Laurie Davies, AD-74 candidate, 2024 election questionnaire

Ahead of the November general election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.

MORE: Read all the candidate responses in our Voter Guide

Name: Laurie Davies

Current job title: Assemblymember, Small Business Owner

Political party affiliation: Republican

Incumbent: Yes

Other political positions held: Laguna Niguel City Councilmember and Mayor

City where you reside: Laguna Niguel

Campaign website or social media: www.DaviesForCA.com

It’s no secret that California will play an outsized role in AI development and regulation. That was a big topic for the legislature this year, but what is one way you’d like to see the legislature tackle concerns about bias or transparency in the AI space or encourage innovation and start-ups? (Please be specific in your response, and keep your answer to 200 words or less.)

Regulating AI requires a careful and thoughtful approach. While some regulation is necessary, especially in sensitive fields like health care, we must be cautious about how it’s implemented. Privacy and safety must be protected. AI is a tool, and its outcomes are already regulated by the government. Over-regulating could make it harder for startups by giving big corporations an unfair advantage.

We also need to continue to prioritize innovation so global competitors like China don’t lead the world stage. To that end, in the legislature this year, I supported AB 3211, which requires companies that use AI to provide certain disclosures to consumers and the public.

Before California voters this year is a proposition to increase the state’s minimum wage to $18 per hour, the nation’s highest, by 2026. Do you support increasing the minimum wage in this way? Why or why not? (Please keep your answer to 150 words or less.)

Wages should not increase to inflation. Government should work to decrease inflation to come in-line with wages. I believe the minimum wage should grow based on business growth and labor market needs, not government mandates. We’ve recently seen wages increase naturally due to rising labor demands. When the government sets wages, it often leads to unintended consequences, like job losses and a higher cost of living for everyone.

This year, California faced a large budget deficit that put a strain on lawmakers’ ability to fund certain programs and projects going forward. What is one thing you believe the state should do to avoid such large deficits in the future? (Please be specific in your answer, and limit it to 150 words or less.)

California doesn’t have a money problem; we have a spending problem. As a small business owner, I know the importance of balancing a budget, and sometimes that means making tough cuts. California needs to do the same. $102 billion dollars of revenue has been lost from businesses that have left the state.

We need greater accountability. We can start by cutting wasteful government spending on failed programs, like the bullet train, that are costing taxpayers billions. Furthermore, we have spent over $24 billion on various homelessness programs, and we have nothing to show for it. To cut back on wasteful spending and protect taxpayer dollars, I co-authored AB 2903 to ensure any agency or department that gets dollars for homelessness shows us how the money is being spent and if it is effective.

Speaking of the budget, there are multiple proposed bond measures before voters this year. Is the state in a good place to issue bonds for state programs and infrastructure projects? Should certain programs or projects be prioritized over others? (Please be specific in your response, and keep your answer to 200 words or less.)

California recently closed a $50 billion budget deficit. We must be responsible with taxpayer dollars to avoid future shortfalls and cuts. I support using bonds for essential projects, but we must ensure they won’t lead to another deficit.

As a member of the State Allocation Board, I supported and will advocate for the passage of the education bond. With those dollars, we can fund school infrastructure projects so students around the state and in our community don’t go to school in crumbling buildings or deal with things such as asbestos. The state education bond does not tax locally; it uses funds in existing state revenues. Those types of bonds are the most fiscally responsible because our local school districts, for example, do not have to come before us year after year for local bond measures.

Cost of living is high on the list of concerns among voters, particularly among younger people. What is one bipartisan proposal you have to alleviate concerns about high prices or the cost of living in California? (Please be specific in your response, and limit it to 200 words.)

We can help young families with the cost of living by having affordable childcare. In Sacramento, I partnered with Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen, D-Elk Grove, on a bill to increase childcare eligibility for children from 12 to 24 months. No parent should have to choose between going to work or staying home to watch their kids.

In addition, in past legislative years, I have co-authored legislation to increase the renter’s tax credit to make it easier to keep people in their homes. Young people need hope for a better future, and I will fight for a better future.

The legislature this year considered recommendations from a first-in-the-nation task force that considered how California could atone for past racism and discrimination against Black people, including potential compensation. What do you believe is the role of the state in atoning for the atrocities committed against Black people? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)

The way to deal with past injustices is to ensure everyone has equal opportunity today, starting with our schools, for an example. The Sacramento supermajority has failed to make sure schools offer the same quality education regardless of your ZIP code.

To help increase equity and opportunity in our state for everyone, I authored AB 2030 to ensure business owners from different groups, such as women and minority owners, had equal opportunity to apply for and be awarded state contracts. We need to move forward and focus on the future. I want to see equity across the board. For example, my swim lesson bill; it’s not equitable that Black and Brown kids have a much higher risk of drowning.

Gov. Gavin Newsom recently ordered state agencies to remove homeless encampments on state property and urged cities to follow through. What else do you propose the state do to help eradicate homelessness? (Please limit your response to 200 words or less.)

We need a three-tiered approach to solving the homelessness crisis in California. One, we need more mental health and addiction treatment centers to help people get back on their feet. Two, we need to enforce anti-camping ordinances to ensure homeless encampments don’t become hotspots for crime and property damage. Third, we need an accountability factor to ensure taxpayer dollars spent on homelessness programs go where they are intended.

That’s why I co-authored AB 2903, and as mentioned earlier, I have been an advocate for auditing any program or agency that requests millions of dollars to fight homelessness. We want money to go where it’s supposed to go and greater connectivity among all homeless services.

Similarly, Gov. Gavin Newsom has urged county leaders to take advantage more of a new state law that makes it easier to place someone with severe mental health or substance abuse issues into conservatorships, an effort to keep more people out of homelessness. But local leaders in Southern California have said they need more time and resources to build, fund and staff more mental health facilities. Is there anything the legislature could — or should — do to aid communities struggling to find the resources to properly provide this type of mental health support? (Please be specific in your answer, and limit the response to 200 words or less.)

Gov. Newsom has spent roughly $24 billion on homelessness in grants to local governments, and we still have no idea what the results are. Solving homelessness requires funding, but it also demands public, nonpartisan audits of every dollar spent and public performance reviews to show success or failure. We need to reward what works and pull dollars from what doesn’t.

What’s the No. 1 song on your playlist while you’re on the campaign trail?

My favorite song for the campaign trail is “Takin’ Care of Business” by BTO.