PUBLIC FORUM\Pricer's experience what Assembly needs.

Billy Pricer is running for the 36th District Assembly seat which will be vacated by Assemblyman W.J. "Pete" Knight. Pricer is the past president of the Antelope Valley Union High School District Board of Trustees. He is also the founder of UCAN (United Community Action Network), an organization that helps troubled youths get back on track. He has served his country in the military and also has a business background. These are but a few of his many credentials.

I've known Billy for several years. During that time, I have come to recognize him as a man of ideas, integrity, tenacity, ability and morals. He is a man dedicated to public service. He shares the "common sense" conservative views of most residents who make up our community. I firmly believe he is the best candidate for his office.

Billy is a man of character who will stand firm and true to his beliefs and who will not sway in the political breeze. He has already proven that to us with the CLAS test issue. While he was president of the high school board, he successfully spearheaded opposition to the CLAS test despite great odds and legal threats. The issue received statewide attention from the media and concerned parents. His tenacity paid off. As a result, families all over the state of California have benefited.

I know Billy will be a "tough on crime" legislator. He is a former Los Angeles County deputy sheriff who is known and respected by many. I am a law enforcement officer with 19 years of service. I, too, respect Billy. It will take legislators of his caliber to make needed changes. He shares our hopes for this state and for our nation. I urge every concerned citizen to meet with him or hear him speak at the earliest opportunity. I am confident that you will come to have the same opinion about Billy Pricer as I have . . . and that your support will be reflected at the polls in March.

- Joe Flores 

Lancaster

Pederson tough on crime

The upcoming election of the successor to W.J. "Pete" Knight in the 36th Assembly District is not a parochial election but a referendum for public safety and against back-room politics and special deals for a chosen few.

George Pederson is the only choice. Pederson is currently a member of the Santa Clarita City Council and its former mayor pro tem. He retired as a captain of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department after 31 years of dedicated service to the people of this county. During his service with the Sheriff's Department, he was the commander of both the Mira Loma facility in Lancaster and the huge, sprawling Pitchess Honor Rancho jail complex at Castaic. During his tenure he was the overall commander of hundreds of sheriff's deputies. Pederson volunteered for active service in the United States Navy during World War II and served on combat ships in the South Pacific area.

Santa Clarita is often named as one of the safest cities in this state. It is certain that Pederson had something to do with that both as a community leader and an elected official. Being one of the safest, crime-free cities is not something that happens by accident. It must be nurtured. The people and their elected officials must work hard and use teamwork to accomplish this goal. Pederson is a team player and civic leader who demands safety and the best quality of life that can be obtained.

Several times in the last few weeks, I have listened to Pederson on both a local talk radio show and in person. The radio show host frequently comments that before every interview, Pederson says, "Go for it, ask me anything you want." Whenever a question is asked that Pederson does not know the answer to, he simply says so, no equivocation, no evasiveness, just that he does not know the answer to that. Pederson is open, honest and forthright. That is a refreshing attitude from a politician.

Contrast the above with our own local hopefuls for the Assembly office. Crime in Lancaster, and the Antelope Valley, is devastating and continues to get worse every day. We keep adding more and more sheriff's patrols and still crime goes up.

These crimes are not petty theft, or shoplifting or other misdemeanors and lesser felonies. They are violent and often senseless. A man walking down a Lancaster street is jumped and beaten by gang members for sport.

Read the paper every day and look at the percentage of space devoted to these crimes. Read about the murders, carjacking, home invasion robberies along with the rapes and kidnapping. The list goes on and on.

Lancaster in the last few, short years has become a dangerous place to live. You take your life in your hands just to walk along a street or drive to the market.

Has your quality of life gotten better these last four years under the leadership of Mayor Runner? No. Serious crime has increased, the number of local gang members has increased and become intolerable. The violence on our streets is more like that of Pacoima or Norwalk or East Los Angeles.

My vote goes to George Pederson and safety with quality of life.

- Ronald M. Thomason

Lancaster