1) Full name: Delecia Holt
2) Age: 44 years
3) Place of residence: UTC, San Diego
4) How long have you lived in your place of residence? Since 1983
5) How many total years have you lived in the 50th district? Since 1983
6) What is your family status (married/single? Children? Others in your household?)
Single/divorced, previously married 15 years to an Ethiopian, we divorced as I was infertile at the time. Currently engaged; for the past 10 years to my daughter's father who is from Mexico. My daughter is 7 years of age and I have a 16 year old nephew that has lived with me since the age of ten. Both of these Children are incredibly intelligent, respectful, loving and caring individuals. I am very proud to know that they will be two of this Country's leaders in the future.
7) What is your educational background? Please refer to my biography previously emailed to you, thank you.
8) What do you do for a living now? Please refer to my biography previously emailed to you, thank you.
9) What elected offices have you held? None
10) What appointed or non-elected government positions have you held? None
11) A brief employment history Please refer to my biography previously emailed to you, thank you.

Issue questions:
1) What would you say are the top three issues facing North County?
Delecia Holt's Response: a) Illegal Immigration and the impact that has on our agricultural industry, b) measurable success of standardized testing of our youth enrolled in local schools vs. students enrolled in schools nationwide (e.g., SAT9, CAHSEE, etc.) and whether or not we are developing students that have the ability to compete in a global economy. c) As well as water and sewage treatment programs that are environmentally safe coupled with and energy efficient process.
2) If elected, how specifically would you propose to deal with those issues?
Delecia Holt's Response: a) support the McCain bill currently in the senate and attempt to utilize the local charity organizations to be the liaison between the state, federal and local agencies and the immigrant recipients to ensure measurable positive outcomes and cut down on government waste of tax dollars.
b) Utilize the assessment department of the school district as they are in charge of analyzing standardized test for the schools within their district along with parents and teachers, churches and local boys and girls organizations to provide an environment in which learning is rewarding. We as a country have gotten away from accountability and involvement and the end result has been students that feel disenfranchised from their families, schools and communities. Nurturing environments produce positive results. Students must be constantly cheered on by their families, schools and communities and rewarded when they put forth a tangible effort. Statistics show that regardless of a child's
socio-economic background if provided a nurturing learning environment that child will thrive and success however small is obtainable.

Please answer the following questions about specific issues:

Immigration
1) What do you feel is the greatest policy issue facing North County when it comes to immigration? What legislative changes would you propose to deal with this issue?
Delecia Holt's Response: What to do with employer's that employ illegal immigrants has to be the greatest policy issue at present. There must be heavy monetary fines, possible seizure of these employer's businesses if non-compliant with Homeland Security employment policies for repeated offenders and seizure of their personal property and or time in prison if warranted. Employer's should be required to submit all potential employees to the Dept. of Homeland Security - FBI and Interpol for background checks to ensure that they are not on a terrorist watch list, or have a criminal history and a credible threat to U.S. security. All of these measures must be done in accordance with the law and must not infringe upon the civil rights of the person in question. Illegal Immigrants should have the same rights afforded all in U.S. citizens in the U.S. Constitution after they become legalized citizens of this country. Prior to that they should be allowed to live free of tyranny and exploitation and have the right to thrive. No man should have less.

2) Do you support a guest-worker program for foreign workers? Why or why not? If so, what kind of program would you propose?
Delecia Holt's Response: No, While I understand the intent behind it, as it is similar to guest worker programs in France, etc. The difference in the U.S. is that there is no program in place to aggressively and accurately monitor the program and expel/deport those that defy the regulations. We are a country at war! At this point in time, a guest worker program is not prudent. Especially, with the lack of support being given by Vincente Fox of Mexico and his open defiance of our immigration laws and the use of that country by terrorists to gain entry into the United States of America. “…the needs of the many; out way the needs of the few; or the one…” We must look at the greater good of the country and design policies that reflect the needs of our Citizens. I would support Senator McCain's bill and hope to improve upon it as the needs of those governed by it changes.
3) What policies do you propose or support with regards to the estimated 11 to 20 million illegal immigrants currently in the U.S.?
Delecia Holt's Response: I would support Senator McCain's bill and hope to improve upon it as the needs of those governed by it changes.
4) What, if any, reforms would you propose for enforcement of current employment laws regarding illegal workers and the businesses that hire them?
Delecia Holt's Response: There must be heavy monetary fines, possible seizure of these employer's businesses if non-compliant with Homeland Security employment policies for repeated offenders and seizure of their personal property and or time in prison if warranted. Employer's should be required to submit all potential employees to the Dept. of Homeland Security - FBI and Interpol for background checks to ensure that they are not on a terrorist watch list, or have a criminal history and a credible threat to U.S. security. All of these measures must be done in accordance with the law and must not infringe upon the civil rights of the person in question. Illegal Immigrants should have the same rights afforded all in U.S. citizens in the U.S. Constitution after they become legalized citizens of this country. Prior to that they should be allowed to live free of tyranny and exploitation and have the right to thrive. No man should have less.

