Assembly primary will be a quiet one

Jenny Marder

The race for the 67th District Assembly seat is on auto pilot for the

March 2 primary, with all three candidates from different parties.

Incumbent Tom Harman is running unopposed for the Republican

nomination. But there are two contenders who will fight him for the

job come November. Two-time City Council candidate and Libertarian

Norm Westwell will fight for the spot come November, as will retired

postal worker and Democrat David Silva.

The 67th Assembly District includes Huntington Beach, Cypress,

Fountain Valley, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, La Palma and Rossmoor.

The most important issue Harman will face if reelected is the

ongoing state deficit.

“It’s absolutely a crisis of unparalleled proportions,” Harman

said. “We need to work here in Sacramento to try and solve that

crisis.”

Budget problems are affecting the state at all levels,

transportation and healthcare in particular, he said.

“It’s an 800-pound gorilla that’s working outside of our window,”

Harman said. “Everywhere you turn just comes back to that problem.”

Other issues on Harman’s legislative plate include upgrading

treatment of storm water runoff, securing a voice for Huntington

Beach on the board that makes major transportation decisions and

improving the business climate locally and statewide.

Westwell, 45, said he was a firm believer in smaller government.

He also planned to devote much of his attention to the budget

deficit.

“The reason I’m running is the California state government is out

of control,” Westwell said. “It’s too big, it’s too bloated, and

we’re spending too much for what we’re getting.”

Westwell ran for the City Council in 2000 and 2002. He also ran

for the Ocean View school board in 2002.

Huntington Beach, he said, is too focused on environmental issues

such as the Bolsa Chica and not focused enough on the state spending

crisis.

“Legislative time should be spent focusing on what’s best for all

of the people in California, not just the people in Huntington Beach,

and the biggest problem we have now is money,” Westwell said.

“Legislators focus on small, little, narrow issues, and it’s causing

our state to collapse.”

Silva has not returned calls or shared his platform since filing

for office.