Issue Position: Public Colleges and Universities/Technical Training

Issue Position

Better Career Counseling for our High School Students: First, I think we need to acknowledge that not every high school student is on a path to attend college. I think California could do better job providing guidance early on in high school to students to assist them in identifying which track they would like moving forward. It makes no sense to "push" college attendance onto students who have an interest in trades that are not taught at a traditional four year university. Early identification of future goals would ensure that ALL STUDENTS be given the best opportunity to achieve.

Vocational Training/ROP: I support more State funding for students graduating high school who desire a vocational pathway to a living wage job -- including increased vocational training and more invested in the Regional Occupation Program (ROP) for those who do not choose to attend college.

Keeping College Affordable for Our Students: California's public colleges and universities once offered a quality, affordable education for all our state's students. Now, with college tuition on the rise and our students graduating with thousands of dollars in student loan debt, the promise of a quality, affordable college education is becoming less and less attainable. WE NEED TO MAKE LOWERING THE COST of a four-year public education a TOP PRIORITY. If elected to the Assembly, I will make this a focus issue.

Giving Priority to In-State Residents: The irony is this … so many of our students with families who have long resided in California aren't getting accepted to many of our state's own public four-year universities. Bright students, who have excelled in high school both academically and in our communities aren't getting into our universities. Instead, California's public institutions are accepting a greater number of out-of-state and foreign students who are required to pay more for out-of-state tuition. This is unacceptable. Our students, with families who are taxpayers in our state, should get FIRST PRIORITY when it comes to applying for college in California.

A Four-Year Public College in Contra Costa County: Contra Costa County is the only county with over one-million residents that does not have its own public four-year college or university. When I served as Mayor, we were successful in identifying and earmarking 110 acres on the Concord Naval Weapons Station property for the future location of a public four-year university. This is an issue I care deeply about and intend to continue my work to bring a public college to benefit all our potential students and create new high-quality jobs in our region.

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