5) Do you support the idea of a nationwide border fence on the U.S./Mexico border?
Delecia Holt's Response: NO! We saw first hand how destructive the Berlin Wall was in Germany as well as throughout Europe and the remainder of the world. Such concrete obstacles instill fear in all that see them and breeds contempt for all parties on either side of the obstacle (wall). President Regan in 1983 commanded Mikhail Gorbachev to “...tear down this wall…” walls breed fear, fear breeds contempt and contempt breeds violence against innocents.
If so, how would you deal with environmental and cost issues related to such a fence? If not, what type of border security policy do you favor? N/A

6) What are your feelings on interior border enforcement? How should illegal residents in North County be handled?
Delecia Holt's Response: Illegal Immigrants should have the same rights afforded all in U.S. citizens in the U.S. Constitution after they become legalized citizens of this country. Prior to that they should be allowed to live free of tyranny and exploitation and have the right to thrive. No man should have less. They should be encouraged to seek asylum in this country, citizenship and pledge to protect this country with their lives if necessary as terrorist don't discriminate, they kill anyone in their midst for maximum shock value. Therefore, illegal immigrants have just as much to loose as legalized citizens. We are all in this together and the security of this country should be our main priority regardless of where we come from because we all live in the United Sates of America right now.

Education
1) What do you feel is the greatest policy issue facing North County when it comes to education? What legislative changes would you propose to deal with this issue?
Delecia Holt's Response: the impact of the illegal immigrant population on our school budgets, classroom size, teacher shortage and civil rights of all citizens within this district.
Senator McCain's bill is the best proposition at present and should be voted into law with minor long-term modifications that ensures the security of the country.
2) Do you think the federal government is spending enough, too much or not enough money on public education?
Delecia Holt's Response: Too little on public education.
3) How do you propose school districts maintain high academic standards in difficult budget times? Delecia Holt's Response: My background is in research and I believe that if we utilize the numerous standardized tests currently available to our school districts (e.g., SAT9, CAHSEE, etc.) to ensure that we are developing students that have the ability to compete in a global economy. Utilize the assessment department of the school district as they are in charge of analyzing standardized test for the schools within their district along with parents and teachers, churches and local boys and girls organizations to provide an environment in which learning is rewarding. We as a country have gotten away from accountability and involvement and the end result has been students that feel disenfranchised from their families, schools and communities. Nurturing environments produce positive results. Students must be constantly cheered on by their families, schools and communities and rewarded when they put forth a tangible effort. Statistics show that regardless of a child's socio-economic background if provided a nurturing learning environment that child will thrive and success however small is obtainable.
4) What, if anything, would you do to change the federal budget regarding education?
Delecia Holt's Response: Allocate more monies to district that has a disproportionate student/teacher ratio, maybe showing low testing scores on standardized tests, maybe poorly funded through their local tax base and has a demonstrated a need.
5) Do you support the federal No Child Left Behind legislation dealing with public schools? What do you support about it? What would you change?
Delecia Holt's Response: Yes, as it is a start, but desperately needs to be enhanced with real-world insight from teachers, students, parents and community leaders to provide better policy which will lead to measurable positive outcomes.

