Republicans critical of their leadership

Alicia Robinson

Republican state Senate candidates agreed Thursday in their criticism

of the governor and president.

Candidates for the 35th Senate District seat, Dana Point Mayor Joe

Snyder and 68th District Assemblyman Ken Maddox, strongly opposed

President Bush’s recent proposal of a “guest worker” program for

illegal immigrants and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s $15-billion bond.

“In this case, the president is wrong, and we’re going to have to

continue to fight to find a better solution,” Snyder told members of

the Newport Harbor Republican Women’s club.

Candidates seeking the seat now held by Ross Johnson spoke about

their qualifications and answered a few questions at the Pacific Club

in Newport Beach.

A third state Senate candidate, 70th District Assemblyman John

Campbell, sent a representative to say he was in a Legislative

session in Sacramento and couldn’t get away for the event.

Snyder, a retired Marine colonel who served in Vietnam, said that

if he was elected, he would be a new face in Sacramento without any

special interest entanglements. He pledged to restore the integrity

of the state budget and work for clean oceans and beaches.

Maddox, a former officer in the Army national guard and a former

law enforcement officer, said the state’s tax and worker’s

compensation systems are onerous and need to be overhauled.

The women came armed with questions on issues such as Bush’s

immigration policy and the state’s proposed $15-billion bond.

“When we assist illegal immigration in California ... we undermine

legal immigration,” Maddox said.

Although Schwarzenegger has hinted that he would consider drivers’

licenses for illegal immigrants if restrictions were attached for

safety, both candidates said they would not support such legislation.

Snyder drew applause when he gave his stance: “Nothing for the

illegal aliens except a bus ticket back to where they came from.”

Not only did Maddox not support drivers’ licenses for illegal

immigrants, he said the state should cut off other benefits it gives

illegal immigrants, such as in-state college tuition rates.

The $15-billion bond on the March 2 ballot also got a thumbs down

from Maddox and Snyder.

“A bond is basically another way of borrowing,” Snyder said.

Maddox said he didn’t support the bond measure when it came to a

vote in the Assembly because he didn’t think the spending limit

linked to it went far enough.

Both candidates mentioned the effect illegal immigration has on

the state’s schools, and Maddox said the state needs to spend money

to build classrooms.