Local Candidate Questionnaire

Thank you for taking the time to fill out the Pacific West Association of REALTORS® Local Candidate Review Committee Campaign Questionnaire. Pacific West is always willing to support candidates for local office that are pro-property rights and small business friendly.

In order for us to receive your questionnaire, you must fill out the form in its entirety. You may be contacted for a candidate interview to further discuss your answers. The Committee WILL NOT contribute to any candidate that has not first completed the questionnaire.

If you have any questions, please contact Phil Hawkins or Tim Shaw at (714) 221-8449.


Personal Information

Name:
Address:
Daytime Phone:
Evening Phone:
Cell Phone:
Email:
Office Sought:
Committee Name:
Campaign ID:
Political Party Affiliation:
Occupation:
Do you own or rent your residence?
Do you own rental property?
What elected/appointed positions have you held?
Who is your campaign manager/consultant?
How much money have you raised? What is your fundraising goal?
What are your important endorsements?
Who are the other candidates running?
What are the key issues driving the campaign?
How many votes do you need to win?
If elected, what do hope to accomplish?

Housing Issues

1) Rent control

The notion of rent control is born out of a lack of affordable housing. Most often this is a result of construction of new rental housing not keeping up with population and job growth. Advocates of rent control believe placing price controls on the rental market will address the problem. It doesn't. What rent control does is frustrate new construction of rental properties. The net effect is fewer rental properties available. The actions of rent control advocates results in hurting the constituencies they seek to help.

What is your position on Rent Control?

2) Point of Sale

Government agencies can use the opportunity of the sale of a residential property to implement upgrades such as water conservation measures (low flow toilets) or safety measures (carbon monoxide devices). Rather than making all property owners implement upgrades that benefit society or the common good, it is easier just to make the seller or buyer pay for these improvements. The transfer of ownership of a property is the occasion to force the upgrade. However, with only 3% of all the housing stock transferred annually it would take decades to have these improvements made to all properties.

What is your position on point of sale mandates?

3) Just Cause Eviction

Tenant rights advocates have been advocating for "Just Cause Eviction". Under A Just Cause Ordinance, the landlord would not be able to rely on the expiration date of the lease agreed to originally by tenant and landlord. The landlord could not end the tenancy, occupy the property nor sell property unless the tenant breaches the original lease agreement. Under current law, a tenant is given a 30-day notice to vacate if a tenant has been in a rental less than one year, or with a 60-day notice if a tenant has been there more than one year, an owner can have possession of their rental back for any reason. If a tenant pays as agreed and has abided by the terms of the contract, with just cause eviction, a landlord cannot evict a tenant.

What is your position on Just Cause Eviction?

4) Mandatory inspections

Some local agencies now require an annual interior inspection of a rental property. There is often a fee to own a rental property to pay for the inspector. It can also be viewed as a violation of privacy.

What is your position on mandatory government inspections of rental property?

5) Mandatory Inclusionary Zoning

There is a substantial need for affordable housing in our communities. One way to accomplish this is to require developments include a percentage of the units to be built to include low-income housing. While this benefits the individuals who purchase the below-market units, this cost is borne by the individuals purchasing the market-rate units.

What is your position on inclusionary zoning?

6) Land Use

Local agencies typically decide on the zoning, density and uses of the land in their jurisdiction. Since some communities refuse to accommodate housing for low income families, the state has become more involved with local land use decisions.

Who should make land use decisions?

7) Affordable Housing

Less than 30% of households can afford to buy a home in California. The state is requiring cities to build more housing, even if they are "built" out, and one way to accomplish this is with high density housing, in-fill developments, and rezoning of industrial and commercial areas to high density residential projects. While most Californians understand the need for affordable housing, some may prefer it not be built near them.

What is your position?

8) Eminent domain

One of the tools in the government toolbox is eminent domain, whereby private property is taken, the property owner is compensated, and the property is subsequently used for public purposes. This scenario was envisioned in the 5th amendment to the Constitution.

What is your position on the legitimate exercise of eminent domain?