Marking the opening salvo of the campaign season for the state’s 33rd Assembly District, the four major Republican hopefuls for the seat held court for a question-and-answer session at Santa Maria Fairpark March 24.
About 200 attendees gathered to hear candidates Fred Strong, Matt Kokkonen, Etta Waterfield and Katcho Achadjian discuss topics ranging from nuclear power and illegal immigration to Assembly Bill 32 and recreational vehicles at the Oceano Dunes.
All four candidates expressed their intentions to scale back government spending and balance the budget without raising taxes. They united in support of offshore drilling, stressing the need for energy and gaining oil independence from the rest the world.
A San Luis Obispo county supervisor, Achadjian made no bones about his background in the gasoline industry and his support of any legislation that would get people to drive more. He said he’s frustrated with high taxes and the “anti-business mentality in Sacramento.”
Kokkonen, a San Luis Obispo financial planner and immigrant from Finland, said he would push for a secure border with Mexico and supports bringing back the guest worker program. Kokkonen called himself a “defender of state’s rights” and said he would oppose costly environmental legislation.
“The state can’t afford to live within our own regulations,” he said.
The state’s economic situation was front and center during the debate. Waterfield, a former Santa Maria Planning commissioner, called on elected leaders to “live within their means.” If elected, she said she’d support privatizing CalTrans, the institution of the E-Verify program, and cutting prison incentives.
Strong, a Paso Robles city councilman and self-described “constitutional conservative,” said he would reduce taxes and fight for the agricultural industry if elected.
“Our ag people know what they’re doing and don’t need their neighbors to protect them,” Strong said, addressing the audience. “I know Sacramento, I can deal with Sacramento, and I will continue to do that on your behalf.”
The state’s tough environmental standards were another hot topic. Candidates spoke out against the Environmental Quality Act and AB 32—the Global Warming Solutions Act.
“AB32 is a job killer,” Waterfield said. “We have to become business-friendly again and keep businesses from leaving the state.”
Strong, a former land-use advisor to the California State Assembly, said he’s been battling environmental regulations his entire political career.
“We can’t have mandates we can’t pay for,” Strong said. “I encourage conservation, but not conservation we can’t afford.”
Achadjian said the AB32’s implementation would reduce travel and hurt the state’s economic recovery.
“We need to give more power to ag,” he said. “We need them to feed us like they have in the past.”
The forum was moderated by local radio talk-show host Andy Caldwell and sponsored by the Coalition of Labor, Agriculture, and Business and the Santa Maria chapter of the California Women for Agriculture. When Caldwell asked the hopefuls if they would support local communities having access to royalties on oil recovered from state waters, all agreed.
“They’re using our roads and our system,” Achadjian said. “We should demand our share of any revenues in our backyard.”
The candidates also unanimously agreed that the Oceano Dunes Vehicular Recreation Area should continue to allow recreational off-highway vehicles.
“We need to do all we can to keep the Dunes open and the tourists coming in,” Waterfield said.
Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee (R-San Luis Obispo) currently represents the 33rd Assembly District, which includes Santa Maria, Lompoc, and all of San Luis Obispo County. The winner in the June 8 Republican primary will face Democrat and Santa Maria city councilwoman Hilda Zacarias and Libertarian Paul Polson. The general election will be held on Nov. 2.
This article appears in Apr 1-8, 2010.
