“I’m an emergency-room physician and what I do daily is solve problems,” said Dr. Raul Ruiz when he first ran for Congressional District 36 in 2012. He also stressed that he would support bipartisan solutions if elected. “We need representatives who will help implement the vision we have of working and solving problems together.”

Ruiz upset Mary Bono in 2012 and defeated Republican challenger Brian Nestande in 2014. Ruiz reiterated his vow in this election cycle to continue to seek collaborative solutions that serve all his constituents.

He said he is particularly troubled by the rhetoric of the Republican Party’s presumptive nominee, Donald Trump. “We cannot allow bigotry and racism to become the norm,” said Ruiz, in a telephone interview. “It is strange when the Republican nominee makes hateful comments against Latinos, women and immigrants. There are real consequences when people are emboldened to act out against others.”

Rather than deport 11 million undocumented immigrants, as Trump has suggested he would do, Ruiz supports comprehensive immigration reform and an earned pathway to citizenship. “I believe that any comprehensive immigration reform plan must be bipartisan, secure our borders, uphold the immigration laws we already have, protect our workers and businesses, and include an earned pathway to citizenship for those who have played by the rules,” he said.

“The issues that are important to me are the ones that are important to my constituents in their daily lives,” he said. “I am, first and foremost, a physician and the health of our community is my chief concern.” In that context, Ruiz supports guarantees for Medicare and Social Security and seeks to improve the Affordable Care Act so that it works better for the middle class.

In a health-related project he calls a “shovel-to-ground” program, Ruiz is leading an effort to restore the Salton Sea. “The Red Hill Bay Marina Project is the first step in realizing my vision to combat the health threats, environmental crisis and adverse economic impacts of the receding sea by transforming this threat into an opportunity to prevent dust exposure, and spur renewable energy and tourism,” said Ruiz. The project will cover 420 acres of exposed shoreline with water and create geothermal energy access corridors and well pads for future renewable energy development.

“The erosion of the sea is a health concern for the entire Southern California region,” said Ruiz. “The fine-dust particulates that the wind carries contain pesticide, arsenic and selenium that can get into lungs and cause major health issues. This project can be a model to turn a public-health challenge into an economic opportunity.”

Ruiz has voted to protect veterans’ benefits and transform the Department of Veterans Affairs so that it better serves veterans’ needs. “In my position on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I have focused on improving the health-care system for our nation’s veterans and developing bipartisan solutions to end the backlog of disability claims.”

Ruiz will host a “Veterans University” on June 25 and 26 at the California State University, San Bernardino, Palm Desert campus to bring together multiple local, federal and state organizations and entrepreneurs who can provide training and education for veterans and their families. “There will be skill-based workshops for veterans and their families to help them be more effective in the workplace,” he said. “It will be a model for regional and national approaches to providing knowledge and education for veterans.”

Ruiz also led an effort to counter recent state legislation that would allow discrimination based on sexual orientation. He helped author a letter to state governors considering or having passed legislation that would discriminate against LGBT Americans. “We are very concerned about the recent trend among some states to enact or consider expanded Religious Freedom Restoration Acts and other legislation that could allow businesses to discriminate against or deny service to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans,” the members wrote. “These discriminatory policies, under the false guise of religious freedom, have no place in a nation founded on the principal of equal treatment for all.”

In an issue raised by his Republican opponent, state Sen. Jeff Stone, Ruiz said he had always advocated an evidence-based nuclear deal with Iran that would forestall or prevent its development of a nuclear weapon. “From the start, I committed myself to a rigorous, evidence-based approach without consideration of partisanship or politics,” he said. “I sought the expertise of nuclear physicists and non-proliferation experts. I met with concerned constituents and leaders of the Jewish community, and I reviewed the classified documents available to members of Congress.” Ruiz stressed he had never indicated to Stone or others that he would vote differently when the bill was presented.

On gun violence, Ruiz said he prefers congressional legislation over presidential executive actions. “Doing nothing is irresponsible,” he said. “I support increasing mental-health services and closing the gun purchase background check loophole. High risk individuals — terrorists, domestic violence abusers, convicted criminals and those that suffer mental illness should not be allowed to purchase weapons.”

Ruiz said he has endorsed Hillary Clinton for the Democratic Party nomination because she is the “best prepared and would hit the ground running on day one.”

He said he believes a civil discussion of the issues confronting the American public best serves the country’s needs and said he is dismayed that there has not been more push-back by other Republicans against the rhetoric that Donald Trump has used in his run to the nomination.

For more about Congressman Ruiz, visit https://ruiz.house.gov.

La Quinta resident, Massachusetts native and Republican Stephan Wolkowicz is the third candidate in the race in Congressional District 36. He joins incumbent Dr. Raul Ruiz, Democrat, and California State Sen. Jeff Stone, Republican.

In this “top-two” primary, the two candidates who get the most votes move on to the general election. Wolkowicz, an accountant by trade, acknowledged in a phone interview that he is facing an uphill battle to move on to the general election.

