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: Cottie Petrie-Norris
Current Job Title: State Assemblymember
Political Party Affiliation: Democrat
Incumbent: Yes
Other political positions held: None
City where you reside: Irvine
Campaign website or social media: www.Cottie.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?
While our primary focus should remain on improving the lives of California residents, there is no doubt that California is a leader on the global stage. California’s economy is the largest in the U.S. If California were a sovereign nation, we would be the fifth-largest economy in the world. Our diverse economy includes world-leading technology, life sciences and advanced manufacturing sectors. California’s agriculture industry has the highest output of any state, growing more than half the country’s fruits and vegetables.
California has long been a global leader on climate issues, championing clean energy and innovation, and serving as a model for a cleaner, greener future. It’s critical that California continues to engage with world leaders to collectively address the climate crisis as well as issues of commerce and trade to ensure that we continue to build a world-leading economy with opportunity and prosperity for all Californians.
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?
Removing barriers to voting should be our priority. So-called “voter ID” laws are solutions in search of a problem. I strongly oppose the ballot measure in Huntington Beach. The best data available shows that impersonation voter fraud is so rare that a voter is substantially more likely to be struck by lightning than to submit a fraudulent ballot. California faces real challenges — we can’t afford to waste time solving made-up problems.
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.
California’s $68 billion budget deficit is a profound challenge. Nevertheless, I remain optimistic that we will be able to address this challenge while preserving core state services. To address the budget deficit, I am advocating that the legislature:
– Utilize reserves: In anticipation of a potential downturn, I have championed policies to increase California’s budget reserves and voted to put money in the state’s rainy day fund. California’s reserves are more than $30 billion, a record high. I believe that we should deploy half of these reserves to address the current budget problem and preserve the balance for anticipated shortfalls in future years.
– Reduce one-time spending: In recent budget years, when California had a record budget surplus, numerous new programs were created. In some cases, these programs have not yet been funded or implemented. We need to pause new one-time spending which could address an additional $10 billion.
Speaking of the budget, what are your top three budget priorities?
– Fund public education.- Strengthen oversight and accountability; ensure that our tax dollars are being used effectively- Stop new taxes; that’s the wrong way to address the budget challenge.
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?
First and foremost, as a proud joint author of the legislation to increase penalties for child sex trafficking, I was appalled when the bill initially stalled. Protecting our children from violent criminals and predators should be one of our top priorities. Public safety has always been and remains a top priority for me in the Assembly.
The key issues that I am focused on this year are the fentanyl crisis and retail theft. I’ve worked with local leaders and emergency responders to identify and address the obstacles they face while also recognizing the pitfalls of our criminal justice system. We need to take a balanced, common-sense approach that holds people accountable while prioritizing diversion and rehabilitation.
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?
Historic investments should yield historic results. Despite California’s enormous investments to address to homelessness crisis, the problem doesn’t seem to be getting any better. Local and county governments, non-profits and other state contractors need to be held accountable for their use of our tax dollars. We don’t spend enough time looking at implementation and evaluating what is working, and what is not. Where are we seeing the best results on the ground? Are those dollars doing what they’re supposed to do? And if not, what do we need to do differently?
I am enormously proud of the work that Orange County has done to fight homelessness — we were the only county to see a year-on-year decrease in homelessness between 2021 to 2022. I have supported initiatives like Welcome Home OC and Be Well OC because they work — they are getting real results and they are saving lives.
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?
No. That is a precarious strategy for California businesses, workers and our economy as a whole. Specific minimum wage standards are a complex function of industry, geography and the fundamental law of supply and demand. That is why wages and benefits are best negotiated at the bargaining table. Collective bargaining enables workers to maximize wages while also ensuring that businesses can survive, grow and continue to create more good jobs for more Californians.
What is one environment or climate policy you’d champion if elected?
I am proud of my longstanding commitment to advancing policies that will protect our planet for generations to come. I have authored laws to hold corporate polluters accountable for environmental crimes, to protect our marine ecosystem, to safeguard the California coast from sea-level rise and to ensure that state agencies are effectively utilizing taxpayer dollars to achieve our climate goals.
As chair of the Utilities and Energy Committee, I champion policies to build a clean energy future for California that is sustainable, reliable and affordable. One of my top priorities for 2024 is clean energy infrastructure. In order to deliver on our ambitious climate goals, California must accelerate the deployment of clean energy projects statewide and maximize federal funding to support these initiatives. Billions of federal dollars are on the table — this is a truly historic opportunity to create high-quality green jobs and power California’s clean energy future.
What is one capital improvement project you’d like to see financed and completed in your district?
ARCHES (the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems) is California’s initiative to accelerate the development and deployment of clean renewable hydrogen. ARCHES will cut pollution, improve energy security and build California’s clean energy economy.
ARCHES is a statewide public-private partnership that includes the University of California. UC Irvine has played an important leadership role in this $12 billion initiative, and an ARCHES office will be located at UCI’s research park.
ARCHES projects will- Cut up to 2 million metric tons of carbon emissions every year — equivalent to the pollution of 445,000 gasoline-powered cars annually.- Create over 200,000 green jobs in California.- Generate $2.95 billion per year in economic value by 2030.
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?
It’s no secret that we have a mental healthcare crisis in California. Every day, we see the fallout in our emergency rooms, in our jails and on our city streets. That’s why mental health is a top priority for me. Locally, I have been a big supporter and advocate for Be Well OC. I’m proud to have secured $15 million to support a second Be Well OC mental health and wellness campus. I have also secured funding for mobile crisis units that are being deployed in cities across Orange County.
On the March 2024 ballot, California voters will have an opportunity to transform and modernize the state’s mental health system. Proposition 1 will modernize the Mental Health Services Act and fund a $6.38 billion bond to build new behavioral health housing and treatment facilities across the state. This will provide critical capacity and fill a critical care gap for Californians.
Describe your political philosophy in 10 words or less.
Solve problems, deliver results and always put residents first.
What is your go-to campaign trail snack or drink?
Burritos from Miguel’s Jr.
