* STATE BUDGET CRISIS: “We’ve had...

* STATE BUDGET CRISIS:

“We’ve had an incredible budget surplus over the past several

years ....It was used to begin too many new programs. Now we don’t

have the money to fund them.”

* GRAY DAVIS’ LEADERSHIP DURING ENERGY CRISIS:

“He lacks decisiveness. He was so afraid to do anything that he

didn’t do anything at all.” Maddox also supports further inquiry into

the practices of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, which

has been accused of gaming the market during the summer of 2001 by

participating in “ricochet” power-trading schemes.

* SEWAGE TREATMENT:

“Our coastline is such an important resource for our economy. This

county has been engaging in the discharging of effluent [sewage]

based on the population 20 years ago. The direction the Orange County

Sanitation District is going is promising. It’s reinforced by

legislation to keep them on track.” Maddox sponsored a bill, which

ultimately passed with the help of Assemblyman Bill Campbell,

requiring the sanitation district to meet higher federal treatment

standards by 2013. District leaders have begun implementing the

directive.

* MEDICAL MARIJUANA:

“I just think the law will be abused. The real people pushing for

this are pushing for legalized marijuana.” Maddox said he opposed

Proposition 215, which opened the door for patients to use marijuana

to treat their ailments if other drugs cause harmful side effects.

Voters passed the initiative in 1996 on a 56% margin.