Beth Krom is the former Mayor of Irvine, a city council member, a mother and a wife. She is also running to be the Representative for the 48th District in 2010, hoping to replace incumbent John Campbell (R).
Shermineh Rohanizadeh:
You have stated that we are being "underserved "by Campbell, how so?
Beth Krom:
In my four years as Mayor, John Campbell never contacted me once to express interest in what we were doing in Irvine, to offer assistance or to commend us on any of our constituencies in his district. John Campbell refuses to bring federal dollars back to the district for needed projects. He would apparently prefer to see our tax dollars invested in other cities around the country rather than bringing anything back to the 48th district.
SR:
How has John Campbell failed?
BK:
John Campbell has taken his constituents for granted. Not once has he been willing to come before voters in a public campaign forum. He substitutes blogging about partisan political philosophy for the relationship building, advocacy and creative thinking that is essential to being an effective public official. Since his election to Congress in 2005, he has not successfully carried any legislation and he has opposed legislation on issues that people in the 48th District care about like education and environmental protection.
SR:
What will you do better?
BK:
After eight years in local office, I have earned a strong reputation for getting things done. When I am elected to Congress, I will work directly with the cities and the people I represent. The 48th District has incredible assets — the precious coastal resources in cities like Newport, Laguna and Dana Point, impressive educational institutions like UCI, Irvine Valley College and Saddleback College, and major business centers and Base Redevelopment Projects in and around Tustin, Lake Forest and Irvine. To leverage resources effectively and support the needs of their citizens, every City needs an effective advocate in Washington.
SR:
What can you do to ensure that the 48th District has a voice?
BK:
There’s a reason they call it the House of Representatives. Every member of Congress has a seat at the table. What I will do differently is that I will not merely warm the seat, I will be actively engaged in the conversation on issues that affect the lives of children, seniors and working families. The people of the 48th will have my respect, my attention and my unwavering commitment to work every day on their behalf.
SR:
What made you decide to run for Congress?
BK:
I knew that I could be a more effective representative for the 48th. My term as Mayor was very rewarding and I am proud of what was accomplished. It’s not every city that gets named the “Safest Big City in America” four years in a row. Now that the gavel has been passed, I have the opportunity to look forward. I have always had a passion for public service. Having my family and so many supporters behind me gives me the inspiration to take on this new challenge. It will be an honor to represent the 48th District in Congress.
SR:
What are some of the biggest challenges facing 48th District?
BK:
The cities in the 48th District have the same challenges that face communities around the country: The economy, education, public safety, infrastructure, healthcare and environmental stewardship.
SR:
What will you do to remedy those challenges?
BK:
I know the interests of the 48th District can be better met with thoughtful, effective representation. There is no magic wand or crystal ball that comes with the job when you get elected. No individual can unilaterally solve all the problems. I will do the hard work to understand issues, work across the aisle to build consensus and bring creativity and innovative thinking to their work on behalf of my constituents and the citizens of our country.
SR:
How will you serve the Iranian American community?
BK:
The Iranian American Community may have their own perspective from a cultural standpoint, but having worked with a broadly diverse constituency in Irvine (including a large Iranian-American community), I believe the Iranian community has the same aspirations that all communities do — educational excellence to provide their children the best advantage in life, a safe and healthy community to raise their families, housing opportunities for all income levels, economic opportunity and the environmental resources that support a high quality of life.
Given the complexities of the world, I look forward to leveraging my knowledge of, and experience with, people of varying cultures, faiths and religions to add to our national discourse on international issues.
SR:
Why should people vote for Beth Krom in the 2010 elections?
BK:
I have a solid record of following through on my commitments. I tell people that the nicest compliment I get from people who knew me before I was an elected official, is that I’m still the same person I always was. The nicest compliment I get from people who know me as a public official is that they find me accessible and effective; and the nicest compliment I get from people who may disagree with me is that, while they may not have the same viewpoint on an issue, they appreciate the fact that I take the time to learn about issues and they know I always strive to do the right thing for the community.
SR:
There are some issues that are very important to the Iranian American community, for instance an Iranian Interest section, US-Iran relations and an SBA 8(a) minority status for Iranians. Can you please explain where you stand on these issues?
BK:
These are all issues I must educate myself about — and I will. What I will tell you is that the responsibility for building a better world rests with all of us. I am an advocate for democracy, peace, security, and equal protections under the law. Our strength as a nation has come from our diversity. All people must have the opportunity to pursue education and economic opportunity in peace and security. My aspirations are that of both a mother and an elected official. The decisions we make today will set the course for future generations. We must never forget that.
As for SBA I support the desire of the Iranian-American community to have access to the resources of the SBA just as other minority communities do.
If you want to learn more about Beth Krom and her 2010 campaign, please visit www.bethkrom.com.
