GOP Election Candidates Speak Out on Issues

With November 6 just a few months away, local candidates are revving up their campaigns.

La Crescenta residents hosted a speaking event featuring congressional, state and local candidates Saturday. The program, held by the Tea Party Political Action Committee (TeaPAC), discussed a number of issues related to federal spending, constitutional rights, small businesses, among other topics.

Each speaker had a few minutes to address issues that they felt were pertinent.

“One of our main purposes today is to educate people on who’s running for office,” commented Phil Downs, one of the organizers of the event, who introduced each of the candidates. “We want them to vote intelligently, that’s why we have a program like this.”

Rick Williams, a candidate for the U.S. Senate who is challenging incumbent Senator Diane Feinstein (D-Calif), spoke about his background in finance, economics, and law as well as his number one priority to cut federal spending.

“That’s what they care about in Washington D.C.–money,” said Williams. “That’s what this election’s about.”

Another candidate for Congress, Jenny Worman, brought up gun control rights, Internet censorship and the National Preparedness Act.

“They just want to micromanage every part of our life,” said Worman, who is running to represent the new 28th Congressional District that includes parts of Burbank, Hollywood, Glendale, La Crescenta, Pasadena and West Hollywood.

“One after another, they are taking away our rights. We need to get liberty-minded people into Congress,” Worman said. “The primary role of government is to protect our individual liberties and they have forgotten that.”

Apart from congressional candidates, state and local candidates contributed their perspectives.

While Berj Parseghian spoke about his interest in the position of Los Angeles Superior Court Judge, Greg Krikorian, a member of the Glendale Unified School District Board of Education, tackled topics regarding jobs, education, family values, and small businesses in his quest to represent the 43^rd State District in the California State Assembly.

“It’s ‘We the people,’” Krikorian noted in his speech. “There’s nothing wrong with saying we want to take care of us.”

The event ended with a breakout session for participants to speak with candidates one-on-one.

“It inspires me to get out, to get more people involved,” said Mary Smith, an event attendee.