Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, Darren Ellis answer key questions in CA Assembly District 4 race
Democrat Cecilia Aguiar-Curry is seeking a fifth term to represent the California Assembly District 4. She serves as the Assembly majority leader. Her Republican challenger, Darren Ellis, is a doctoral student, educator a political newcomer.
The Assembly District 4 stretches from West Sacramento to the Mendocino National Forest, spanning five counties: Colusa, Lake, Napa, Sonoma and Yolo. The district is solidly Democratic.
The Bee asked the candidates to fill out a survey. Their responses were checked and slightly edited for spelling and grammar
Cecilia Aguiar-Curry
Political party: Democratic
Age: 70
Birthplace: San Luis Obispo
Residence: Winters
Occupation: State Assemblymember
Education: San Jose State University, B.S. in business administration
Offices held: State Assemblemember, Dist. 4 (2016 to present); Winters City Council and Mayor (2012 to 2016)
Campaign website address: ceciliaforassembly.com
Q. What would be your budget priorities for the upcoming budget year?
My priorities have been, and will continue to be, children, families and local communities, starting with strong investments in early childhood education and childcare. As incoming Chair of the Legislative Women’s Caucus, I will lead the charge for: expanding the availability of childcare for working families; providing childcare reimbursement rates that truly represent the costs that families are facing; and increasing wages and benefits for early childhood educators to reflect the demands, responsibilities and importance of their work.
Q. What do you think the Legislature should do to address the state’s ongoing homelessness crisis?
The State has provided hundreds of millions in funding for shelter, and more legal flexibility to address the root causes of homelessness, but we must also empower local communities. ACA 1 — Prop 5 on the November ballot — will make it easier for local communities to fight homelessness by allowing infrastructure bills — including housing for the homeless and affordable housing for middle-income families and first-time homebuyers — to pass with a 55% super-majority, as school bonds do currently.
Q. How should the Legislature respond to concerns about retail theft and fentanyl and drug overdoses?
Mass retail theft threatens local economies and terrorizes employees. These criminals should be taken off the street faster and put behind bars for longer. That’s why I voted for SB 1416, giving law enforcement and DA’s more tools to prosecute mass retail theft. Fentanyl abuse is a driver of street crime and adds to the homeless crisis. I’ve strongly supported AB 33, requiring coordination between law enforcement and public health agencies and giving law enforcement the ability to confront abusers on the street and collect the data needed to develop strategies to stem fentanyl abuse.
Darren Ellis
Political party: Republican
Age: 37
Birthplace: San Francisco
Residence: Winters
Occupation: Doctoral student, educator, restorative justice nonprofit board of directors member
Education: Psy-D (current - will not name for security purposes); Saint Mary’s College, M.D.; Northern Arizona University, B.S. Interdisciplinary Justice Studies
Offices held: NONE - I’m not a politician
Campaign website address: EllisForCalifornia.com
Q. What would be your budget priorities for the upcoming budget year?
I would prioritize funding for veterans services, foster care, non-profit and restorative justice grant programs, social services programs, K-12 free and reduced lunch/meal programs, and other needed programs that have been cut by the legislature. I would demand the cessation of funding healthcare, housing, and spending stipends for illegal immigrants who are currently being prioritized by Legislators over Legal Californians and Americans in need. I would also stop state funding of any university allowing pro-terrorism protests and antisemitism to take place on campuses.
Q. What do you think the Legislature should do to address the state’s ongoing homelessness crisis?
The Legislature should stop facilitating homeless and substance abuse tourism with soft-touch, non-punitive policies and laws that provide tax-payer funded drugs, alcohol, and paraphernalia, and should require good faith efforts made to seek help and remedial action prior to receiving tax-payer funded services. It is not the responsibility of tax-payers to fund willfully homeless drug and alcohol abusers. Instead, the focus should be on servicing those unhoused that are veterans, families with children, and others that are in need as a result of circumstance or mental health issues, not choice.
Q. How should the Legislature respond to concerns about retail theft and fentanyl and drug overdoses?
1) Our Legislature and Officials should stop buddying up to Xi Jingping and the Chinese Communist Party, an enemy state that is wholly responsible for flooding California with fentanyl by providing drug cartels with chemical precursors, training, and equipment necessary to manufacture it. 2) Prop 47 needs to be repealed via a yes vote on Prop 36; retail losses cost California businesses $8 billion annually and drive-up consumer costs. 3) Enhance trafficking and distribution charges. If a trafficker and/or dealer sells narcotics that result in death, they should be charged with manslaughter at minimum.
