Dollar bills and employment were discussion topics for Assemblyman Roger Niello, R-Sacramento, and Rancho Cordova Democratic Mayor Ken Cooley during Wednesday’s Senatorial District one forum in the University Ballroom.

In his opening statement to the few students and audience members, Cooley discussed Rancho Cordova, his leadership capabilities and how he hoped people would “entrust [in] me to be productive with your time”

Niello’s opening statement discussed his involvement with issues like budget reform and how he has been an “effective conservative leader.”

The moderator, communication studies professor Val Smith, directed the questions, which pertained to jobs, the state budget, college tuition and Proposition 19, to the candidates.

Creating Jobs

“What governments do best is get out of the way,” Niello said.

He said jobs are created by the private sector and regulatory reform is needed for the economy to recover.

“The economy will eventually recover; the only thing the government can do is make it take longer,” he said.

While Cooley agreed that the private sector creates jobs, he disagreed with Niello in that the government cannot be apart of creating jobs.

“A government that works is its own catalyst for prosperity,” he said.

Cooley said his background mades him an integrator for change.

State Deficit

Both candidates agreed that the California deficit is around $20 billion, but disagreed on how to solve the budget crisis.

Cooley said the only way to make progress is to get everyone working together.

“We need to be aggressive in pursuing how government dollars get spent,” Cooley said, “There is a generation being hurt right now. Time is of the essence.”

Niello disagreed with Cooley’s statements and believes “we need to be more optimistic.”

To improve the budget, Niello said reforms that make future better need to be passed.

He said the reforms California needs are spending caps, pension system reforms, tax system reorganization and more reforms to help businesses.

Proposition 19

The candidates unanimously agreed that Proposition 19 should not be passed.

“What type of people will we be attracting?” Niello said.

He said the campaign for Proposition 19 is sold as a way to balance the budget. Niello said the initiative does not touch anything about taxes, regulation and controlling marijuana taxes

If Proposition 19 is passed, federal government laws will clash with California law, Niello said.

Cooley said no state has authorized the sale of marijuana for commercial use. As a mayor, he cannot see who it will help.

“It’s a bad idea,” he said.

Student Thoughts

Carly Raasch and Michelle McKee, both senior communication majors, said they came to the debate curious as to the candidates overall views of issues and their political agendas. After the debate, Raasch and McKee thought it was informative and that Niello directly answered the questions.

Michelle Curtis can be reached at [email protected]