Candidates power up for November 7 election

Five candidates seek to replace Sen. Dianne Feinstein (Democrat) on November 7. She is a one of California’s two United States Senators. Facing off against her are Todd Chretien, Green Party; Marsha Feinland, Peace & Freedom; Don J. Grundmann, American Independent; Michael S. Metti, Libertarian; and Richard “Dick” Mountjoy, Republican.

Todd Chretien, the Green Party candidate, lists bringing the troops home now; abolishing the USA Patriot Act; building schools, not jails; creating decent jobs with union rights; defending abortion rights; ending the death penalty and three strikes, equal rights for immigrants; legalizing gay marriage; national healthcare; punishing corporate polluters; and raising taxes on the richest one percent of Americans as the planks in his platform.

At age 18, he was the youngest elected delegate for Jesse Jackson at the Maine State Democratic Party convention then spent

eight months in El Salvador and Nicaragua as a human rights worker and English teacher. In 1991 at Columbia University he became a leading student activist against the First Gulf War. Soon after, he joined the International Socialist Organization and has been an active member since. He moved to the East Bay of San Francisco in 1994 and has been active in coalitions from defending affirmative action to global justice actions against the FTAA, and WTO to the wars in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. In 2004, he served as the Northern California Field Coordinator for the Nader/Camejo ticket and in 2005 helped author and organized Proposition I (the College Not Combat initiative) that passed with 60 percent of the vote in San Francisco on November 8. He lives in Oakland, CA.

Information about Todd Chretien was extracted from his Web site at his direction.

Marsha Feinland, Peace and Freedom, lists a variety of social issues as important to her. Chief among them is ceasing the war in Iraq; she says, “Bring the troops home now.” Taking a stand based on her ethnicity, she says, “As Jewish-American, I chose to run for US Senate partly as an act of conscience in support of the rights of Palestinians in Israel and the occupied territories.”

The need for a living wage concerns her, too. In her candidate statement she says, “We need living wages — $15 per hour or more. We need a shorter work week and longer paid vacations to have a vibrant social and cultural life.” Feinland also advocates a national healthcare program. To address this she says, “We need a government which provides healthcare for all and doesn’t worry about keeping the insurance companies and other bureaucrats in business.” A free college and university education is necessary, she says, because an educated population is needed to make decisions in a democratic society.

Global warming and its threat are important to Feinland. She says Americans should take ownership of their industries and natural resources to cooperatively take care of their needs and that of the Earth.

Marsha Feinland did not respond to requests for information. Details stated here were extracted from her Web site.

Dianne Feinstein, Democrat, has been one of California’s two senators since 1992. Since her election, “Senator Feinstein has worked in a bipartisan way to build a significant record of legislative accomplishments helping strengthen the nation’s security both here and abroad, combat crime and violence, battle cancer, protect natural resources and secure millions in appropriations for Californians.

She serves on the Judiciary Committee, where she is the ranking member of the Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security Subcommittee; the Appropriations Committee, where she is the Ranking member of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee; the Energy and Natural Resources Committee; the Select Committee on Intelligence; Homeland Security Subcommittee of Appropriations; and the Rules and Administration Committee.

During her tenure, she has helped accomplish a number of conservation projects including the California Desert Protection program, which protects more than seven million acres of pristine California desert; Calfed, which authorized $395 million for a program to increase California’s water supply and restore sensitive water ecosystems; Healthy Forests, which reduced the risk of catastrophic fire in California forests; Lake Tahoe Restoration; the Headwaters Forest Agreement, which saved a 7,500-acre stand of uncut old-growth redwoods; and San Francisco Bay Wetlands Restoration. She has worked on border security and visa entry reform that prevents entering the United States using loopholes in the US immigration system; assisted in crime victims’ rights legislation and an assault weapons ban.

Feinstein was the first woman President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the first woman Mayor of San Francisco, the first woman elected Senator of California and the first woman member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Dianne Feinstein did not respond to requests for information. All information presented here was extracted from her Web site.

