Residents of California's 18th Congressional District - Here Are Your Candidates' Thoughts on Innovation and Technology

A great blogger recently said, "A well-informed electorate is crucial to our democracy."

​And indeed, a quick look at any given newsfeed might make you think that people today are more informed than ever -- at least when it comes to presidential elections.

But you know when your vote can really make an impact? When you're voting in local elections. Sadly, most people know shockingly little about these elections, and many can't even name the people running for Congress in their district.

Which is why I jumped at the opportunity to moderate last week's debate between Dr. Richard Fox (R) and Bob Harlow (D), the two challengers to my district's incumbent, Anna Eshoo. 

Not only did I myself become super informed -- I also had a great time getting to know each of the candidates.

Here is the video of the first portion of our debate -- I've included the questions, below, in addition to more information about California's primary system.

Watch this debate. Get informed. And if you have additional questions for the candidates, please share them in the comments. I will be sending them to the candidates to get their feedback.

Other notes: Save the date!!

The California Primary Election Will Take Place On Tuesday, June 7, 2016.

For those who don't know, California utilizes a top-two primary system, which allows all candidates to run and all voters to vote but only moves the top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, to the general election.

This means that Bob Harlow (D) could run against Anna Eshoo, who is also a Democrat, in the November election. Anyone can run against anyone -- isn't that kind of cool and exciting?

I think so.

Next order of business: the questions. Here are the questions I asked:

1. After more than five years of negotiations, the United States and 11 other countries have signed the Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Deal. While the current president considers this a “historic achievement,” the three remaining 2016 presidential candidates all oppose the deal.

What's your position on it, and do you view it as favorable or unfavorable to high tech industry jobs?

2. Following the recent terror attack in San Bernadino, CA, a debate arose around the question of whether Apple should be required to unlock the suspects’ phones. The debate fizzled out when the FBI was able to access the data by other means, but surely something like this will come up again.

Should companies like Apple be required to cooperate with the government regarding data encryption and access to devices? Should there be more restrictions on encryption, or is it more important to protect privacy?

3. Cyber attackers recently launched a sophisticated attack to gain unauthorized access to confidential information at Anthem Blue Cross -- escalating concerns about our nation’s digital security.

What protections should be put in place to prevent a cyber attack -- in particular by other countries?


4. Politicians often discuss plans to increase enrollment in STEM -- science, technology, engineering and math. Some would go so far as to say the future of this country is in innovation. However, science funding has stagnated, and many young scientists are forced to leave research due to a lack of funding.

What do you think we should do about science funding in the U.S.?

5. Between automation technology and outsourcing, what is the future of work?

6. The cost of education is rising faster than pretty much everything -- including healthcare -- and students are graduating with more debt than ever.

What can the government do to drive down the cost of education? What can be done to help the millions of students who already have what has been described as “crippling” debt?

7. In District 18, visas for highly-skilled workers are a hot topic. While many entrepreneurs believe that attracting skilled human capital is critical to the tech community, others have argued that such visas hurt residents’ access to jobs.

Where do you stand on this issue?

***

A few more notes on this election.

On November 8, 2016, California voters will elect 53 candidates to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives -- one from each of our 53 districts. 

Here is some additional information, which I got from the amazingly useful resource, Ballotpedia.org. 

District 1
​
Primary candidates:
 David Peterson[4]
 Jim Reed[5][4]
 Doug LaMalfa - Incumbent[4]
 Gregory Cheadle[4]
 Joe Montes - Businessman[6][4]
 Gary Allen Oxley[4]
 Jeffrey Gerlach (Independent)[7][4]


Withdrew:
Doug Wright (R) - Attorney[8][9]


District 2

Primary candidates:
 Jared Huffman - Incumbent[4]
 Erin Schrode[4]
 Dale Mensing[4]
 Matthew Robert Wookey[4]


District 3

Primary candidates:
 John Garamendi - Incumbent[4]
 Eugene Cleek[10][4]
 Ryan Detert[4]


District 4

Primary candidates:
 Bob Derlet[11][4]
 Sean White[4]
 Tom McClintock - Incumbent[4]

Withdrew:
Art Moore (R) - 2014 challenger[12][4]


District 5

Primary candidates:
 Mike Thompson - Incumbent[4]
 Nils Palsson[13][4]
 Alex Poling[14][4]
 Carlos Santamaria[4]


District 6

Primary candidates:
 Doris Matsui - Incumbent[4]
 Jrmar Jefferson[4]
 Robert Evans[4]
 Mario Galvan (Independent)[4]
 Yuriy Seretskiy (Independent)[4][15]


