Candidate for
Member of the State Assembly; District 21; Democratic Party

Restore excellence in our public schools

Our once-great K-12 and University systems made California the Golden State, an economic powerhouse - and they provided wide-open opportunities for children. John Carcione will lead the effort to restore public school excellence:

• Work with educators to develop meaningful standards to measure progress and accountability.
• Increase local control in decision-making, and encourage site-based management.
• Expand parent involvement, business community participation, and community-based coalitions.
• Re-invest in the California State University, University of California and community college systems.
• Expand class size reduction standards for grades 4 through 6.

Access to quality health care should not be a privilege - it is a basic human right. Repeated efforts at the national level have failed. California can and must do more. John Carcione will lead the effort to provide quality, affordable healthcare for all. That's why he's been endorsed by the California Nurses Association:

• Win comprehensive drug coverage for seniors on Medicare.
• Close loopholes in the HMO Patient Bill of Rights - and prevent new loopholes.
• Defend against devastating health cuts in California's budget.
• Preserve and expand access to health coverage for low- and moderate-income families.
• Fight the privatization of Medicare.

As President of the West Bay Sanitary District, John has supported tough EPA standards and pollution prevention measures. In 2001 the South Bayside System Authority was awarded "Treatment Plant of the Year" by the California Water Environment Association (CWEA). John Carcione will lead the effort to protect our environment. That's why he has been endorsed by the California League of Conservation Voters:

• Strengthen air quality regulations and ensure proper resources for enforcement.
• Strengthen water quality regulations, especially measures to protect our Bay.
• Limit uncontrolled growth and urban sprawl.
• Secure funding for agencies responsible for Environmental Protection
• Increase investment in conservation and alternative fuel technologies
• Protect the Coastal Commission.

California must shine again. Our pool of resources is unrivaled, and our workers are among the world's most skilled. Instead of selling short all our hard work (at today's prices), we should be investing in our future. John Carcione will lead the effort to improve our economy and create jobs:

• Invest in our public school system and state infrastructure.
• Fight against workers' compensation fraud.
• Eliminate redundant laws without marginalizing the environment.
• Audit General Services' practices to ensure maximum purchasing power.
• Preserve the future value of our greatest natural asset - public land.

John Carcione is a court-appointed Child Advocate. He has fought on the frontlines to improve the quality of life for our children, and he will bring that fight to the California State Assembly. John Carcione will stand-up for California's children:

• Provide equal access to quality, affordable child care for all.
• Pass AB 2395 - which requires low-performing schools (based on API scores) to serve breakfast to their children.
• Implement the Pupil Nutrition, Health and Achievement Act which raises nutritional standards for elementary and middle schools.
• Support AB 231 - which creates more efficiency in food stamp program so that more children gain access to basic services.
• Establish transitional food stamps, and allow recipients to operate a vehicle (for work) without losing benefits.
• Educate the parents of nearly 170,000 uninsured children (who already qualify for health coverage), and promote enrollment. For more info, visit http://www.cadvocates.org and http://www.childrennow.org.