Don J. Grundmann, American Independent Party, advocates action on a number of issues important to Americans. Some of his views include: abortion rights (he is pro-life); return to state and local control of education; promoting development of nuclear power; phased withdrawal from foreign aid except for humanitarian purposes; encouragement of all nations to obtain our standard of living and aid them in achieving this goal; develop tariffs for the development and protection of domestic manufacturing and industry; regain ability of citizens to pay for healthcare and repeal prescription drug benefits bill; ban vaccinations to stop development of long-term degenerative diseases; ban homosexual marriage; stop all immigration and deport all illegal aliens.

Grundmann also says the Internal Revenue Service should be abolished; begin phased withdrawal of troops in Iraq and provide economic development incentive for peaceful relations between Israel and Palestine; produce a true Family Wage; structure corporate tax laws to provide penalties and disincentives for locating domestic manufacturing in foreign nations and affirm that the Second Amendment protects the right of the singular citizen to keep and bear arms.

Don J. Grundmann did not respond to requests for information. The details stated here were extracted from his Web site.

Michael S. Metti, Libertarian, says, “My position in general is limited government as described in the Constitution, and the promotion of free markets. The government’s main purpose from my perspective is the protection of our liberties in whatever scope that entails.”

The three main issues in his campaign are: tax consolidation and tax reduction, separating education and state and the environment. Regarding taxes, he believes reducing the size of government will result in savings for Americans. To do that the US government must be constrained within its constitutional boundaries. Metti says, “Taxes aren’t the price we pay to live in a free society, they’re the price of our chains. The more we’re forced to pay, the heavier the chains become.” He wants to remove government’s influence over schools and says, “We’ve tried free government schools; now we should try government-free schools.” He believes government-run education is not a good value and advocates putting educational choices back into the hands of parents to create competition in education so that parents can have choices and lower costs.

Concerning the environment, Metti states, “Putting the government in charge of protecting the environment is like asking the fox to guard the henhouse.” He wants to relieve the government of managing property that it has no constitutional right to own. Michael Metti lives in San Diego.

While Michael Metti did not respond directly to questions, he directed the Village News to his Web site. Except for his direct quote, all information provided here was extracted from that Web site.

Richard “Dick” Mountjoy, Republican, is campaigning primarily on five issues important to Americans. At the top of his list is illegal immigration. Mountjoy says, “If we’re to protect our nation, we must control our borders.” If elected he will work to immediately strengthen borders with improved barriers and beefed-up law enforcement and fight any attempt to give illegal immigrants government-funded services. Further, he will oppose all amnesty schemes. As a member of the State Assembly in 1994, Mountjoy introduced and qualified Prop. 187, an initiative to stop benefits to illegal aliens. It passed with 60 percent of the vote.

Second on his list of priorities is congressional spending, which he says “is out of control.” Mountjoy would balance the budget by cutting government spending and reducing ‘earmarks.’ Property rights and a recent Supreme Court decision on eminent domain concern him. Legislation that protects private property rights and ensures property owners cannot be forced to sell their land to a developer is needed, Mountjoy says. Regarding homeland security, he sides with President Bush on the administration’s anti-terrorism plans and says, “The government must have the tools necessary to root out terrorist cells in America.”

Last, Mountjoy affirms marriage should be between and man and a woman; he opposes marriage based on sexual preference.

Dick Mountjoy served eight terms in the California State Assembly and two terms in the State Senate. His candidacy is endorsed by the California Republican Assembly and Senator Dennis Hollingsworth, among others.

Dick Mountjoy did not respond to requests for information; therefore, details presented here were extracted from his Web site.

The 49th US Congressional District includes Fallbrook and the cities of Temecula, Oceanside, Vista, Lake Elsinore, Perris; portions of the city and county of San Diego; and part of Riverside County. Jeeni Criscenzo (Democrat) and Lars. R. Grossmith (Libertarian) are seeking to oust incumbent Darrell Issa (Republican), who was elected to Congress in 2000.

