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Uploaded: Thursday, May 15, 2008, 3:20 PM
Candidates spar over Assembly seat
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by Daniel DeBolt
Mountain View Voice Staff
| Former Mountain View Mayor Sally Lieber will likely hand over her District 22 State Assembly seat to one of four Democrats, three of whom showed up for a debate in Mountain View Monday night.
With Kris Wang absent due to a Cupertino City Council meeting, Anna Song, Paul Fong and Dominic Caserta were asked questions by the League of Women Voters as they sat in the City Council chambers at Mountain View City Hall.
Their similarities on certain issues were striking -- all three support SB-840, the universal health care bill proposed by Assembly member Sheila Keuhl. All said they wanted to maintain or increase public school funding, which makes sense given their backgrounds -- Song is a county school board member, Caserta is a high school history teacher and Fong is a community college professor and a 15-year trustee of the Foothill-De Anza district.
Where they differed was in their top priorities, their style and how they would take on certain problems, such as a huge state budget deficit.
Fong, who grew up in Sunnyvale in a family of Chinese flower growers, said his first priority was passing a universal health care bill, and his second priority was making gay marriage legal in California.
Caserta, a fifth generation valley resident and Santa Clara City Council member, said his top priority was to establish new job training programs for high schools, because these days, he said, "We are telling kids that aren't going to be lawyers that their skills aren't valuable." His second priority is health care, a problem he says he can solve, which is why he is endorsed by the California Nurses Association.
Song, a Korean-born mother of two and an eight-year veteran of the county school board, said education is her first priority, followed by women's issues, listed on her Web site as domestic violence, pay equity and job training.
A statement from Wang, the Taiwan-born mayor of Cupertino, was read at the meeting. She expressed her support for sustainable energy and innovation in Silicon Valley, and she quoted a Cupertino citizens' group which called her a "true public servant with no ties to special interests."
Fong and Caserta touted their endorsements. Fong is endorsed by Lieber and the political establishment, such as U.S. Congress members Anna Eshoo, Zoe Lofgren and Mike Honda. Caserta, a former Republican, touted his support from high-tech companies like Microsoft and Hewlett Packard, and from police officers associations, including Mountain View's. He also has the support of several major unions.
The candidates were asked how they would close the state's budget gap. Caserta proposed a tax on oil companies that drill in California, which would raise $15 billion, he said. Fong proposed new vehicle license fees, which could raise $6 billion. Song proposed more "Robin Hood" taxes which would raise rates for those making more than $500,000 a year.
To clean up the state's environment, Fong said he would introduce legislation to require that 50 percent of all vehicles sold in the state by 2020 use alternative fuel. Caserta mentioned Santa Clara's award-winning "green power" program which he would like to see implemented statewide, along with a commitment to increase fuel efficiency in cars by 50 percent over the next 10 years. Song said she would like to see incentives for businesses to use solar power and better recycling programs, and on her Web site she also advocates more stringent business inspections and clean-ups of toxics.
In closing, Fong said he had been a public leader for 35 years while working to build an "equitable society," and mentioned his endorsement from the California Democratic Party and the California Federation of Teachers. Song said she would think of her two kids while working in Sacramento to better their future, and that the area needed a "stronger voice" in Sacramento. Caserta said that "we deserve so much better" when it comes to our state representatives, and vowed to create jobs locally, because "We are losing jobs in this area." Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.
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| Comments
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Posted by GSB, a resident of the Castro City neighborhood, on May 15, 2008 at 3:50 pm Go Paul Fong!!!
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Posted by krm, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on May 15, 2008 at 7:02 pm Dominic outshined everyone at that debate Monday evening, his fresh ideas and ability to get things done is why we need him in Sacramento. Dominic will bring a fresh voice to Mountain View in our state's capitol.
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Posted by mjm, a resident of the Monta Loma neighborhood, on May 16, 2008 at 7:57 am Dominic Caserta is the candidate who has activel reached out to residents in Mtn. View. He has had 7 coffee chats in our community, that responsive leadership is what we deserve in Mountain View. I am enthusiastically supporting Dominic Caserta, he is a Democrat for Silicon Valley.
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Posted by pfs, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on May 16, 2008 at 10:10 am Paul Fong is the strongest candidate of them all. His experience and leadership at the state level will be far more superior than Dominic, Kris, or Anna. We need an official that can made things happen in Sacramento, and Paul Fong is just that guy! Go Paul Fong!!
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Posted by sjg, a resident of the Castro City neighborhood, on May 16, 2008 at 10:17 am Can't beat 35 years of dedicated community service. Paul Fong's got this one.
