Union hosts state senate candidates

Despite the attraction of three state senatorial candidates debating the issue of education, only a handful of students turned out at the University Union Thursday to watch and ask questions.

District Six Senatorial candidates Chris Quackenbush, Deborah Ortiz, and Gerald Klaas were part of the third and final legislative candidate forum presented by the University Affairs.

Quackenbush, a Republican, and Ortiz, a Democrat, were joined by Klass, a Libertarian. Klaas was the only candidate present in any of the three forums to represent a party other than the Democrats and Republicans.

Klaas acknowledged the rarity of his presence.

"I'm here because I believe this is good for democracy. I do have a chance to win this," said Klaas, a Carmichael resident who graduated from CSUS with a degree in math.

Education was the focus of all the forums. With 54 percent of the state's budget allocated to schools, issues surrounding Proposition 1A, the $9 billion school bond, and school voucher programs were the main focus of the debate.

A question and answer session also allowed room for discussion about the rising costs of college tuition and fees, and what real steps the candidates would take to improve education if elected.

The hour-long forum had approximately 20 people in attendance, including two cameramen and the candidates' personal staff and acquaintances.

The forums began September 30 with Democrat Deborah Gravert and Republican Anthony Pescetii, the candidates for Assembly District 10. The District Five candidates, Democrat Linda Davis and Republican Dave Cox, attended the second forum.