Jeeni Criscenzo, Democrat, from Oceanside, cites 16 issues facing Americans as important to her. At the top of her list is replacing US troops with UN Peacekeeper in Iraq. She believes US occupation of Iraq is “bankrupting our county and provoking increased hostility toward Americans.” Among her other priorities are developing sources of renewable energy, universal healthcare, saving the middle class through better management of the country’s labor force and rational immigration reform by “punishing businesses that violate the law in their hiring practices.”

Criscenzo also supports a woman’s right to choose and end-of-life dilemmas, stating, “Medical decisions are best left in the hands of patients, families <and> their immediate healthcare professional and not given over to the government.” She is former owner of a marketing and Web development business, and as a long-time activist campaigning first in Florida after 2000, she moved to Oceanside in 2004. Among her endorsements are the names of Sen. Barbara Boxer; Phil Angelides, State of California Treasurer running for Governor; and Jack O’Connell, Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Lars R. Grossmith, Libertarian, says, “In every case where there is more government control, the standard of living of the people is reduced.” If elected he would prioritize his efforts to: first, reduce Federal spending; second, limit the military to defense of the US; and three, allow for more legal immigration. Grossmith says, “Specifically, these three areas would leave the citizens of Fallbrook with lower taxes and hence more disposable income. This would also keep our military people alive and not dying in a foreign country, under a UN nation building attempt. And lastly, permit law abiding people to immigrate, allowing for additional workforce, reduced outsourcing and strengthening of the existing Social Security system.” When asked for the one reason voters should choose him he responded, “To ensure their children enjoy a higher standard of living.” Grossmith has lived in North San Diego County for 20 years.

Darrell Issa, Republican, who has worked as the Congressional representative for the people of Fallbrook for nearly six years, states, “I have been a forceful advocate for the projects and needs of the Fallbrook community. Securing federal funding to widen SR-76 to four lanes has been my top transportation priority. Last year, Congress approved a $4 million authorization and the planning and design process is being expedited.” In addition, Issa points to a specific positive impact he has had on the greater Fallbrook area with regard to increasing water availability.

“Working closely with the Fallbrook Public Utilities District, I have authored legislation [HR 125], which has passed by the House of Representatives that will provide an additional source of clean drinking water for Fallbrook and Camp Pendleton.” Beyond Fallbrook, Issa successfully fought for the construction of new on-base Camp Pendleton family housing to replace rundown units. Issa says through his experience in the private sector and working as the Congressional representative for his district he has gained “unique know-how for tackling the challenges we face and those that will confront us in the future. I have a record of success in getting funding for transportation and other infrastructure needs for Fallbrook and Bonsall. As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, I have been a leading advocate of tough border security legislation, additional funding for border patrol agents and completion of the border fence in San Diego.”

Issa serves on the House Government Reform Committee, where he is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Resources. He is also a member of the House International Relations Committee, House Judiciary Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee. In a press release dated August 2006, Issa “…applauded the decision by the Department of Justice to add 25 new Assistant United States Attorneys, who will focus exclusively on alien smuggling and other border crimes, to the five districts on the US/Mexico border including the Southern District of California.” Earlier this year, in an op-ed story published in Roll Call, the newspaper of Capitol Hill, Issa said, “Success comes from identifying opportunities and being bold enough to push one’s efforts to a successful conclusion.” He further stated, “We [the Republican Conference] have waited too long to address lobbying reform, energy prices, illegal immigration and the growth in government spending despite repeated warnings. In each instance, the knocking sound of angry voters finally jolted us into action, but we will face more serious consequences unless we make needed changes.” Issa founded Directed Electronics, the Vista, CA, based manufacturer of automobile security products.