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Posted by Agnes, a resident of the Jackson Park neighborhood, on May 16, 2008 at 11:48 am 35 years?? What is Dominic Caserta's age? He looks young. Does this mean Mr. Fong has been active in this community longer than some of the canidates have been alive? Mr. Fong seems to be the most qualified candidate for the job.
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Posted by dmj, a resident of the Cuesta Park neighborhood, on May 16, 2008 at 3:03 pm I've been to one of the debates and seen them all in action. It's obvious that Dominic Caserta is the most qualified of all four candidates. He mentioned what he has already accomplished in his city and what his goals are for the district. It's unfortunate that all the other candidates can only agree with Caserta's ideas. Fong mentioned that he has been involved for 30+ years but failed time and time again to mention exactly what he's accomplished during that time. We need someone who will get the job done and Dominic Caserta is BY FAR the best qualified. Attend a debate and see for yourself!
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Posted by rrd, a resident of the The Crossings neighborhood, on May 17, 2008 at 8:06 am I was at the debate. The is one clear choice in this race, one candidate who has a record of progressive leadership and a vision that truly reflects Silicon Valley at the core, and that candidate is Dominic Caserta.
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Posted by GSB, a resident of the Castro City neighborhood, on May 17, 2008 at 6:34 pm Sincerity and trustworthiness trumps slick talk and charisma anyday.
Thus, mu support of Paul.
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Posted by Unamused in Santa Clara, a resident of another community, on May 18, 2008 at 2:07 pm I'm glad that Mr. Caserta is spreading his energies and attention in other communities for awhile. He is one of the reasons why Santa Clara is being run into the ground and we sure could use the break from him. I shudder to think of the damage he could do if he gets more power.
I wasn't impressed with any of the choices, but was least trusting of him. Please VOTE, but I encourage you to vote for anyone except him.
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Posted by Dave, a resident of the North Whisman neighborhood, on May 19, 2008 at 11:47 am Dominic Caserta: a whiff of corruption, or at least a lack of common sense (see Herhold's article about him in the Merc).
Paul Fong: about as articulate as George W. Bush (yes, I was at the debate). Plus, do we really need another candidate that everyone in the establishment loves?
What a choice...
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Posted by NT, a resident of another community, on May 24, 2008 at 11:39 am Anna Song is the one candidate who has both strong electoral experience and the freedom not to owe allegiance to any group of high-value donors. She stood up for justice at the Santa Clara County Board of Education and demonstrates the most consistent integrity of all the candidates.
Vote Anna Song for Assembly. We'll get good government, a focus on families and consistent Democratic values.
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Posted by Bernie Brightman, a resident of the North Whisman neighborhood, on May 24, 2008 at 1:02 pm I'm not sure which one I'm going to vote for yet, but feel pretty certain it won't be someone who is a former Republican.
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Posted by TH, a resident of another community, on May 28, 2008 at 10:07 am I think Kris Wang is easily the most qualified. If you look at her resume, it includes service on Parks & Recreation, VTA, and education committees, and not to mention her stint as Councilmember and Mayor. She also has experience as an computer engineer and entrepreneur which I think best defines the Silicon Valley.
But Kris Wang really separates herself from the pack because of her integrity. I cannot say the same about Caserta or Fong.
It is unfortunate Kris was unable to attend, but the statement read was absolutely correct - "Kris is a true public servant with no ties to special interests." I am voting for Kris.
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Posted by kirk, a resident of another community, on May 28, 2008 at 11:20 am Caserta is someone that has shown his constituents that his vote is for sale. He has burned the citizens in Santa Clara many times and continues to do so. Vote for ANYONE but Caserta. He is bad politics. Visit: www.NotCaserta.org to see the many reasons why he is a BAD choice.
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Posted by N S, a resident of another community, on May 28, 2008 at 12:05 pm I've watched Anna Song serve on the County Board of Education and she is a leader who blends support for teachers and parents with accountability and innovation. What you see with Anna is what you get. No hidden agendas.
We're voting to send a representative to Sacramento who can get things accomplished. By oneself, a single Assemblymember has little influence and even less authority. But, in partnership with the rest of the Legislature, one can make progress.
I'm voting for Anna Song since she is approachable. She demonstrates the most important skill needed to build coalitions across the state.
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Posted by jfe, a resident of the Monta Loma neighborhood, on May 29, 2008 at 11:46 am I agree with all the comments concerning the debates: Dominic has run circles around the other candidates with his knowledge of the issues and vision for what he would do about them. And unlike everyone else in the race, his time on the Santa Clara City Council shows a clear record of solid service. He is the obvious choice for State Assembly.
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Posted by Victim of Caserta, a resident of another community, on May 31, 2008 at 7:13 pm Now I am overrun with multiple pieces of junk mail with people endorsing him (and he endorsing himself) every bloody day. I'm glad he supports green causes - my recycle bin overruneth.
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