The military
1) What strategy do you propose for handling the situation in Iraq?
Delecia Holt's Response: Provide our government with a better understanding of the enemy we are engaged in war with and adapt our military strategies to better reflect that understanding of the enemy. War has never been an object of any compassionate country. Wars are only won by winning the hearts and minds of those that we are attempting to liberate and those of who we call the enemy. We cannot win the war on terror until we understand the hearts of our enemy.
2) Did you support the sending of troops Iraq?
Delecia Holt's Response: Yes, and I still do.
3) What do you think the primary purpose of U.S. troops should be in Iraq?
Delecia Holt's Response: To liberate persons from an oppressive government, provide leadership and understanding as the new government finds their legs and support them economically, strategically, and militarily. Governments come to power in this region of the world via hostile take over. It has been this way since biblical times.
4) What kind of timeline, if any, do you propose for the reduction and/or withdrawal of troops from Iraq?
Delecia Holt's Response: Anytime line given by anyone not involved in the day to day assessment of our military engagement in this region is insufficient and uninformed at best. The only person who can provide such a timeline is the troops involved in the battle, those commanding them and members of congress and the senate involved in daily briefings. Once I am in congress, I can look at the data and better assess an appropriate timeline. More importantly the enemy's will to fight, what region they come from, what religion they practice, their funding, their physical numbers and armory is a better indicator of what the timeline for troop reduction or withdrawal should be.
5) What kind of changes, if any, would you propose in the next round of Base Realignments and Closures?
Delecia Holt's Response: I believe that there is a direct correlation with the base realignments and base closures ordered in the 1990s emboldened our enemies. After these base realignments and closures America's enemies thought that a reduced American military force constituted a weak American military force. Thus, the first attack on the WTC in 1993 and subsequent attacks on our embassies around the world, etc. Therefore, I would move to re-open bases and recruit to pre-1993 levels, especially in this volatile world, of post 9/11.

6) Do you believe the region airport should or should not study military bases as possible sites for a new airport?
Delecia Holt's Response: No, I believe that the military bases need to be utilized at there fullest capacity and that the new proposed airport (which has been a topic since I moved to San Diego in 1983) would better be suited on private land acquisition and allow the private sector to assist with its development as with the development of the Denver International Airport and the re-development of the old Stapleton International Airport. By doing so local businesses garner much needed contracts and we are not out sourcing jobs and employment in the private sector as well as those in the military are sustained and enhanced. The community benefits on all fronts. We would not be displacing our men and women in uniform to build an airport.
7) What, if anything, would you propose with regards to recruitment and retention of troops in military service?
Delecia Holt's Response: I strongly believe that if a congressperson earns an average annual salary of $160,000.00 then our men and women in uniform should as well and be provided the same retirement salary of $40,000.00 a year that prior congressman Cunningham is being afforded. Until we provide a decent living wage for our military personnel, we cannot expect them to live below the poverty level and risks their lives. I have been a staunch supporter and have worked with veterans of foreign wars on a one on one basis and have been privileged to be told their most private concerns and have been allowed to walk with them and their families through the long and painful healing process. Most of my family has served in the U.S. military since WWII and I am proud of each of them and their service to this country.
8) Would you support a draft?
Delecia Holt's Response: No, our country has a long history of voluntary service and there is no need to institute a draft.
9) What, if anything, should change about military pay scales and benefits?
Delecia Holt's Response: I strongly believe that if a congressperson earns an average annual salary of $160,000.00 then our men and women in uniform should as well and be provided the same retirement salary of $40,000.00 a year that prior congressman Cunningham is being afforded. Until we provide a decent living wage for our military personnel, we cannot expect them to live below the poverty level and risks their lives.

Ethics and finance reform
1) Many of the candidates in this race have talked about cleaning up ethical problems in Congress. What specifically do you see as major problems with ethics in Congress?
Delecia Holt's Response: Those persons with low self-esteems have sought self-worth through the eyes of others and in inanimate objects.
2) What, if any, reforms would you propose to campaign finance laws?
Delecia Holt's Response: I would support the Senator Frist bill already voted on last week.
3) Do you support the process of “earmarking” federal money for specific programs and contracts?
Delecia Holt's Response: Only when those monies are being used for areas in this country that have been hard hit by natural disasters, etc. not for pork belly projects.
4) What, if any, changes would you propose to the process of awarding and reviewing federal contracts?
Delecia Holt's Response: As a small business owner here in San Diego I have bid on and won government contracts in the past and have found the process cumbersome and riddled with concessions and who do you know questionnaires. The process can be streamlined and should use a double blind process. It is important to keep in mind that he lowest bidder is not always the most efficient bidder or vice versa.