“For me, it’s about name recognition in this run,” said Wolkowicz. “I’d been talking to people for three years about the possibility of making this race. Stone did not decide until January. But once I filed papers and was in, I had to follow through.”

Asked what his key issues are and why he is running in an expensive race, he said, “My primary issue is the economy. The deficit has to be cut. It’s not financially responsible or possible to have trillions of dollars in deficit. Look at what happened to Greece. We have to do something. I’m the accountant, the financial guy who can get the money moving again back into the hands of the middle class.”

Wolkowicz recommended that every $100 million expenditure that comes before Congress must be separately reviewed and voted on. He also favors reworking both the personal and corporate income tax structures.

On other issues, Wolkowicz favors a path to citizenship for responsible, undocumented immigrants as long as they have not committed a crime. “It’s not very human to deport those who have not committed crimes,” he said.

He said he would vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act. “There has to be a better solution that would not be so burdensome on the whole society.”

Although he said he disagrees with presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on several issues, he plans to vote for him in the coming election. “I will always vote Republican, even for Trump,” he said. “Economically, he may be good for the country. He’s a good businessman.”

Wolkowicz said he is self-funding this campaign, noting that most large Republican donors have moved in Stone’s direction since he entered the race.

Wolkowicz has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Texas Christian University with a major in accounting. He has lived 34 years in Southern California and 17 years in the Coachella Valley. He has worked in the financial and hospitality industry for most of his career and is currently the controller and finance director of the Embassy Suites in Palm Desert. He has volunteered for seven years for AYSO soccer in La Quinta.

In January, State Sen. Jeff Stone announced he would challenge Representative Dr. Raul Ruiz for his Congressional seat. In addition to Stone and Ruiz, Steven Wolkowicz is seeking the seat.  The top two vote getters will battle for votes in November.

Stone is well known to Hill voters. He was the 3rd District Supervisor from 2005 until his election to the state senate in November 2014, where he represents the Hill, too.

Stone announced his candidacy late. Having just won election to higher office, he was not preparing to seek another office within two years. But Ruiz’s decision to go along with the President Obama’s action on approving a nuclear agreement with Iran turned Stone’s head, who said he was “flabbergasted” and upset because he thought Ruiz said he would oppose it.

“After 22 years in office, I’ve learned the most important thing a politician can do is keep their word,” Stone said. “And the number one responsibility is public safety.”

When asked about the other issues important to this election and to the District, Stone easily enumerated six issues, several of which focus on health, about which he believes District voters care and support his position.

First he noted the size of the national debt — $19 trillion. “Both Republicans and Democrats share the responsibility to cap it,” he stressed. “We don’t want to burden future generations.”

The federal government owns about 2.2 billion acres, or 28 percent of the country. Of this total, national parks comprise 84 million acres, national wildlife refuges are 150 million acres, and national forest and grasslands occupy about 193 million acres.

With these exceptions, Stone recommends that the federal government explore disposition of land holding and use the proceeds to pay down this debt.

The border was the second issue, which he addressed. His concern was not the “wall” but national security. Stone mentioned the ease with which terrorists can enter the country, as well as the flow across the border of dangerous drugs such as heroin and now fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opiate that is an increasing source of drug deaths.

Stone acknowledged the role of healthcare at the federal level. He is particularly concerned about people who lose their insurance and can’t afford new policies because of their pre-existing conditions. He wants to increase the ability of insurers to compete across state lines, which would likely reduce the cost of policies.

The crisis with service at Veterans Administration hospitals is another important issue, which Stone wants to alleviate. The system has become dysfunctional he claims. The VA needs to improve service and set priorities. “There is no reason for these problems which experience could solve,” he said.

The federal Centers for Disease Control should be investing more funding in two current epidemics, Stone said adamantly.

“We need aggressive research in autism,” he proclaimed. “More and more children are being diagnosed with this problem. It’s a growing epidemic and not enough is being done to help.”

The sixth issue, which Stone plans to stress during the campaign, is what he describes as the decimation of our military. This derives from his view that public safety is government’s first responsibility. “I’m not a war monger and don’t want troops in harms way” he emphasized. “But we need a military ready to go.”

Three threats that concern him are North Korea’s Kim Jung-un, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and ISIS.

“We need to get government back to what it’s suppose to do — keep us safe,” he said.

While Stone currently trails Ruiz in funding, he is confident his donations will grow. But he noted that several candidates with a preponderance of funding were still defeated, as in Gov. Jerry Brown’s win over Meg Whitman

“Money is the scourge of politicians. You shouldn’t win just because you have more money,” he opined. “one thing Ruiz can’t take away from me is I’m a tireless campaigner. I’ll be on the ground in the Coachella Valley.”

After the June Primary, Stone hopes Ruiz will accept his challenge for three to five debates during the campaign.

When asked about Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican Presidential candidate, Stone noted that he has not jumped on board Trump’s campaign, but would prefer him to Hillary Clinton.

“There’s a lot of things he said and done with which I disagree,” Stone said explaining his concerns. “I don’t intend to vilify people. In fact, I like Dr. Ruiz, we’re both healthcare professionals. I attack the issues.”