加州参议院第7选区(SD7)因为前任议员升任国会议员产生空缺。将在三月17日举行特殊初选 (Special Primary Election)，如果初选没人获得超过50%的选票，五月19日将举行特别终选(Special General Election) 决定最后胜负。经过SCA5抗争的华人朋友都很清楚州议员职位的重要性。议员们提议和评审加州各项法律法规，包括加州宪法。 积极关心，参与议员的选举可以帮助支持符合华裔价值观念的候选人，保护华裔的利益。
注：California Senate District 7 (SD7) 包括两个县的下列城市: Alameda County: Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton Contra Costa County: Antioch, Brentwood, Clayton, Concord, Danville, Lafayette, Moraga, Oakley, Orinda, Pittsburg, San Ramon, Walnut Creek
这次SD7特别选举最初一共有五位候选人。 唯一的共和党候选人Michaela Hertle 最后关头决定退出选举，其他候选人包括Steve Galzer (D), AD 14 Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla (D), Former AD16 Assembly woman Joan Buchanan (D), 以及Terry Kremin (D) . Hertle退出的时候跨党派背书民主党候选人Steve Glazer。 可惜她退出的决定太晚，选票没法更改， 还是会出现一个实质无效的共和党候选人选项。Hertle 最近发出邮件呼吁所有支持共和党的选民投票给Glazer.
SVCA (Silicon Valley Chinese Association) 派出几名代表，和候选人之一，温和民主党人士Steve Glazer面谈询问他的竞选动机以及华人关心的议题的立场。下面是会谈的会议记录。我们总的感觉是在所有有效的民主党候选人中，Glazer的立场非常接近共和党，特别是他提倡的fiscal conservative, pension reform, anti-BART strikes, anti-union。 他说大学入学应该是merit based and color blinded. Glazer也提到当年犹太人大学入学的配额，表示理解华裔反对SCA5的动机。 希望该会议记录能帮助SD7华人选民积极参选，选出最符合自己理念的候选人。
Meeting Minutes with Steve Glazer, candidate for SD7
Written by Crystal Lu
Time: 3-4:30 p.m. Saturday, February 15, 2015
Location: Pleasanton
Q: Why did you decide to run for the Senate position representing SD7?
A: I want to utilize my experience and leadership to benefit the residents of the East Bay. I have a lot of passion about the issues; but it’s not just about ambition. I didn’t need to run for AD16 or SD7. If you really NEED to do that, there are certain things that you believe must be said to be successful, principally pleasing party leaders. I have been involved in politics for a very long time and don’t want my campaign to be about pleasing powerful interests. In fact, reducing the power of special interests is one of the reasons that I AM running. I want to lead; but it’s not just about ambition. The typical attractants to a politicians don’t work for me. No special interest groups are propping me up.
The conventional wisdom tells you that the more you say, the worse off you are. Therefore you don’t want to put your positions out. That’s why you don’t see much on my opponents’ Websites. They think they can win based on endorsements and big names you are associated with. I’m the exact opposite – I want to be judged by my positions. I want to be transparent. My positions are laid out on my Website GlazerforSenate.com.
So one of the things that set me apart from my opponents is the transparency issue. I’m not trying to say I’m your perfect candidate, but I put my positions out there for you to judge, and I have been consistent throughout the years.
I bring many assets to this race. I am well known. I have a track record of being independently minded. I have a strong donor base, which makes me competitive against the special interest money.
The best representative in Sacramento is one that represents your community first and foremost, not powerful interests. When I vote, I want to vote based on what is in the best interest of the voters in my district, not what the party in Sacramento thinks is best. That why I’m comfortable calling myself an independent Democrat.
One example is the legislation, supported by my opponents, that caps the reserve fund schools can set aside. I am opposed to this state mandate. School districts need the autonomy and flexibility to save money from a future state budget shortfall. Our representatives need to protect our district interests despite pressure from party leaders or the Governor.
Another example is the high speed rail. I like the idea of the High Speed Rail, but we don’t have a financial plan that makes it viable. I would rather see the money used to improve our local roads, highways and transit. Again, this is not the party line, nor does it align with Governor Brown but it is the right position for this district.
My independence has a price to be paid. The unions funds 90% of the democratic campaigns, but they have not and will not give me one single dollar, because they don’t feel they can own me. I won’t be controlled by any interest groups.
Q: What assets do you bring to the race?
A: First, my positions on issues. I’m socially progressive and fiscally conservative. These two things don’t have to conflict with each other. I want the government to help people in need, to do great things for the people, but every dollar has to be spent efficiently. This way taxpayers would want to give you another dollar to spend. So you have to be fiscally conservative to be socially progressive. Party labels are simply labels. It’s the issues that count.