District 7


Primary candidates:
 Ami Bera - Incumbent[4]
 Scott Jones - Sacramento County Sheriff[4][16]


District 8

Primary candidates:
 Roger LaPlante[17][4]
 John Pinkerton[18][4]
 Rita Ramirez[4]
 Paul Cook - Incumbent[4]
 Tim Donnelly - Former state rep.[4][19]


District 9

Primary candidates:
 Jerry McNerney - Incumbent[4]
 Antonio Amador[4]
 Kathryn Nance - Police officer[20][4]
 Alex Appleby (Libertarian)[4]


District 10

Primary candidates:
 Michael Barkley[4]
 Michael Eggman - 2014 challenger[4][21]
 Jeff Denham - Incumbent[4]
 Robert Hodges[4]


District 11

Primary candidates:
 Mark DeSaulnier - Incumbent[4]
 Roger Allen Petersen[4]


District 12

Primary candidates:
 Nancy Pelosi - Incumbent[4]
 Bob Miller[4]
 Barry Hermanson (Green)[4]
 Preston Picus (Independent)[4][22]


District 13

Primary candidates:
 Barbara Lee - Incumbent[4]
 Sue Caro[4]


District 14

Primary candidates:
 Jackie Speier - Incumbent[4]


District 15

Primary candidates:
 Eric Swalwell - Incumbent[4]
 Danny Turner[4]


District 16


Primary candidates:
 Jim Costa - Incumbent[4]
 David Rogers[4]
 Johnny Tacherra[4]


District 17

Primary candidates:
 Mike Honda - Incumbent[4]
 Ro Khanna - 2014 challenger[4][23]
 Pierluigi Oliverio - San Jose councilman[4][24]
 Ron Cohen- Accountant[25][4]
 Peter Kuo[4]
 Kennita Watson (Libertarian)[4]


District 18

Primary candidates:
 Anna Eshoo - Incumbent[4]
 Bob Harlow[4][26]
 Richard Fox[4]


District 19

Primary candidates:
 Zoe Lofgren - Incumbent[4]
 G. Burt Lancaster[4]


District 20

Primary candidates:
 Jimmy Panetta - Monterey County Deputy District Attorney[4][27]
 Casey Lucius[4][28]
 Joe Williams (Peace and Freedom)[4][29]
 Jack Digby (Independent)[4][29]
 Barbara Honegger (Independent)[4]


Not running:
Sam Farr (D) - Incumbent[30][4]

Withdrew:
Matt Bruner (No Party Preference)[4][29]


District 21

Primary candidates:
 Daniel Parra[31]
 Emilio Huerta[32]
 David Valadao - Incumbent

Withdrew:
Connie Perez[33][34]


District 22

Primary candidates:
 Louie Campos[4]
 Devin Nunes - Incumbent[4]
 Teresita Andres[4]


District 23

Primary candidates:
 Wendy Reed[4][35]
 Kevin McCarthy - Incumbent[4]
 Ken Mettler[4][36]
 Gerald Morris[4]


District 24

Primary candidates:
 Salud Carbajal - Santa Barbara County Supervisor[37]
 Benjamin Lucas[38]
 William Ostrander - Farmer[39]
 Helene Schneider - Santa Barbara Mayor[40]
 Katcho Achadjian - Assemblyman[41]
 Justin Fareed - Businessman[40]
 Matt Kokkonen[4]
 Steve Isakson (Independent)[4]
 John Uebersax (Independent)[42]


Withdrew:
Tyler Gross (R) - Businessman and paralegal[43]


District 25

Primary candidates:
 Bryan Caforio[44]
 Lou Vince[45]
 Stephen Knight - Incumbent[4]
 Jeffrey Moffatt[4]


Withdrew:
Maria Gutzeit (D)[46][47]
Evan Thomas (D)[4][48]


District 26

Primary candidates:
 Julia Brownley - Incumbent[4]
 Rafael Dagnesses[49][4]


District 27

Primary candidates:
 Judy Chu - Incumbent[4]
 Jack Orswell[4]
 Tim Sweeney[4]


District 28

Primary candidates:
 Adam Schiff - Incumbent[4]
 Sal Genovese[4]
 Lenore Solis[4]


Withdrew:
Casey Gray (R)[50][4]


District 29

Primary candidates:
 Tony Cardenas - Incumbent[4]
 Richard Alarcon[51]
 Benito Bernal[52]
 David Guzman[4]
 Joseph Shammas[4]


District 30

Primary candidates:
 Brad Sherman - Incumbent[4]
 Luke Davis[4]
 Patrea Patrick[4][53]
 Raji Rab[54]
 Mark Reed[4]
 Navraj Singh[4]
 Chris Townsend[4][55]


