Crystal Luong
Assistant News Editor
U.S. Senate candidate Bill Jones discussed public safety issues and his resolve to oust two-term incumbent Sen. Barbara Boxer Tuesday night, calling this a strong year for the Republican Party in California. His remarks were made to Pepperdine’s campaigns and elections class.
Although public opinion polls show him trailing Boxer by 17 points, Jones said the timing is right to contend for the Senate seat.
“People want decisive leaders in dangerous times,” he told students.
Jones is familiar with political battles. In 1998, a year when GOP candidates lost most major races, he was re-elected as secretary of state, becoming California’s highest Republican officeholder.
Junior Sean O’Neil said he thinks Jones has a fighting shot in November.
“He’s quite inspirational,” O’Neil said. “Five weeks to the election, a lot of stuff can happen.”
To oust Boxer, Jones said he will not only depend on the GOP for a support base, but he must pull independent voters and conservative Democrats to his camp.
Several factors, according to Jones, have convinced him of his chance for victory over Boxer: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has brought consensus to the state; voter registration is reaching out to more Republicans in this predominantly Democratic state; and the focal issues of this election are in his arena.
“Public safety is the number one issue today,” said Jones, who cited expertise with the topic through his authorship of California’s Three Strikes law during his time in the State Assembly.
The law, which passed in 1994, sends offenders who commit three felonies to life in prison. It has decreased violent crime rates and reduced the number of victims in California, Jones said.
Three Strikes faces amendments on November’s ballot that Jones said he opposes because the measure would release criminals back to the streets. Proposition 66 would narrow requirements so that a crime must be a violent or serious felony to qualify as a strike.
Senior Shaw-a Yapp, a political science major, said she disagrees with Jones.
“My problem with the Three Strikes law is the mandatory sentencing attached to nonviolent or minor crimes,” Yapp said. “The prison system is overburdened.”
Jones also used Three Strikes as an example of the need for public officials to produce lasting legislation that affects their constituents.
“Public life is about listening more than talking,” he said. “It’s not the office that matters. It’s the policy you generate.”
In addition to his race and the future of public safety, Jones expressed support for President Bush’s campaign against Sen. John Kerry.
“It’s fascinating for someone to run as a war hero and an anti-war hero at the same time,” Jones said about Kerry.
Senior Holly Keyt, a political science major, found Jones’ message on target about his Senate campaign and November’s election.
“He did a good job of showing that Republicans have a chance in California.” Keyt said.
09-30-2004