Primary campaign is dry run for 2 candidates in 38th Assembly District

By Timm Herdt
Posted May 5, 2014 at 5:23 p.m.

For the challenger, it’s a trial run. For the incumbent, it’s a tuneup.

But one thing the June 3 primary in the 38th Assembly District won’t be is decisive.

Because the campaign attracted only two candidates, there is no mystery about what the outcome will be under the top-two primary format: Republican incumbent Scott Wilk and Democratic engineer Jorge Fuentes, both of whom reside in Santa Clarita, will each finish either first or second and advance to the general election in November.

Fuentes, 51, is a first-time candidate for public office who says he is using the primary campaign season to speak with groups around the district, learn about his opponent, and better get to know the territory, which stretches from Simi Valley across the Los Angeles County line into the northern San Fernando Valley and then up to Santa Clarita and Castaic.

For the Democratic challenger, the political dynamics of the race are daunting. Political analysts consider it a safe Republican district, in which 39 percent of registered voters are Republicans and 34 percent are Democrats.

PHOTO BY MARC THOMAS KALWEIT

Contributed Photo Scott Wilk

After immigrating to California from Nicaragua as a teen, Fuentes became a U.S. citizen and attended community college before going on to obtain both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in electrical engineering from CSU Long Beach. For the past 25 years, he has worked as an electrical engineer for Caltrans.

Fuentes said the issues he cares most about are “full housing, transportation, education, the environment and family.” He believes it is time for California to begin reinvesting in education and social welfare programs.

“Because of the deficits from the Great Recession, some programs were cut to balance the budget. We could not just increase taxes; there had to be some cuts,” he said. “Now, the opportunity presents itself to come up with some better programs that can have more impact on the community.”

Wilk, seeking his second term, is a member of a freshman class of Assembly members that will be eligible under a 2012 voter-approved change in the term-limits law to serve 12 years in the Assembly. That is what he hopes to do.

The change has already produced encouraging results, Wilk said. “You can see some patience,” he said. “We have the opportunity to change the tone in Sacramento. I think there’s a connection in our class.”

As for his first-term record, Wilk said he believes he’s been “incredibly accessible” and has made a special effort to reach out to what for him is a new area to represent, in Simi Valley. He notes that he has recently formed an advisory panel of individuals from Simi.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Jorge Fuentes

“They have somebody up in Sacramento who listens to them,” he said. “My voting record, I think, reflects the district very well.”

As to legislative accomplishments, he points to his involvement in getting passed a fix to solve an unintended flaw in the recent reform of the Workers’ Compensation system, and his co-authorship of a bill that gives priority standing to disabled students seeking enrollment into community college classes.

Fuentes, the father of two college-age children and one in high school, says California must do more to make available college financial assistance to students from low- and middle-class families — and to make them aware of financial aid that is already available.

“We need to make the cost of higher education more affordable,” he said. “People benefit from going to community colleges and universities, but for some reason or another many choose not to. We have people who would go to school, but they just don’t know how, or they can’t afford it.”

Fuentes’ civic involvement has included volunteer work with the Boy Scouts, his homeowners association and with the Professional Engineers in California Government, the union to which he belongs.

He said he is using the months before the general election campaign to travel the district and make contacts. Among his recent trips have been a visit with the Simi Valley Democratic Club and attendance of a county Democratic Party meeting in Moorpark.

burninwavs#790726 writes:

Jorge Fuentes wants more money for social welfare programs. Scott Wilk gets my vote.

May 5, 2014
11:01 p.m.
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carthomas7 writes:

whats wrong with that; Fuentes made it coming as a student and has paid back many times over.
I do not want able bodied welfare cheats but many good people have lost their jobs..... PERMANENTLY even through no fault of their own.. they need a hand up and America stands as ONE!!
Good luck to both!!

Concerned Citizens of Thousand Oaks

Monday, May 5, 2014