Candidate for
Member of the State Assembly; District 6

My Philosophy:

Politicians are often asked why they are running for office. Usually, a rambling answer ensues covering all the issues that pollsters and consultants say must be mentioned.

For me, it's about one thing: accountability. It's been my guiding principle through six years as an elected official and more than 30 years as a parent. And it's the common thread through my positions in this Assembly race.

Fiscal accountability, for example, has been an obsession for me as a Director of the Marin Municipal Water District. I've opposed rate increases, reduced budgets, eliminated bureacracy and reduced staff size through attrition. After my first year, MMWD was named "Most Improved Public Agency" by the Marin United Taxpayers Association. In the Assembly, you can bet I'll continue to fight government waste and inefficiency.

We also need accountability for the traffic mess that plagues Sonoma and Marin. Cal Trans has spent millions of dollars and nearly a decade "studying" the problem, but still we have no fix for Hightway 101. I'll demand action to relieve the congested 101 corridor.

I'm a believer in environmental accountability, as well. This means that all policy decisions -- from housing, to transportation, to community planning -- must reflect sensitivity and respect for our natural resources, with future generations in mind. That's why I worked to save San Francisco Bay in the early days of the environmental movement, and why I've worked to protect the Mt. Tamalpais watershed and restore the Lagunitas Creek fishery. I want to bring environmental accountability to our state legislature.

Finally, the rise in juvenile crime reflects a loss of personal accountability in our society. One of the ways I'll tackle this problem is by requiring kids who commit petty crimes to pay restitution to their victims. They'll learn soon enough that they are responsible for the consequences of their actions.

To learn more about my positions on the issues and my campaign for State Assembly, please visit http://www.BackJack2000.com