Here are brief profiles of the candidates who will appear on the June 8 primary ballot:
Republican Allan R. Mansoor, mayor, deputy sheriff, Costa Mesa
Mansoor describes himself as a conservative Republican who wants to restore “common sense” values to Sacramento. He lists his priorities as balancing the budget, bringing jobs back to California and stopping illegal immigration.
Mansoor prides himself on being the first mayor in America to place a full-time Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in a city jail so criminal illegal immigrants can be deported quickly. He says he opposes the regulations, taxes and lawsuits that drive small businesses out of California, and he wants to cut wasteful spending in Sacramento.
Mansoor has scored endorsements from leading Orange County conservatives such as Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, state Sen. Tom Harman and the Family Action PAC.
Republican Long Pham, education trustee, engineer, Fountain Valley
Pham describes himself as a fiscally and socially conservative Republican ready to deal with the state’s complex issues.
“The state fiscal crisis indicated that we have a flawed regulatory structure, which requires a state representative with an engineering and business background to make decisions on issues that greatly affect the future of our state,” his website says.
Pham served on Gov. Pete Wilson’s regulatory reform task force that repealed thousands of outdated regulations, and he says that experience make him the best candidate to help reduce California’s growing government.
If elected, Pham says his top priority will be to revitalize business and job growth by providing tax incentives and streamlining regulations. He also wants to push for a bill to improve K-12 math and science education and an energy policy bill to promote investment in new nuclear and desalination plants.
Pham and his wife have four adult children.
