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Winner will not take all in 38th Senate District race on Tuesday

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By Elizabeth Marie Himchak

The state Senate’s 38th District race will not be decided on June 3 even though there are only two candidates who entered the primary. The district includes Poway and 4S Ranch.

Incumbent state Senator Joel Anderson — who prior to redistricting was representing the 36th District — is a Republican and Alpine resident. Fotios “Frank” Tsimboukakis is a Democrat and Santee resident.

While there are only two candidates in the primary race, due to Proposition 14, which California voters approved in June 2010, Anderson and Tsimboukakis will face off again in November. Officially known as the Top Two Candidates Open Primary Act, Proposition 14’s passage changed the California State Constitution so that the top two vote getters for voter-nominated offices — state legislative, U.S. congressional and state constitutional; previously known as partisan offices — advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation. There is no exception for when a primary only has two candidates.

Both candidates completed a questionnaire prepared by Pomerado Newspapers. Their answers are the basis for the following profiles.

• The 54-year-old Anderson has lived in the district for 24 years. He is married and has three children. He has served in the California Senate since 2010, was a state assemblyman from 2006 to 2010 and on the Padre Dam Municipal Water District Board of Directors from 2002 to 2006.

Anderson earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from Cal Poly Pomona.

His campaign website is

www.senatorjoelanderson.com

.

• The 54-year-old Tsimboukakis has lived in the district for 12 years. He is married and has two adult sons. While never having held elected political office, he was president of the East County Democratic Club.

Tsimboukakis earned his bachelor’s degrees in mass communications and sociology from the University of California Berkeley and master’s in business administration from National University.

His campaign website is

www.Fotiosforsenate38.com

.

Why do you want to serve in the California Senate?

Anderson:

As your senator, my goal is to make government work for you. Each year, my office solved over 1,000 cases for people who had problems with state government. I recognized thousands of outstanding citizens that demonstrated excellence. I authored or coauthored 68 bills that became laws ranging from making healthcare affordable to ensuring that we honor our promise to veterans. Out of my belief that public officials should expose our youth to the honorable public service profession, my internship program graduated over 1,000 future leaders of our state. With more to accomplish, it would be an honor to continue serving you as your senator.

Tsimboukakis

: I decided to run when Anderson did not oppose the Quail Brush Power Plant in 2013. Upon further look I determined that we were not getting anything done for our district due to the incompetence of our legislators and their lack of bipartisanship cooperation.

What do you see as the three greatest issues impacting the 38th District and how would you bring about change to the issues mentioned?

Anderson:

I won’t be content until all Californians have a path to prosperity. Economic opportunity is the key to California’s future. We must hold the state accountable to ensure citizens receive a valuable return on their investment. Also, no family should live in fear because we failed to protect them from criminals. Public safety is a top priority. I am very proud of my voting record and positions I’ve taken on tough issues such as expelling felons from the Senate.

I have coauthored bipartisan legislation to enact a cap on state spending. The California Taxpayers Association gave me a 100 percent rating. As vice-chair of the Senate Public Safety Committee, I helped stop the release of 10,000 dangerous criminals and authored legislation to provide public safety agencies with the funding they need to keep us safe. The Deputy Sheriffs’ Association and Crime Victims United endorsed me. I was also given the Thomas Paine Award for bucking Sacramento power brokers and fighting to remove corrupt public officials.

Tsimboukakis:

The three greatest issues affecting the district are: a) underutilization of area resources to attract better business development that would create better paying jobs, b) the underfunding and poor resources to educational causes specially in poorer district areas and c) the lack of “curb appeal” of many district communities due to lack of cooperation and ideas exchange between state and local elected officials.

(I would) work with local officials to utilize state resources to a) attract better companies in this region, like it’s done in other places, b) to support better funding of educational causes and to facilitate better sharing amongst area districts and c) to use all resources to make my district look and have the standard of living of a community like Scripps Ranch or Del Sur. We deserve to be more upscale. It benefits all.

What would you do to solve the state’s financial situation?

Anderson:

The legislation I coauthored to enact a real state spending cap is a good step forward. However, our past budget problems will return if the state continues to refuse to prioritize its spending. I believe budgets are about priorities, and I want to work with the governor and the majority party on a budget that appropriately prioritizes public safety, education and a secure social safety net. However, to this point, the governor and the majority party have refused to make these items a priority.