District 31

Primary candidates:
 Pete Aguilar - Incumbent[4]
 Kaisar Ahmed[4]
 Joe Baca - Former Democratic U.S. Rep.[56]
 Paul Chabot[4]
 Sean Flynn[57]


District 32

Primary candidates:
 Grace Napolitano - Incumbent[4]
 Roger Hernandez - State assemblyman[58]
 Gordon Fisher[4]


District 33

Primary candidates:
 Ted Lieu - Incumbent[4]
 Kenneth Wright[4]


District 34

Primary candidates:
 Xavier Becerra - Incumbent[59]
 Adrienne Nicole Edwards[4]
 Kenneth Mejia (write-in candidate)[60]


District 35

Primary candidates:
 Norma Torres - Incumbent[4]
 Tyler Fischella[4]


District 36

Primary candidates:
 Raul Ruiz - Incumbent[4]
 Jeff Stone - State sen.[61]
 Stephan Wolkowicz[4]


Withdrew:
Lupe Ramos Watson (R) - Indio Mayor[62][63]
Dwight Kealy (R)[64][65]


District 37

Primary candidates:
 Karen Bass - Incumbent[4]
 Chris Blake Wiggins[4]
 Shariff Hasan[4]


District 38

Primary candidates:
 Linda Sanchez - Incumbent[4]
 Ryan Downing[4]
 Scott Michael Adams (Independent)[4]


District 39

Primary candidates:
 Brett Murdock[4]
 Edward Royce - Incumbent[4]


District 40

Primary candidates:
 Lucille Roybal-Allard - Incumbent[4]
 Roman Gabriel Gonzalez (Independent)[4]


District 41

Primary candidates:
 Mark Takano - Incumbent[4]
 Doug Shepherd - Businessman[66][4]
 Randy Fox[4]
 Cody Ryan[4]


District 42

Primary candidates:
 Tim Sheridan[67][4]
 Ken Calvert - Incumbent[4]
 Kerri Condley (Independent)[4]


District 43

Primary candidates:
 Maxine Waters - Incumbent[4]
 Omar Navarro[68]


District 44


Primary candidates:
 Nanette Barragan - Hermosa Beach City Councilwoman[69]
 Martha DelGadillo[4]
 Morris Griffin[4]
 Isadore Hall - State senator[70]
 Marcus Musante[71]
 Sylvia Ortiz[4]
 Armando Sotomayor[4]
 Christopher Castillo[4][72]
 Ronald Siegel[4]
 Michael De Mauricio (Independent)[4]


Withdrew:
Bill Orton (NPP)[4][73]


District 45

Primary candidates:
 Max Gouron - Doctor[74]
 Ron Varasteh[4]
 Mimi Walters - Incumbent[4]
 Greg Raths[4]


District 46

Primary candidates:
 Lou Correa - Former state sen.[75]
 Joe Dunn - Former state sen.[76]
 Bao Nguyen - Mayor of Garden Grove[77]
 Louie Contreras[78]
 Rodolfo Rudy Gaona[4]
 Bob Peterson[4]
 Lynn Schott[4]
 Nancy Trinidad Marin[4] (Independent)


Withdrew:
Jordan Brandman - Anaheim city councilor[4][79][80]


District 47

Primary candidates:
 Alan Lowenthal - Incumbent[4]
 Sanford Kahn[4]
 Andy Whallon[4]


District 48

Primary candidates:
 Robert John Banuelos[4]
 Suzanne Savary[4]
 Dana Rohrabacher - Incumbent[4]


District 49

Primary candidates:
 Douglas Applegate[81]
 Darrell Issa - Incumbent[4]
 Ryan Glenn Wingo (Independent)[4]


District 50

Primary candidates:
 Patrick Malloy[4]
 David Secor[4]
 Duncan Hunter - Incumbent[4]
 Scott Meisterlin[4]
 H. Fuji Shioura (Independent)[4][82]


District 51

Primary candidates:
 Juan Vargas - Incumbent[4]
 Juan Mercado-Flores[4]
 Juan Hidalgo Jr.[83][4]
 Carlos Sanchez[4]


District 52

Primary candidates:
 Scott Peters - Incumbent[4]
 Terry Reagan Allvord[4]
 Jacquie Atkinson[84]
 Kenneth Canada[4]
 Denise Gitsham - Former Bush aide[85]
 John Horst[86]


District 53

Primary candidates:
 Susan Davis - Incumbent[4]
 Nicholas Walpert[4]
 Jim Ash[4]
 James Veltmeyer[4]