Editor’s note: This story is one in a series on the June 2 primary election. For more coverage, visit www.vcstar.com/news/elections.
Three candidates will face off in the June 2 primary election for the 42nd Assembly District seat in the California Legislature.
The candidates seek a seat currently held by Jacqui Irwin, who is termed out of office. She is running for U.S. Representative in District 26.
The district represents over 517,000 people from east Ventura County, including Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Moorpark and parts of Camarillo, as well as parts of neighboring Los Angeles County such as Malibu, Agoura Hills and Calabasas.
The top two in the primary will advance to the November general election.
Deborah Klein Lopez
Occupation: Mayor pro tem, city of Agoura Hills
Age: 58
Party affiliation: Democrat
Education: Dual bachelor’s degree in mathematical methods in the social sciences and economics from Northwestern University
Elected office and years in office: Agoura Hills City Councilmember, 2018-present
Criminal convictions, bankruptcies or pleas: No
Campaign website: deborahkleinlopez.com
What’s your top priority and how do you plan to accomplish it?
My top priority is improving my constituents’ economic mobility and quality of life. I believe that all residents deserve a government that works for them, which includes safe neighborhoods, access to excellent public schools, quality healthcare, affordable housing, clean air and clean water and family-sustaining jobs with opportunities to get ahead. I will stand up to Trump’s targeted attacks on Californians and use every tool available to restore the vital healthcare programs gutted by the Big Beautiful Bill, including services provided by Medi-Cal and Planned Parenthood. And I won’t ever back down in the fight to protect our civil rights and our democracy. I intend to be a driving force in moving our state forward and making the California Dream once again a reality for those willing to work hard and contribute to the fabric of our communities.
With the cost of living rising, more residents face difficult decisions about how they spend their money. Explain how you would work to address costs for all.
I’ll draw on my experience supporting local business, creating good-paying jobs through workforce development and apprenticeships and expanding community choice energy programs that reduce our dependence on costly oil and gas and lower utility bills. Also, to ensure that everyone has a stable place to call home, I’ll support cities and counties in meeting their Regional Housing Needs Allocation and partner on solutions for the home insurance crisis so homeowners have affordable options and protection for their most valuable investment.
In my fight to expand access to affordable healthcare, I’ll work to lower premiums, co-pays, prescription prices and out-of-pocket costs; push for transparency in medical billing; support prevention and early treatment; retain, grow and diversify our healthcare workforce; oppose private-equity takeovers of medical practices; and collaborate with experts and economists on a clear funding mechanism for a healthcare system that delivers the care we need without leading families into debt.
Ted Nordblum
Name: Ted Nordblum
Occupation: Medical supply company owner
Age: 61
Party Affiliation: Republican
Education: High school diploma and an associate’s degree in constructional engineering
Elected office and years in office: No
Criminal convictions, bankruptcies or pleas: No
Campaign website: Tednordblum.com
What’s your top priority and how do you plan to accomplish it?
Top Priority: Public safety.
I would fight to get Proposition 36 funded. The voters passed Proposition 36 to make crime illegal in California, but Governor Newsom wouldn’t fund it. I plan to get bipartisan support to get it funded properly. And put criminals in jail if they are breaking our laws.
With the cost of living rising, more residents face difficult decisions about how they spend their money. Explain how you would work to address costs for all.
Because of bad policies by the Democrats for the last two decades, we need to roll back the red tape on building new homes. Also, we have a water problem, and you can’t build new homes without water to supply those communities. California’s legislature will not build new reservoirs that the people passed in 2014 under Proposition 1.
It’s disgraceful that we continue to tax working families and make it harder for them to purchase a home. I would like to see the government get out of the way. The Coastal Commission and CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) are preventing new housing in California. They need to go.
Rocky Rhodes
Name: Rocky Rhodes
Occupation: Small businessman and Simi Valley councilman
Age: 60
Party affiliation: Republican
Education: Bachelor’s degree in humanities from Seattle University
Elected office and years in office: Simi Valley City Council, 2022-present; Simi Valley mayor pro tem: 2023
Criminal convictions, bankruptcies or pleas: No
Campaign website: www.RockyforAssembly.com
What’s your top priority and how do you plan to accomplish it?
My top priority is making California affordable again.
Families are working hard and still falling behind because Sacramento keeps raising costs, wasting money and making it harder to build, hire and do business here.
I’ll fight to protect Proposition 13, oppose tax increases, cut red tape and root out waste, fraud and abuse in the state budget. As a small business owner and Simi Valley City Councilman, I know government has to live within its means and focus on results.
With the cost of living rising, more residents face difficult decisions about how they spend their money. Explain how you would work to address costs for all.
California doesn’t have to be this expensive.
Families are getting hit everywhere: gas prices, insurance, groceries, utilities and housing. I’ll fight new taxes, protect Proposition 13, reduce the regulations and lawsuit abuse that drive up costs and demand real accountability for every taxpayer dollar Sacramento spends.
The goal is simple. Lower costs for families, seniors and small businesses and make California a place where people can afford to stay, work, raise a family and retire.
Ernesto Centeno Araujo covers breaking news for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at ecentenoaraujo@vcstar.com, 805-437-0224 or @ecentenoaraujo on Instagram and X.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Meet the candidates for State Assembly District 42
Reporting by Ernesto Centeno Araujo, Ventura County Star / Ventura County Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
