonstrated liberal ideals, his major achievements have also been a result of bipartisan efforts. Success of his brand, therefore, comes from a careful mixture of passionate, staunch values and a willingness to make them work for a wide range of constituents.

“The next (representative) should be someone who knows what they want, but also knows how to get what they want,” said Alexander Lyons, a third-year political science student and the external vice president of Bruin Democrats.

Waxman has become an icon of legislative accomplishment in Congress. The district that gave him 40 consecutive years in Congress should seek a worthy replacement.

Email Ferdman at [email protected] or tweet her @maiaferdman. Send general comments at [email protected] or tweet us @DBOpinion.