Secondly, I am well known in the district from my active political involvement against the BART strikes, as a ten-year city council member and from my previous service as a senior advisor to Governor Brown.
Thirdly, my funds have been mostly raised through individual contributions, not from big special interest groups.
Lastly, from my commitment to be a bi-partisan problem solver in Sacramento. I have a track record of working with all parties to advance important policy improvements. I want to do big things, take big steps, to make the political situation better.
Q: What is your position on Prop 209
A: College admission should be merit-based and color blind. I sit on the Board of Trustees for the 23-campus California State University system. We want to have an inclusive and diverse student body. We should work earnestly to help students of all backgrounds be college ready. Unfortunately, there are underrepresented groups and we need to do more work with the K-12 and community college systems to provide extra help to those students. But merit should should be the driver for admission to the university. I come from a Jewish heritage and know the historical discrimination against Jewish people with the implementation of arbitrary student quotas in universities. I would not want to repeat that mistake with anyone else.
Q: To many of us, public education is the biggest issue. What’s your view on this issue?
A: I am a strong supporter of our public school system. I believe in a decentralized education policy which gives more power to local school boards rather than letting Sacramento decide everything. We need to put in place objective standards to hold school districts accountable for performance, so we can be confident that the kids are being best served..
We need to providing greater state funding for our schools. We need to give parents more involvement and choices within our public schools system. I support public charter schools.
Teachers are our most important asset and we need to reward them better for good performance. I also support raising teacher salaries. It’s crazy that a person staffing a BART booth gets paid more than the average teacher.
Q: There are demands for companies in Silicon Valley to increase workforce diversity. What’s your opinion?
A: We are talking about the private sector. There are already laws about not discriminating against current or future employees. There has to be a very compelling reason for the government to get involved in the business of a private employer. The government should not tell the private sector how to run their business. In my community, we had a conflict between an existing business and a competitor that wanted to locate there. My position was that you have to let the free market, not government, make these choices. As long as the new business met all of the rules and regulations, it was not government’s role to decide winners or losers.
Q: What are the top things you want to do if you were to be elected?
A: People often ask me what would be the first bill you want to introduce if you are elected. I’d say let’s not make too many bills! There are enough laws on top of existing laws. There should be a higher bar for new bills. What I want to do is first establish fiscal stability with the state budget. That’s the most important thing. Just raising taxes may not be the answer, which is a different view from many in my party including my opponents in the race. I want government to help those in need, but we need to demonstrate to taxpayers that we can be accountable and efficient in the use of their money. When we have developed that taxpayer confidence, they will be open to supporting more worthwhile programs for people.
Secondly, I want to promote bi-partisanship. I want to work across the political aisle to solve problems rather than just demonize those with a different party affiliation. I have prior successes in bipartisanship. For example, I agree with many Republicans who oppose rom Governor Brown on the High Speed Rail. Another example is that Catharine Baker and I have similar views about our underfunded public pension system. We belong to different parties, but we share many views, despite our different party affiliation. Many candidates talk about bipartisanship, but when was the last time they really stood up from their own party leaders to collaborate with other party? I have a proven record of doing this on BART, pensions, High Speed Rail, taxes, etc.
Q: What do you expect Asian supporters to do?
They can communicate my platform, qualifications in a form suitable for their communities. They can prepare materials in their languages, call their friends to engage, donate to my campaign, and so on.
I have campaign offices in Lafayette and Orinda which are used for making phone calls to voters in the district. People can go there or work with us on remote phone banking. Voter turnout will be low in this special election so voter outreach is very important. The Chinese American community can make a big impact if they are organized to turn out. The Tri-Valley is one of my top priorities for outreach.
参考网址
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http://www.glazerforsenate.com/ Steve Glazer For Senate 官方网站，给出了非常纤细透明的立场，值得选民仔细阅读;
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http://patch.com/california/walnutcreek/lone-republican-california-senate-district-7-drops-out-race-endorses-steve-glazer 唯一的共和党候选人Michaela Hertle 退出选举，跨党派背书Steve Glazer
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http://www.joanbuchanan.com/ Buchanan for Senate 官方网站。遗憾的是，她的网站没有提供任何热点问题的立场。选民很难决定她的理念是否符合自己的。
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https://www.facebook.com/JoinSusanBonilla Susuan Bonilla Facebook page. 我们没有找到她的官方竞选网站。很难了解她的立场。
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http://www.kremin.us/ Terry Kremin 官方竞选网站。有不少信息。