Ahead of the election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions from our readers to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you.

By Kaitlyn Schallhorn | kschallhorn@scng.com | Orange County Register and Hanna Kang | hkang@scng.com
UPDATED: January 27, 2025 at 12:44 PM PST
Ahead of the special election for the 36th State Senate District, 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 have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.
Name: Jimmy Pham
Political party affiliation: Democrat
Other political positions held: Chair of the Westminster Traffic Commission
City where you reside: Westminster
Why should voters trust you to fill this seat?
I have a proven record of dedicated service to and involvement in many parts of this district. I have deep ties within Little Saigon, chairing the Traffic Commission for the city of Westminster and serving as a member of the Kiwanis Club and Chamber of Commerce in Westminster. I am also a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association and Vietnamese American Bar Association of Southern California.
As an attorney and small business owner, I understand the importance of not only fiscal responsibility but also lending a helping hand to those in need. Should I be elected, I would operate with full transparency and integrity, taking into account feedback from my constituents to guide my actions.
Many of the cities in this district are older and more established. How can the state help with their housing and economic needs? How would you, as the state senator, help their economies evolve?
As the cost of housing along the coast increases, workers in our beachfront stores, restaurants and hotels have to live farther away to find housing they can afford, resulting in longer commutes and contributing to traffic. One way to address the housing crisis, reduce traffic and contribute to the economy simultaneously would be for the state to incentivize the construction of housing units in commercial areas, as well as fund reliable public transit.
These policy solutions working in tandem would reduce the necessity of driving, allowing local governments to allocate more space for offices, retail or residences.
What could the state government do to help the cities in the 36th District meet housing needs while still preserving their quality of life and special characteristics?
Housing security is critical to achieving the California dream, and the state has shirked its responsibility to spur construction to meet the needs of everyone who wants to live and work here. In the legislature, I will work with my colleagues to expand grants and tax credits for first-time homebuyers and bring millions of dollars in state funding back to our district to support new housing construction projects.
I am also committed to cutting red tape and streamlining approval processes to ensure housing is built more quickly and more cost-effectively. Incentives to build townhomes or apartments near existing and future transit stops, as well as convert struggling commercial properties to mixed-use or residential developments, will help concentrate development in areas that need it while preserving the quality of life and special characteristics of existing developments.
The seas are rising and affecting our communities with erosion and flooding, along with a variety of other issues that often look different for different communities. What can the state do to help alleviate those issues caused by climate change for the cities along the coast in this district and those more inland?
The negative effects of climate change, including coastal erosion, erratic swings between periods of drought and rain and sea level rise, are already affecting thousands of residents of Southern California. Coastal erosion has shut down vital transportation corridors for months at a time, including train tracks between Los Angeles and San Diego, as well as the Pacific Coast Highway along the Central Coast. Changing weather patterns have fueled vegetation growth, planting seeds for some of the most destructive fires in state history as drought conditions re-emerge. The state must step up the resources it provides for climate adaptation in addition to its existing efforts to mitigate the causes of climate change.
Voters approved Prop. 4 last fall, which would provide $10 billion for projects that would reinforce infrastructure where feasible to make it climate-resilient, such as burying electric lines in fire-prone areas; constructing sea walls to protect our coastal roads, rail lines and buildings; and digging rain catchment basins to capture runoff and store it as groundwater, rather than send it out to sea. If elected, I would want to monitor the effectiveness of these projects and look around the world for best practices to better adapt to a changing climate.
This year has been dubbed the year for affordability policies in the state legislature. What’s one specific idea you have to address an affordability issue in this district and/or the state as a whole?
The top affordability concern across this district is the price of housing — the average rent for an apartment in Orange County last year passed $2,800, with some cities like Newport Beach exceeding $3,400. Meanwhile, cities from Austin to Raleigh have seen rents drop due to an influx of construction, making new units available.
Public reporting has noted a concerning increase in purchases of apartment complexes and single-family homes by institutional investors like private equity firms or hedge funds in recent years. These purchases both squeeze out regular homebuyers who cannot compete with all-cash offers, as well as renters who face higher rents and additional fees. Federal lawmakers have proposed legislation that would cap property holdings by institutional investors and force divestiture of excess units — I would push for a similar bill at the state level to bring relief more quickly than can be expected from a gridlocked Washington.
If elected, what is the first bill you plan to introduce, and how does it address a pressing issue in the 36th District?
The recent wildfires in Los Angeles could be the most expensive natural disasters in U.S. history, and their severity was likely worsened by climate change. Last year, voters approved Prop. 4, a $10 billion bond for climate and environmental projects; $1.5 billion would go toward forest management and vegetation clearing, but local fires have made clear that local chaparral also needs proper maintenance.
I would propose a bill encouraging the state to partner with local Native American tribes with a history of land stewardship to properly manage vegetation and reduce fire risk.
How would you balance the district’s needs with statewide fiscal challenges, particularly if budget cuts or revenue shortfalls arise?
California’s budget disproportionately relies on the income of high earning individuals and corporations to fund expenses, including many residents of this district. While economically strong years provide plentiful resources to expand social programs, sudden downturns or outmigration of wealthy individuals can leave middle-class taxpayers like many in District 36 holding the bag and low-income residents without access to necessary programs.
I will be a champion for all residents of District 36 in Sacramento. I will work with my colleagues to forge a consensus to prioritize programs and benefits most utilized by our residents and to find alternative sources of funding at the federal or local level if necessary. I would also seek out philanthropic opportunities in the community, working with local stakeholders to help the community come together to support one another.
The legislature is in the midst of a special session that’s been called to “Trump-proof” California in preparation for the second Trump administration. Legislators have been asked, among other things, to bolster the state’s Department of Justice budget in the event that California would challenge in court some of the Trump administration’s policies. Do you support the idea of setting money aside to protect Californians’ rights? Why or why not?
I fully support setting aside state funding to empower our attorney general and the state Department of Justice to protect Californians’ rights and civil liberties. As the most populous state in the nation and the fifth largest economy in the world, California has fought for and negotiated certain privileges with the federal government, recognizing our influence in setting policy, including automobile mileage and air quality standards.
Additionally, voters have enshrined certain rights, such as reproductive freedom and marriage equality, into the state constitution. We must recognize the will of the voters and protect these rights from potential infringement by the Trump administration.
What legislative committee would you request to join in the Senate, and how do you feel your background would make you a good fit for the role?
I would request to sit on the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee to provide oversight of how the state spends taxpayer money and ensure a good return on investment. As an attorney, small business owner and taxpayer, I have a history of managing my finances and care deeply about fiscal responsibility. I want to ensure that our tax dollars are being spent wisely, and I will bring my expertise to the legislature.
Where is your favorite place to grab a bite to eat in the 36th Senate District?
Meet Fresh, a place to get amazing Taiwanese desserts and drinks.
Originally Published: January 27, 2025 at 12:03 PM PST
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