Eleven candidates in 10th Congressional District race share divergent views at August forum
 
The five Democratic and six Republican candidates who are vying for the 10th Congressional District's open seat in the September 1 primary election, had the opportunity to present their political views at the Candidates Forum on August 7. Held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Concord, the forum was co-presented by the Contra Costa Council and the Bay Area Council.
 
Thirteen candidates in all are seeking the seat in the U.S. House of Representatives vacated by Ellen Tauscher, who recently became Undersecretary for Arms Control and International Security under Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. The top vote-getter in each party will move on to the November 3 general election, unless one candidate receives a better than 50 percent majority of the vote.
 
Bay Area Council President and CEO, Jim Wunderman, opened the forum, introducing Lisa Vorderbrueggen, political editor of the Contra Costa Times, who moderated the program.

Some of the candidates' comments follow.
 
Joan Buchanan, Democratic Asssemblymember from San Ramon, business executive and former San Ramon Valley School Board member, said that while she supported the federal stimulus package, it did nothing for small business. Government should "help Main Street and not bail out Wall Street." Creating jobs and turning the economy around is her top priority. She supports a good regional mass transit system and a state system to track student progress over time. She would support the building and strengthening of alliances with other nations and reducing dependence on foreign oil.
 
Christopher Bunch, Republican, a construction contractor from Fairfield, believes federal spending is out of control and would like to lighten the "federal yoke on education." He supports school choice and vouchers, and would push for lower taxes in all areas and fight against universal healthcare. "We can provide affordable, low-cost health insurance to everybody who chooses to participate if we would only allow the free markets to work." He wants to see national-security interests remain strong.
 
Gary Clift, Republican, organic gardener and retired law enforcement officer from Vacaville, points out that California gets fewer tax dollars back than any state. "We need to quit building schools in Iraq and stop closing schools here." He said he would abolish the U.S. Department of Education, and return its money and education control to states. He opposes the peripheral canal and says the federal government "has no business in California water."  He believes that open borders are the biggest threat to national security.
 
Mark DeSaulnier, Democratic state senator from the 7th District and restaurateur from Concord, would continue the policies of Ellen Tauscher and believes new stimulus money should go directly to small business as soon as possible. He supports the single-payer health system and protection of big job centers. He authored the "clean money" campaign-finance bill. DeSaulnier cites his longtime political service and track record in  addressing local and regional issues on a number of regional boards and commissions.
 
John Garamendi, Democrat, California's lieutenant governor and rancher from Walnut Grove, says the region's transportation needs are critical but no one area has priority. He supports a state system to track student progress. While he says climate change is real, he believes AB 32 is flawed because it copies what Europe did 10 years ago. He also supports public financing of campaigns and says the single-payer system can work. He points to 35 years in public policy at every level including international.
 
Adriel Hampton, Democrat, the San Francisco City Attorney's Office investigator and former journalist from Dublin, calls himself a "progressive Democrat" and believes that sustainable dollars need to go into infrastructure projects. He says reforms to bring clean energy will be one of the major economic drivers for the district and the nation. While against the peripheral canal in concept, he says we need to make sure the federal government is spending money to protect the Delta's levees. An advocate of high-speed rail, Hampton believes transportation is a key concern for the region. He advocates the single-payer health system and would work collaboratively to bring reform.
 
David Harmer, Republican, business executive from San Ramon, says he is running for Congress to restore fiscal discipline. He supports an energy policy that promotes cost-effective, environmentally sound alternatives to conventional energy sources, but says we don't need is a new tax on energy, especially in this tough economy. He supports a consumer-focused health care system with less bureaucracy.
 
Mark Loos, Republican, business owner from Livermore, says transportation projects would bring jobs to the district, and he would like to see "more of a hub approach" to mass transit. The husband of a teacher, he says there is a student tracking system in place now. He challenged the viability of global warming and asked "why is this being forced upon us?" He will offer voters a way to instruct him how to vote on every measure through his website. He does not support "the nationalization of healthcare."
 
David Peterson, Republican, business systems designer from Walnut Creek, criticizes "government's fiscal policy of bubble and bust" and observes that runaway spending begins with runaway campaign spending. He advocates more citizen involvement and more transparency in government. "As soon as you reduce government action to a tagline, you have the truth," he noted. Peterson also laments America's energy dependence on other countries.
 
John Toth, Republican, a physician from Pleasant Hill, noted that because the engine of the economy is small business, the only way to prosper is to get taxes and regulations off the back of the small business owner. He is opposed to publicly financed elections and believes Medicare is the reason for the problems the U.S. is having with its healthcare system today.
 
Anthony Woods, Democrat, a business analyst from Fairfield, says the region has the green tech and energy tech resources to be an economic leader. He supports a federal partnership in the Delta. He says one of the real challenges the region is facing is the underfunded expansion of BART and light rail. A two-time veteran of the Iraq War, he said the United States needs to employ broader diplomatic efforts to solve problems overseas. He supports the single-payer system but feels that people should have healthcare choices.
 
The Candidates Forum will air on Channel 28 in Walnut Creek, Channel 26 in Central Contra Costa County and Channel 24 in East Contra Costa County on August 22 and 29, from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m., and on August 30, from 7 to 9 p.m. 

 

Two additional candidates--Jeremy Cloward, representing the Green Party, and Mary McIlroy, of the Peace and Freedom Party--did not participate in the forum, as they are running unopposed and will not be challenged in the September 1 primary election. (Gino VanGundy, an Independent candidate, has dropped out of the election.)
 
The Council thanks event co-host, Chevron, and sponsors, AAA Northern California, Nevada and Utah, Mechanics Bank and Safeway.