Candidate for
Member of the State Assembly; District 11; Democratic Party

Q & A with Emmanuel

1. Why are you running for office?

It has been my life ambition to serve in an elected position, because I enjoy the feeling of giving back a little for all that the people have done for me. I came to this great country with a box of very few cloths, and $100.00 in my pocket; a gift from a friend, who believes that I am worth the investment. Today, I am asking my fellow American citizens to vote me in as the next 11Th district Assemblyman. I am a testament to the greatness, inclusiveness and generosity of the American people. I am your achievement.

Like most people, I am frustrated with the state of politics in our country. The people are paying more taxes than ever, the cost of housing, fuel, medication, utilities, traveling and all other needed life sustaining commodities has risen exceedingly, but salaries and benefits have remained stagnant. Our air, water, and land pollutions are not adequately regulated due to antiquated laws. The quality of our family life's are dwindling due to long commute hours, inadequate infrastructures, urban sprawl, and lack of well paying jobs which results in lost tax revenue, brain drain, inadequately funded education and community programs.

The face of our political representation has remained constant, and we the people are disenfranchised. The cost of running for office is for the rich and well connected, and laws that are in place preclude and marginalizes. Until now, we have only gotten what they think we deserve. We need to mix the pot, and elect working class candidates into partisan office.

11Th Assembly District is a district of people who are unique in their ability, age, culture, economic status, education, ethnicity, gender, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, values, and experiences. Therefore, our district leadership, both at the local and State levels must include people of different and a variety of backgrounds and perspectives, so as to create and maintain a key competitive advantage.

2. What are the things you WANT to achieve in office? a. Completion of highway 4. b. Support Bart system, but bring e-Bart in the interim. c. Bring awareness and encourage to more people to running for office. d. Celebrate our diversity and harness what is good from every culture to improve our district. e. Making sure all District infrastructural projects get its fare share of State and Federal dollars. f. Set up an Inter-District Leader's Forum to meet on a monthly or quarterly basis to discuss District related issues. g. Spend more wisely on education. Move California from our current 35th position on education to number one. h. Healthcare for all Californians. Without healthcare people can not go to work to earn a living or learn. i. There are kids in school that do not hear well to understand what is been thought or see well, because they have hearing and vision problems, and their parents can not afford healthcare coverage. j. We have Leadership crisis in both Sacramento and Washington.

3. What do you "see" that doesn't seem right and you'd want to change it? a. We need to improve the quality of life for our low income families in all our communities. b. Local roads are neglected, hence the people are forgotten. c. Incorporate all neighborhoods into the grand plan. d. Work with all levels of Federal, State, and Local Government to build more low income houses. e. Our Schools and Teachers are forgotten, and I will bring attention to our school administration and the students by working with all levels of government, school boards, student groups/unions/clubs and parents. f. Institute a Youth Service Corps program that will support community based internship programs for our youth, while they earn college funds, plus matching fund. g. We need to pronounce our children's positive accomplishment as much as we pronounce bad behaviors. h. I will propose a conference between all student bodies, local leaders, business, and entire community to set up a youth awareness week to celebrate youth achievements. i. We need to bring due attention to crime at all levels. Hold a community and law enforcement summits to address ways that we can work together before it becomes notorious. j. We need to address health issues of Lead Poisoning as it affects children and adults, Carcinogenic in water, air and soil, and the effect of Electro Magnetic Frequency (EMF). k. Prison should not be our growth industry; we need to work with families, schools, community and spiritual leaders, and law enforcement to prevent crime. l. In the budget, there is proposal for two more jails but no provision to spend more on junior colleges. m. It is a shame that we have homelessness, but it is on thinkable that some of them are war veterans. n. We need to bring better paying jobs to the district so as to: i. Stop the brain drain for our graduating community college and university graduates. ii. Reduce the commute time for our residents. iii. Increase out tax base value. iv. Improve the quality of life for our residents; and

4. National Issues of concern to your constituent? The Rich are getting Richer and the Poor Working Class Families are left to carry the burden. We are dealing with the treat of terrorism, sky rocketing deficits, triple digit gas prices, higher healthcare costs, natural disasters such as Katrina, and man made wars. While the working class can barely support their families, our leader's top two priorities are clear: huge new tax cuts for the wealthy and devastating cuts to programs that help hard-working families get by.

The House passed $56 billion in new tax breaks targeted overwhelmingly to the wealthiest Americans and $50 billion in cuts to programs that help struggling working families. It is clear that our leadership's priorities are out of touch with ordinary Americans.

• The working families did not ask for these--and it's time we elect new leaders.
• I will oppose vital program cuts for working families, and strongly oppose new tax breaks for the wealthy.
• I will support working family programs, like education, healthcare, Medicaid, student loans, and child support enforcement.
• I will work hard to prevent devastating fallout from natural disasters such we saw with Katrina. I will work to bring peace and prevent the threat of terrorism.
• Our federal debt is spiraling ever deeper, and working families are struggling with falling wages, rising fuel costs and out-of-reach health care costs. We need to keep our priorities clear and pursue an agenda that helps working families, elect working class candidates, rather than rewarding the elitist groups.

6. Explanation to explain your non-political experience/background? Politics is the process by which a democratic system of government is suppose to work for the people, and by the people. But, politics has become a club of the rich, precluding the people, but for the people, until now. I have invested my time in working with the government at all levels, in preparation for me to be an informed problem solver for the people. I am the best equipped candidate for 11th district State Assembly, with a track record of accomplishments, and not just deliberations and hand shakes.