Brown, Wilde vie for 42nd Congressional seat
Campus Times
October 11, 1996
In one of the most targeted and watched races of this year, Rep. George
Brown (D-Colton) is being challenged by Judge Linda Wilde for the 42nd Congressional
District seat .
Rep. Brown has held this seat since 1972 and before that he served for nine
years in the Monterey Park district, giving him 33 years in Congress.
Wilde, the Republican nominee, is California's youngest Superior Court Judge.
Wilde supports term limits and says she would limit her term in Congress
to eight years.
Rep. Brown strongly supports responsible tax reform and the need for tax
fairness.
In his Issue Update, Rep. Brown said, "I support tax cuts for the middle
class and moderate income Americans, a targeted reduction in the capital
gains tax for those who invest in America and creating jobs in this country.
To afford this, we must continue to make sure that millionaires and the
wealthiest Americans pay for their share in taxes."
Rep. Brown also said in Issue Update, "Our challenge is to design policies
that can meet these goals and reflect deeply held American values."
In 1996, Rep. Brown voted for the "Taxpayer Bill of Rights 2,"
supporting a gas tax repeal for working families and supports tax relief
for small businesses.
Wilde is basing her campaign on three main issues: crime, the local economy
and taxes.
"The reason she is running for Congress is not just for change but
for leadership," said Wilde's campaign press secretary, Christian Nelson.
"When you look at the economy and the blight and rampant crime rate,
you need a member of Congress who is proactive. There needs to be an active
presence in the communities to accomplish this. And Linda will be here every
week to do this," he said.
Nelson said the three main aspects of her campaign are crucial to each other
because no one can be done without the others.
"We're not going to have businesses here and jobs created if owners
are worried about getting murdered outside. We're working to provide people
the opportunities to find work and that will take people off the street.
Reducing crime and helping the economy are the first steps and the third
step is reducing the tax burden," said Nelson.
Wilde has received endorsements from Dan Quayle, House Majority Leader Dick
Armey, Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, Rep. J.C. Watts from Oklahoma,
Republican National Chairman Haley Barbour, California Gov. Pete Wilson
and California Attorney General Dan Lungren.
Rep. Brown co-sponsored the middle class "IRA" bill which assists
Americans in funding their retirement plans. Rep. Brown likewise supports
the Earned Income Tax Credit, which, in turn, is a tax relief for moderate
income working American families.
Rep. Brown is making education a priority in this election.
He says he is convinced that the federal government should continue its
vital role in the education of all individuals. Furthermore, he believes
that "the key to our community's economic viability lies in the education
of our children"(Issue Update).
Rep. Brown strongly believes in making schools safe and drug free by providing
security officers in schools. In the area of college aid, Rep. Brown fought
Republican attempts to cut college loan programs for students.
Rep. Brown voted for the "School-to-Work Opportunities Act," which
enables high school graduates, not presently attending college, to make
a successful transition into the work force.
Rep. Brown's future plans for education include fighting for smaller class
sizes and more computers. On the college level, he will continue his fight
for financial aid and as the lead Democratic member on the House Science
Committee, Rep. Brown has dedicated himself to bring more high-technology
aid to schools.
Wilde's campaign maintains that education is on her priority list and that
the loan program needs reform.
"The default rate (for college loans) is so high, the highest ever.
Students need to get loans but there needs to be accountability and more
responsibility," Nelson said.
Wilde left high school one year early to attend Cornell University on a
full academic scholarship. While a freshman there, she worked in the law
library and read that in California, a bachelor's degree is not required
to attend law school. She decided to leave Cornell after her first year
to take the exam that would let her enter law school early. She passed the
exam and entered California College of Law at the age of 18. She passed
the bar on her first attempt and at 23 she began to practice law.
In addition to her law degree, she is finishing her Ph.D. at the Claremont
Graduate School in foreign policy/crises management of international conflict.
Wilde ran for Superior Court Judge in 1992 and assumed the bench in 1993.
She beat an 18 year incumbent. Wilde took an unpaid leave of absence to
run for Congress.