Tsimboukakis:

A budget is a budget. Its size should not matter. Just like I prioritized my home budget, my church’s budget, my homeowners association budget to cover everything in order of importance to the people. So you prioritize. We don’t need to raise taxes but we do need to collect taxes from those who do not pay or attempt to pay.

How would you make California more business friendly to attract and retain companies?

Anderson:

The California Small Business Association gave me their “Legislator of the Year” award for my pro-jobs record. I authored legislation to help 39,000 people grow their own businesses, and I have supported small business tax incentives to help create a level playing field and thousands of new career opportunities for Californians. Additionally, the California Taxpayers Association gave me 100 percent ratings for opposing tax hikes that kill people’s jobs.

Tsimboukakis

: We do need to simplify some of our laws. They are convoluted, confusing, often treat everyone as bad apples and most people can’t understand them because of the labyrinthal language pattern suitable only for lawyers. We need to work together with companies on one side and workers groups on the other side to find a middle ground and simplify laws. Not just work with the contributors and lobbyists that “pay” the best. This will make us more attractive to companies and workers.

How would you maintain or improve the quality of life for residents?

Anderson:

In addition to my efforts to keep our communities safe, I have been recognized for my work to improve our schools. San Diego Unified School Board member Scott Barnett praised me for “leading the fight to improve the quality of San Diego’s schools.” I also authored “The Safe Classrooms Act” to protect school children in the classroom.

Tsimboukakis:

Successful communities offer three things — good curb (physical) appeal, great schools and good safety record. Few in my district have all three, most some, a few none. As a state senator I want to get all communities to look and feel good. I want all communities in this district to have the curb appeal of a Scripps Ranch or Del Sur and have the schools of the Poway School District or Scripps Ranch and Del Sur and the safety of them too. Not look like Oklahoma City as one East County public servant once said.

What is your assessment of Sen. Anderson’s/your years in the state Senate?

Anderson:

A Sacramento Bee study named me the third most independent senator. I’ve never allowed party status to be an obstacle to getting things done. Over the last two legislative sessions, I have coauthored more than 70 bills with Democrats on issues ranging from protecting Californians’ privacy, to ending the National Security Administration’s warrantless spying, to lowering the costs of a college education. I didn’t go to Sacramento to be a potted plant.

Tsimboukakis

: Anderson has done a poor job. In three-plus years in the Senate he had three bills signed in to law, while Wyland, another conservative Republican had 11. No resolutions included, where he excels in naming freeways and days. He failed to get sponsors on many bills, even from his own party. He wrote bills, tabled them and brought them back later, and this year, being an election year ... City Beat called him “Twisted.” Based on SB 779, section 17, he may well be. OK’ing execution by lack of oxygen, aka suffocation, is barbarian to say the least. Luckily, it failed. Anderson is the head of ALEC in California. Enough said.

What would you like voters to know about you?

Anderson:

The purpose of my office is to help improve the lives of my constituents. If you have an issue with state government, whether it is the EDD, the DMV, or another agency, I want you to call my office because my staff and I are eager to help you solve your problem. Please contact my district office at 619-596-3136.

Tsimboukakis:

I have lived my life like a human being. I do as I say. I am honest and transparent to a fault. I don’t lie. I am very fiscally efficient and can do much with little. I am a pragmatist and know that good ideas can come from anywhere and anyone. So I will hold 22 eight-hour meetings a year in my district to listen, share info and help all my constituents not just the “givers.” I will donate half my salary to the schools, cops and firemen in my district. Once elected I will seed a fund with $10,000 to an endowment for supporting higher education tuition elimination. I will of course never take gifts.

Why should people vote for you?

Anderson:

Jon Coupal, the president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, called me “a rock star for taxpayers,” and a Sacramento Bee study named me the third most independent legislator in Sacramento. The bottom line is that I went to Sacramento to fight on behalf of the people I represent. I didn’t go to represent a party or any other interest. I am there to represent you, and I’d be honored to have your vote to continue my work in the Senate.

Tsimboukakis

: They should vote for me because they will know what they get, what’s going on at all times and will have my ear for all their concerns. As my positions and agenda show, my goals will benefit everyone regardless (of) political affiliation. No abstract statements. Specifics. Look at my web site.

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