Issue Position: Making Government Transparent and Financially Responsible

Issue Position

The path towards a better and brighter democracy starts through greater government accountability. For too long, the toxic influence of special interests has infected government at all levels and resulted in policies that put the interests of giant corporations and greedy developers above the interests of the people of our District.

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As an elected official, I'm proud of my record in increasing government accountability, openness, and transparency. I've received the Orange County Taxpayers Watchdog Award for "demonstrating dedication to the protection of taxpayer funds and for the advocacy of government transparency and fiscal responsibility."

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Under my leadership, the Irvine Community land Trust was awarded the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar, the world's most respected source of information on nonprofit organizations.

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I was also the only member of the Irvine City Council to oppose Measure D, which would have eliminated voter input into development decisions, because I believe that citizens must have a strong voice in deciding the future of their neighborhoods.

I enthusiastically supported the City's adoption of the Irvine Sunshine Ordinance, which expanded public notice to four times longer than California law requires and prevents government action without full and informed participation from the community. I also supported approval of a two-year budget cycle, along with a five-year financial planning program, to bring more accountability to government spending. These were tremendous improvements in the openness and accuracy of the City's budgeting process, compared to the time when my opponent was in charge.

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In contrast, my opponent allowed highly questionable accounting procedures to hide the true financial condition of the City of Irvine while he was mayor. Once he arrived in Sacramento, he continued his fiscal irresponsibility by taking more than 54 thousand dollars in gifts from lobbyists and corporate special interests. This includes all-expense paid trips to Australia and Japan, luxury hotel rooms, expensive meals, tickets to concerts and numerous gifts like bottles of wine, gift cards, rounds of golf and clothing.

In the Assembly, I'll make sure that large corporations, developers, and special interests don't control government decisions. I'll fight to end the power of lobbyists and special interests to make backroom deals and fight for greater openness and transparency and restore openness, accountability, and responsibility to state government.

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