Mark Hanson (Democrat) and Joe Shea (Libertarian) will vie for the office of State Senator, 36th District, against incumbent Dennis Hollingsworth (Republican). The 36th District covers most of San Diego County and a small area in Riverside County.

Mark Hanson, Democrat, believes “Fallbrook is uniquely positioned to produce technology and agricultural solutions to the energy crisis.” To take advantage of this, Hanson says he would encourage alternative energy manufacturing (e.g., solar cells) that would produce good jobs and a cleaner environment. Moreover, Hanson suggests the “farmlands surrounding Fallbrook are fertile ground for ethanol production.” To make Fallbrook High School even more effective, he would “institute apprenticeship and corporate training programs to enable students to be prepared for higher education or the world of work that requires critical thinking upon high school graduation.” Further, Hanson says to increase the health and prosperity of Fallbrook every resident should have affordable healthcare available that he would finance using money saved on prison reform.

Hanson’s qualifications are extensive. He served as District Director of Resource Development for the Grossmont/Cuyamaca Community College District and won awards from the National Council of Teachers of English and the California School Boards Association. He founded Leadership Management International, San Diego, an organization that helps individuals with productivity, communication and finance. He says, “I am now helping local companies produce alternative energy, the next wave of the industrial revolution, which will create over 450,000 jobs for the State of California, and an estimated 80,000 jobs for the San Diego region.” He is also president/founder of the Heartland Foundation, a charity that funds education, multicultural awareness, public art, workforce training and economic development projects and currently serves as Director of Training and Development for the San Diego/Imperial Counties Labor Council.

Hanson resides in Lakeside and has 41 years of private business and public service experience.

Dennis Hollingsworth, Republican, was elected to the California State Senate in November of 2002, after serving one term as the Assemblyman for the 66th District. Soon, he was tapped to serve as the Senate Republican Caucus Whip. He is the lead Senate Republican for budgetary matters as the Vice Chairman of the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, and a member of the Banking, Finance and Insurance Committee, the Public Employment and Retirement Committee (PERS) and the California State Public Sector Chairman of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), which is dedicated to the principles of free enterprise, limited government and individual liberty.

Hollingsworth is co-chair of Project KidSafe, a package of legislative proposals and a statewide initiative that protects children from predators and violent offenders. His successful SAFE Teams Act to assist law enforcement agencies in tracking violent sex offenders required to register under Megan’s law was signed into law in September of 2002. He is an advocate of private property rights and his work in the legislature earned him the “Legislator of the Year” and other awards from such diverse groups as the California Rifle and Pistol Association, the California Building Industry Association, and the Riverside County Schools Advocacy Association.

Hollingsworth’s voting record consistently earns praise from taxpayer protection and business groups such as the Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Association and the California Chamber of Commerce. He helped create the California Legislative Outdoor Sporting Caucus, an organization modeled after the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus in Washington, DC, to promote outdoor pursuits. Prior to serving in the legislature, Hollingsworth was a business owner and Legislative Director for the Riverside County Farm Bureau. He lives in Murrieta.

Dennis Hollingsworth did not respond to requests for information; therefore, the details provided here were extracted from his Web site.

Joe Shea, Libertarian, says, “Feel free to vote for me as a protest or because you like the idea of a more free society.” He doesn’t expect to win but offers his name as an alternative to other candidates. Shea says his opponents are not Libertarians, yet “they will certainly believe in some freedom for some people some of the time. That may not be enough for you.”

Shea believes the three most important issues facing Californians are: the war on drug users, marriage rights and traffic. He likens the war on drug users to the Prohibition era that made normal people criminals, gave profits to gangs, corrupted law enforcement, wasted money and, in this case, makes legal and useful drugs harder to get. On point two, Shea says, “Either make marriage for all or get the state out of marriage altogether.” Finally, he says politicians “get more press for making things like rail boondoggles than for opening up an extra lane on a freeway that increases traffic flow resulting in less smog and gives more people more time to be where they want.”

Shea lives in Ramona and is a high school math teacher.