Social security
1) What, if any, reforms would you propose to the Social Security system?
Delecia Holt's Response: While I oppose private, individual accounts out of Social Security monies. Coupling individual social security retirement accounts with individual investment accounts (e.g., pensions, money markets, stocks, bonds, savings accounts, etc.) greatly enhance a retiree's ability to secure their future.

Saving Social Security is extremely, important. I received a phone call from my…Grandmother…crying, stating that my Mother had expired, while hooked up to the dialysis machine. Paramedics were called to revive her and drive her across the parking lot for admittance into the emergency room. Her SSI benefits and Medicare had been interrupted…the ambulance could not be used. They put her lifeless body on a gurney and worked on resuscitating her as they ran down the hallways of the hospital towards the emergency room…

2) Do you support putting Social Security money into the stock market?
Delecia Holt's Response: Yes, on a limited basis. While I oppose private, individual accounts out of Social Security monies. Coupling individual social security retirement accounts with individual investment accounts (e.g., pensions, money markets, stocks, bonds, savings accounts, etc.) greatly enhances a retiree's ability to secure their future.
3) How do you picture the Social Security system working in 10 years? 20? 50?
Delecia Holt's Response: I picture a system that is balanced between individual payments into a centralized social security account, with stock market, pension funds, money markets, bonds, and monitored by reputable fund manager.

Health and Social Services
1) Do you support the Medicare reforms that took effect this year?
Delecia Holt's Response: Yes, it is a good first step.
2) What changes, if any, would you propose for the government support of health care for seniors? What about government support for prescriptions?
Delecia Holt's Response: Like AARP, I “… support closing the gap in coverage for all beneficiaries and believe that more must be done to bring down soaring drug prices. AARP supports the legal importation of prescription drugs beginning with Canada and allowing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries if competitive purchasing doesn't work…” And Congress must require that American pharmaceutical companies not be allowed to over price medications, or hold back the release of approved generic medications. We must also reduce the administrative costs in pharmaceutical companies and allow the legalized and oversee the import of Canadian prescription drugs. Cut waste by closing the gap of prescription drug costs and monitoring the overall expenditures provided by HHS and other government agencies to big pharmaceutical companies during drug development and pass those savings on to the uninsured, underinsured or those at risk of losing medical and prescription drug coverage.

3) How do you propose the government deal with the uninsured population?
Delecia Holt's Response: Like AARP, “I believe that…In the absence of universal coverage, AARP supports incremental reforms that significantly improve coverage options for those without public or private insurance or those at risk of losing coverage. Therefore, I will work to ensure that Medicaid and Medicare are immediately reformed to include coverage for all U.S. citizens that are uninsured, require that employers offer and expand coverage for their employees. As well as require employers subsidize the cost of private coverage for those who are uninsured, underinsured or at risk of losing coverage by making certain that ex-employees are afforded reasonable rates on COBRA insurance.

4) What are your feelings on the concept of government-funded universal health care?
Delecia Holt's Response: I believe that the private sector should fund this. If companies such as Wal-Mart (has recently done) takes it upon themselves to re-institute the belief that providing insurance for employees assist in lessening the rates of short-term and long-term illness through early detection of certain disease thereby reducing the overall negative impact of high medical expenses on the individual employee; the need for a government-funded universal health plan would be lessened. There was a time when Americans' took care of our own. We have gotten away from that concept and now see the results.
5) What role, if any, do you feel the government should take in health insurance matters such as the impasse between Blue Cross and Tri-City Medical Center?
Delecia Holt's Response: The government should not be involved I private business affairs with regard to monetary disputes unless it directly impacts government funded programs and the overall care the individual patient receives from Tri-City Medical Center. Blue Cross as we all know is the largest service provider for underinsured persons in this district and Tri-City Medical Center is the largest medical services provider for the uninsured as well as the underinsured population. The tax dollars of the voters in this district are being used to provide those services and if these two entities cannot find common ground then and only then should elected officials intervene and appoint a mediator to quickly resolve the issues at hand. At this point certain sanctions against Blue Cross may need to be implemented in order to make certain that Tri-City Medical Center is properly compensated ensuring that it is economically sound and around to provide the much needed medical services in the future.