Jimmy Pham, AD-70 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: Jimmy D. Pham

Current Job Title: City commissioner + attorney

Political Party Affiliation: Democrat

Incumbent: No

Other political positions held: Westminster City Commissioner

City where you reside: Westminster

Campaign website or social media: www.jimmyphamca.com

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?

Foreign affairs is the business of the federal government, and the role of the governor when visiting foreign nations should be in helping to find new markets for products manufactured in California and promote California businesses and tourism to bring new visitors and create jobs in our state.

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?

The right for every citizen to vote in free and fair elections is one of the great engines of our democracy. If anything, voting access, especially with in-person vote centers and drop boxes, should be increased — especially in underserved communities to ensure every registered voter has access to materials in their native language and has every ability to cast a vote.

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.

The state legislature was late to recognize the coming shortfall, and if elected, I would be vigilant in ensuring our budgets are balanced each year. As a business owner, attorney and city commissioner, I know what it means to keep a ledger balanced — as do families throughout Orange County who don’t have the luxury of running a deficit. Although California has record reserves that should help soften the blow of the upcoming deficit, to help put us in a stronger position for the future, more of the state’s spending, especially on homelessness and social programs, needs to come with accountability to ensure those programs are effective and leads to people getting off the streets.

In addition, a fairer corporate tax rate that ensures the wealthiest corporations in California are paying their fair share would help balance the state’s budget.

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

– Ensuring our schools have the funding to make certain every child has access to a top-quality education.- Ensuring essential government functions are met with no layoffs or job cuts as we weather the budget shortfall.- Ensuring our hospitals and healthcare system have adequate funding for everyone to have access to quality and affordable healthcare.

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?

As an immigration attorney, I see every day the need to reform a broken immigration system and stand up for those seeking justice and humanitarian rights. I deal with human trafficking as part of my work in helping T visa (trafficking) victims and assisting non-citizen immigrants to apply for green cards and citizenship through the U visa and VAWA federal programs.

In addition, public safety is certainly a high priority lately, especially with the rise in smash-and-grab robberies and the release of criminals from prison due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a candidate for Assembly District 70, keeping criminals off our streets and reducing crime in the district would be one of my top priorities.

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?

We as a state and as a society need to re-prioritize mental health and getting help for those with mental health or substance abuse issues — who make up a high percentage of those who are homeless. State, county and local governments need to all work together to make getting help for those in need a top priority — not just off the streets and into shelters, but real help that leads to lasting treatment.

Furthermore, the affordability of housing and inflation in our economy has also made the homelessness epidemic worse. Tackling these collateral issues will contribute to reducing homelessness in our communities.

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?

Healthcare workers are the frontline of our healthcare system, and they and their families underwent a massive strain during the COVID-19 pandemic that led to staffing issues and burnout industry-wide. These workers were called “heroes” and saved and extended many lives as society owes a great debt to them and all who worked in the face of adversity during the pandemic and beyond. I believe each industry should be considered on a case-by-case basis, but I vehemently agree that healthcare workers deserve a higher minimum wage standard.

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

California has led the way on the environment and climate policy, and if elected I would continue this tradition and work to ensure that we’re doing everything possible to reduce emissions through renewable energy programs and protecting our precious natural spaces. I believe other forms of energy such as solar, wind, nuclear, hydrogen energy and other newer renewable sources may be the answer to lessen society’s dependence on fossil fuels for energy consumption.

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

I would like to begin the preparation, installation and construction of a foot-traffic bridge over Bolsa Avenue at the Asian Garden Mall and work with the cities of Westminster and Garden Grove and Caltrans to finally complete the 405/22 interchange freeway project.

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?

Delivering a real community mental health system in our country and our state is a way the state can prioritize mental health care and treatment, with community clinics, partnering with non-profits and proven pilot programs and localized outreach services to ensure quality care for those who need it. There are many state and community organizations, like OC Autism Foundation, that with enough funding and sponsorship, can attack and help resolve the mental health epidemic head-on.

Describe your political philosophy in 10 words or less.

Committed to service and putting working families and our community first.

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

Water, lots of vegetables and protein bars.