Chris Duncan, AD-74 candidate, 2024 primary election questionnaire

Ahead of the March primary, The Orange County Register compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.

MORE: Read all the candidate responses in our Voter Guide

Name: Chris Duncan

Current Job Title: San Clemente City Councilmember + business owner

Political Party Affiliation: Democrat

Incumbent: No

Other political positions held: Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem

City where you reside: San Clemente

Campaign website or social media: Website: www.VoteChrisDuncan.com; Social: @chrisduncanca

Gov. Newsom has been front and center lately in global affairs, from a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping discussing climate action to a trip to Israel where he met with victims of the Hamas attack. Aside from the governor’s trips, what do you see as the role California should play when it comes to foreign affairs?

People in this district want action right here in our community, not overseas. I’m running for Assembly to solve our homelessness crisis, strengthen our schools, fight against crime and make California more affordable for the middle class. As the world’s fifth-largest economy, California can and should leverage its influence on critical issues such as trade, climate change and technological innovation. But in the Assembly, I will focus on advancing domestic, not foreign, priorities — that means reviving the California dream for our community by improving the lives of our residents right here in District 74.

There have been recent efforts at the local level to change voting requirements — from a proposed voter ID requirement in Huntington Beach to an effort to open up voting to noncitizens in Santa Ana. What changes, if any, should be made to California’s voting laws?

While political extremists are playing games with our democracy, I firmly reject attempts to interfere with Californians’ right to vote. Our voting system is secure. I support automatically registering anyone who is eligible to vote. No eligible voter should miss out on the opportunity to vote because of business, work or family obligations.

The latest state budget projections show California’s deficit has swelled to a record $68 billion, leading to calls for spending cuts. Give us two specific ways California could address the deficit.

Our schools and basic services are facing drastic budget cuts because career politicians like our current assemblymember talk a big game and then go to Sacramento and go MIA. The fact is, she’s done nothing to rein in out-of-control spending and protect vital services we rely on. I will.

I’ll fight for a full state audit of homelessness and a statewide study on waste, fraud and abuse so we focus on what’s working and stop wasting money on what’s not. I do not support cuts to our public schools or public safety.

Speaking of the budget, what are your top three budget priorities?

As a former federal prosecutor, keeping children and families safe is my top priority. I worked to protect our community and go after drug smugglers in the Department of Homeland Security. On public safety, we need a representative we can trust. My opponent voted against funding to fight fentanyl and even campaigned for Trump’s re-election with a now-convicted Jan. 6 terrorist. That’s unacceptable.

As a father, I’m committed to strengthening our schools. California used to be the gold standard, and we’re falling behind because Sacramento representatives like my opponent have failed us. As a parent with three children in our public schools, I understand firsthand the critical need to avoid teacher layoffs, hold the line on class sizes and increase parental involvement in local school district decisions.

Finally, our community needs well-maintained roads, bridges, beaches and public transport systems alongside investments in housing, water resources and energy projects.

The legislature garnered national headlines when an effort to increase penalties for child sex trafficking initially stalled. How would you, in the legislature, balance criminal justice reform with public safety concerns?

I’m a former prosecutor and a father of three young children. I know we can, and must, protect public safety and protect civil rights. It’s not either/or — it’s both. The legislature’s failure to increase child sex trafficking penalties was an embarrassment. The most heinous crimes against children deserve serious consequences. Period. Unfortunately, there were those in both parties who got this issue wrong, including the Republicans who were more interested in scoring political points than solving the problem. I won’t play those partisan games with public safety. I’ll listen to law enforcement, engage with the community and work across party lines to get things done — just like I have as the mayor of San Clemente where I added more police, and 100% of my public safety proposals passed with bipartisan support.

Homelessness continues to be a concern for Californians. While there is no simple solution, what is one proposal you have that could reduce homelessness in our communities?

As I mentioned above, regrettably, the state has spent a lot of money on homelessness without a long-term system in place to ensure the money is spent effectively. Spending millions to put homeless people in hotel rooms is not the long-term answer our residents deserve. Many homeless people simply lack affordable housing. We need to build more housing in a sustainable, affordable way so young people, medically disabled veterans and low-income families do not become homeless. That’s what I’ve done as mayor — and we were able to decrease our unsheltered population by 15%.

Other homeless people tragically suffer from mental illness or drug addiction. I support the new CARE courts program, in which a judge orders such individuals to a facility that can treat these conditions. And we need to let local governments enforce their laws if services are refused. Our residents deserve action on homelessness, not the status quo. Enough is enough. We need a change.

The governor recently signed a law that set a first-in-the-nation minimum wage standard for healthcare workers. Should minimum wage standards vary by industry? Why or why not?

California is just too darn expensive for working people and middle-class families. To help our residents afford to live here, I support raising the minimum wage, especially in a key industry like healthcare where we have a severe shortage of skilled workers and a growing senior population that must have reliable care.

What is one environment or climate policy you’d champion if elected?

As a city councilmember and mayor, I’ve championed community choice energy as a cornerstone of our environmental and climate policy. CCE breaks up the monopoly by San Diego Gas & Electric, offers lower rates than the utility companies and allows residents and businesses the choice to buy cleaner energy which will protect our environment for future generations.

What is one capital improvement project you’d like to see financed and completed in your district?

In Assembly District 74, I believe the most vital capital improvement project that needs financing and completion is the sand replenishment along our coast. I’ll fight for our fair share of funding in AD 74 and prioritize sand replenishment projects — just like I’ve done as the mayor of San Clemente. My opponent is running for her third term in the Assembly and has nothing to show for it. I’ve delivered on my promises, and I will in the Assembly.

The state recently began rolling out the CARE Court program in some counties, the state-funded effort that allows first responders, family and other designated people to petition a court to have someone with untreated severe psychotic disorders receive treatment and services. What other ways can the state prioritize mental health care for its residents, including those with less severe disorders?

I have a lot of hope for CARE courts program, which I’m glad to see Orange County is taking the lead in implementing, unlike other jurisdictions. It’s high time our state took mental health seriously, and that means hiring more behavioral health professionals, building more hospitals to support more psychiatric beds and creating parity between physical and psychiatric conditions. Right now, we don’t have enough of either, and people wind up in jail when they should be treated by health professionals. CARE courts is a complete paradigm shift that will allow people to get the treatment they deserve but only if we support it with the appropriate level of funding.

It’s too early to evaluate the results from the program, but we should be able to tell soon if it’s working such that it can be expanded to cover less severe disorders.

Describe your political philosophy in 10 words or less.

Do what is right, even if it’s at a personal cost.

What is your go-to campaign trail snack or drink?

Pizza.