The race for the 36th Assembly District finds familiar names and quite a few new ones.
Steve Fox
Incumbent Steve Fox recently chided state law enforcement officials about the release of the “Pillowcase Rapist” Christopher Evans Hubbart to nearby Lake Los Angeles. The veteran lawmaker said the decision was “unfair” to residents and “flies in the face” of traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice. Fox is an ardent advocate of proper evaluation of mentally ill persons within state mental institutions, as well as effective care/resources for the elderly.
Kermit Franklin
Kermit Franklin is an educator and community leader. A Democrat, Franklin is said to excel in creating consensus among voting groups, has a keen knowledge of local, state and federal laws regarding Medicare and Medicaid and is a former aid to Assemblyman Steve Fox. The Pepperdine University graduate has a doctorate in philosophy and is pursuing a Juris Doctorate.
J.D. Kennedy
Republican J.D. Kennedy is a United States Marine Corp veteran and joined the office of retired Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon in 2010. Kennedy said he is running for the assembly because the “current leadership [there] has not been an effective representative of the community.” An ardent supporter of Proposition 13, Kennedy said government needs to act “more responsibly, when it comes to spending your money.”
Tom Lackey
Palmdale City Councilman Tom Lackey said, upon election, he will work to reduce government restrictions and shift the focus from “entitlement to opportunity.” While pledging to never raise taxes, Lackey said earlier this month that “We need to allow the state government to get out of our way.”
Suzette Martinez
Among the youngest candidates in the field, Suzette Martinez is an advocate of Early Childhood Education and once served as the district office manager for Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon. “The foundation of upward mobility is derived from having access to a quality education,” she said last month.
