Ahead of the November general election, 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 may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.
MORE: Read all the candidate responses in our Voter Guide
Name: Nick Schultz
Current job title: Burbank Mayor/Deputy Attorney General
Political party affiliation: Democrat
Incumbent: No
Other political positions held: Burbank City Council/Mayor (current)
City where you reside: Burbank
Campaign website or social media: https://www.votenickschultz.com/
It’s no secret that California will play an outsized role in AI development and regulation. That was a big topic for the legislature this year, but what is one way you’d like to see the legislature tackle concerns about bias or transparency in the AI space or encourage innovation and start-ups? (Please be specific in your response, and keep your answer to 200 words or less.)
The introduction of AI and, more generally, automation pose opportunities and significant challenges to many of our existing industries. In the coming years, the California state legislature must work closely with both business and labor in existing industries, ranging from our entertainment industry workers to those staffing our ports, to ensure that the regulations promulgated by our state legislature and state agencies adequately balance the need for innovation and creativity with the very real threats posed to existing jobs and career paths for our workers. We will need to work collaboratively with all sectors of our economy by bringing people together as part of information sessions and public hearings to inform future policy determinations.
Before California voters this year is a proposition to increase the state’s minimum wage to $18 per hour, the nation’s highest, by 2026. Do you support increasing the minimum wage in this way? Why or why not? (Please keep your answer to 150 words or less.)
Yes, I support existing efforts to raise the minimum wage in the State of California. The fight for $15 was a remarkable achievement, but the effects of the pandemic and hyperinflation over the last several years have resulted in cost of living increases (e.g., housing, food, utilities) that have quickly eroded the intended impact of the increased minimum wage. We are seeing efforts to raise the minimum wage to $25 in other industries (e.g., healthcare) and I think that we should begin that conversation across all sectors of our economy.
This year, California faced a large budget deficit that put a strain on lawmakers’ ability to fund certain programs and projects going forward. What is one thing you believe the state should do to avoid such large deficits in the future? (Please be specific in your answer, and limit it to 150 words or less.)
I am proud to say that I inherited a city budget that was facing a structural recurring general fund deficit, but through intelligent investments, reasonable cost savings measures, and fiscal responsibility demonstrated by greater oversight and accountability, we achieved a structural recurring general fund surplus in less than two years on the City Council. I would take a similar approach as a member of the California State Assembly.
I believe addressing a budget deficit is two-fold: 1) identifying new revenue drivers, including economic development and closing any unfair tax loopholes, and 2) dialing back and/or deferring on non-essential budget items so that we can keep essential funding in place including education, public safety, and the state workers that serve us.
Speaking of the budget, there are multiple proposed bond measures before voters this year. Is the state in a good place to issue bonds for state programs and infrastructure projects? Should certain programs or projects be prioritized over others? (Please be specific in your response, and keep your answer to 200 words or less.)
Yes. While I acknowledge that the state budget is in need of significant work, we also owe it to our residents to make the critical infrastructure investments that will directly impact and improve their quality of life. State and local bonds to upgrade and improve the safety of school facilities, safeguard the quality of drinking water, further mitigate the impacts of wildfire, and maintain our existing infrastructure are all essential to the role of California government: to provide for the public health, safety, and welfare our everyone who calls our state “home.”
Cost of living is high on the list of concerns among voters, particularly among younger people. What is one bipartisan proposal you have to alleviate concerns about high prices or the cost of living in California? (Please be specific in your response, and limit it to 200 words.)
We are facing an unprecedented housing crisis across California because we have failed to produce sufficient housing supply to meet the needs of our region. Cities throughout our state have historically had free reign to block new housing units, largely to benefit single family homeowners.
Through abuses of CEQA, variances, and other forms of red tape, we have made it impossible to create housing opportunities for millions of Californians.I strongly believe that we need to reduce the obstacles and costs to the construction of housing in California. We can accomplish this through zoning reform and streamlining the entitlement and permitting processes. Doing so will make it easier and cheaper to construct much needed new housing by cutting unnecessary and harmful “red tape.”
The legislature this year considered recommendations from a first-in-the-nation task force that considered how California could atone for past racism and discrimination against Black people, including potential compensation. What do you believe is the role of the state in atoning for the atrocities committed against Black people? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
The continuing consequences of ongoing racism, discrimination, and other atrocities committed against the African American population must be addressed by both state and local jurisdictions. For example, the history of land use in most jurisdictions is one of racism, prejudice, redlining, and displacement. From the original displacement of the Native Peoples to the eradication of a middle class Latino/a/x neighborhood to make way for Dodger Stadium, we must acknowledge our dark past and how it continues to impact BIPOC communities in our region. We can look no further than the demographic makeup and segregation in our communities to see that the effects of these racist policies are alive and well. I fundamentally believe that the state legislature has a role to play in rectifying past wrongs and working to make a more equitable California for everyone.
Gov. Gavin Newsom recently ordered state agencies to remove homeless encampments on state property and urged cities to follow through. What else do you propose the state do to help eradicate homelessness? (Please limit your response to 200 words or less.)
I’ll start by taking a look at what I know works, based on my experience as a city councilmember. The City of Burbank has had success in reducing our unhoused population. In 2022, the City of Burbank saw a decrease in homeless numbers as shown in the chart above. Between 2020 and 2022, Burbank’s homeless population decreased by 9.28%, while Los Angeles County as a whole saw numbers increase by 4.08%.
We have invested time and resources in developing proactive outreach teams, diversion & prevention, case management, and stabilization. We created the SAFE Storage and Navigation Center, enhanced our response to mental and behavioral health outpatient care and referrals through the Burbank Mental Health Evaluation Team (MHET), and hired a social worker in our public libraries and park facilities to develop relationships with our unhoused population. Moving forward, we will be investing in the creation of a shelter and safe overnight parking for our unhoused residents.
As a legislator, I will support legislation that creates supportive programming and provides resources for local jurisdictions (cities and counties) to enact similar measures that prioritize outreach, case management, and stabilization. We should push for a shelter and wrap-around services in every California community to address this crisis. Lastly, we must continue to support and invest in rapid rehousing programs, along with rent stabilization, to prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless.
Similarly, Gov. Gavin Newsom has urged county leaders to take advantage more of a new state law that makes it easier to place someone with severe mental health or substance abuse issues into conservatorships, an effort to keep more people out of homelessness. But local leaders in Southern California have said they need more time and resources to build, fund and staff more mental health facilities. Is there anything the legislature could — or should — do to aid communities struggling to find the resources to properly provide this type of mental health support? (Please be specific in your answer, and limit the response to 200 words or less.)
Our mental health care infrastructure is sorely lacking across California. As a local leader, I agree that we need more facilities, staff, and funding to build out the infrastructure to adequately provide for the needs of our communities. In the coming years, the state can be of incredible help by offering funding and programming (e.g., grant) assistance to assist local jurisdictions to achieve our shared goals and make full use of recent changes to state law.
What’s the No. 1 song on your playlist while you’re on the campaign trail?
Higher Love by Kygo and Whitney Houston
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