Darshana Patel, a Democrat, scientist and Poway Unified school board member, is running for the open seat in the 76th Assembly District, representing northern San Diego neighborhoods, Escondido and San Marcos.
To help inform voters, the San Diego Union-Tribune asked all the candidates a series of the same questions about their priorities, positions and campaigns. Their emailed answers have been lightly edited for clarity.
Why are you running, and what makes you the best candidate?
As the daughter of immigrants who struggled to realize the American dream, I know the challenges families can face during hard times. I am running for Assembly because I want to ensure that every person has the opportunity and resources to thrive, and because I can use my experience as a mom, scientist, elected Board of Education trustee and civic leader to make a difference in their lives. Having served on local and state boards and commissions, I understand our community’s needs and how state policies directly impact our neighborhoods.
(Lindsay Ruzicka / Courtney Lindberg Photography)
In the Assembly, I’ll invest in public education, work to keep our communities safe, protect our environment, address workforce and housing shortages, and expand quality healthcare access for all Californians. I am proud to be the only candidate endorsed by the Democratic Party, Planned Parenthood Action Fund and the Sierra Club, as well as local nurses, teachers and firefighters.
What are the top 3 issues facing this district and California generally?
The top three issues facing the AD 76 mirror that of California in general:
— Increasing income inequality due to high cost of living related to housing, healthcare, education and childcare/dependent care.
— Intensifying behavioral health issues related to homelessness, substance abuse, workforce shortages, access to treatment centers and youth mental health wellness.
— Changing community safety risks as a result of climate change including fire and droughts, gun violence, human trafficking and cybercrime.
What are the first 3 things you would do in your first term in the Legislature?
My top priorities for my first term are:
— Recruit a highly qualified, diverse staff to deliver high-quality constituent services and build a rapport with colleagues so that I can build strong coalitions to support effective policies that matter most to our communities.
— Seek committee appointments that align with my priorities to strengthen public education, combat climate change, defend reproductive rights, create jobs, reduce the costs of housing and healthcare and keep our communities safe.
— Ensure that my proposed legislation and votes align with my goals to be fiscally responsible, to create sustainable opportunity and to build effective policy.
What would you do to curb climate change and its effects on California, including the fact that those effects are often borne disproportionately by communities of color?
Our region suffers from drought and wildfires that are worsening every year. I will work with firefighters, insurance policy underwriters and experts to find ways to bring property insurers back to California as we continue to build more housing to meet demand.
The climate is changing rapidly, and we have to act with urgency to protect our planet for future generations. I will advocate for bold policies that prioritize diversified renewable energy, investment in sustainable infrastructure, long-term water capture and storage capacity and conservation to lead California’s transition towards a greener and more resilient future.
I will continue to champion green infrastructure, transit and clean energy and support legislation that strengthens environmental protections against industrial hazards as we build effective and sustainable climate justice policies.
What would you do to combat California’s housing, affordability and homelessness crises?
Housing prices are continuing to rise to unprecedented levels across California, and in our region in particular. High housing costs put a burden on working people, force people out of their communities and contribute to the homelessness crisis. Housing needs have been outpacing demand for over a decade, and I’ll work to clear obstacles to building affordable and middle income housing.
Rising homelessness is a crisis that continues to grow because the root causes have not been adequately addressed. California desperately needs to invest in these key areas: mental health infrastructure, addiction treatment, support for seniors and people with disabilities and affordable housing. In the state Assembly, I will fight for state investment in these critical areas to get people the housing and help they need.
Do you personally support Proposition 1? Why or why not?
I support the goals of Proposition 1 to improve fiscal management, efficacy and accountability of a tax-funded program initiated 20 years ago. I understand that in updating this policy to better address the behavioral health issues contributing to homelessness, the state will divert funds from some effective, county-run programs. I will work to find ways to backfill that funding loss and continue to support local prevention programs.
Our communities expect our state and local leaders to work together to tackle the challenges around intensifying behavioral health issues and rising homelessness, and Proposition 1 will help us deliver on those expectations.
Do you support or oppose stricter gun laws and background checks? Which, and if you support them, to what extent?
By every measure, mass shootings have become more frequent and deadly in recent years. For the first time, firearms have become the leading cause of death for America’s children. Already this year, in Poway Unified where I‘m a trustee, we averted a school mass shooting because we recently implemented effective gun sense policies.
In the state Assembly, I will fight for common-sense gun safety measures, including secure storage, comprehensive background checks at time of sale, closing loopholes, gun violence restraining orders and rigorous enforcement of our gun laws to protect the safety and well-being of our communities.
Do you support or oppose asking voters to roll back elements of Proposition 47, by which they recategorized some nonviolent crimes as misdemeanors 10 years ago? Why or why not? Do you personally support or oppose making changes to Prop. 47?
As a pro-public safety candidate, I understand the concerns leading to calls for reforming Proposition 47. Since its passage 10 years ago, there have been failed attempts to reform Proposition 47, and voters may have a chance to weigh in again in November.
As a voter-implemented policy, it’s appropriate for voters to decide whether to implement reforms, especially in light of increasing retail theft and drug-related crimes. In general, I prefer legislative fixes to loopholes and ineffective policies, rather than ballot initiatives that can subject voters to propaganda funded by special interest groups.
Californians will vote this year on whether to repeal Proposition 8, a 2008 same-sex marriage ban that has been unenforceable since the Supreme Court ruling legalized same-sex marriage but that remains on the books. Will you personally vote for or against repealing Prop. 8?
I will proudly vote to repeal Proposition 8.
