The Beacon recently caught up with our California State Assemblyman Cameron Smyth for a brief cyber interview. The interview will be presented here in two parts covering such topics as immigration, local traffic and his current goals in Sacramento.

-Assemblyman Smyth, Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to do this interview with the West Ranch Beacon. Now that you have been in office for several months, how are things going for you? Do you have your entire staff in place? Have there been any surprises?

It is always a pleasure to speak with you and your readers. The legislature is finally beginning to tackle the thousands of bills introduced this year and I expect it to get very busy shortly.  The staff and office are in place and up and running and I am excited about the team we have put together.
I am a little surprised at how long it takes to get things moving.  We have been here since Jan 3 and as I said we won’t get started in earnest until April.

-You appear to have hit the ground running. In our last interview you mentioned interest in the following committees; Energy and Utilities, Local Government, Governmental Organizations, Transportation and Health. Did you the committees that you were hoping for?

I was appointed to Utilities and Commerce, Local Government and I am the Vice Chair of Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials am excited for the challenge and opportunity these committees bring.

-Will there be an opportunity to switch committees during this term and if so what committee would you like to serve on?
 

Not likely.  All committees are per the Speaker’s discretion and it is rare that you are reassigned mid term.

-What have been your accomplishments to date? What are most proud of?

Aside from staying out of the smallest office in the Capitol and not having my desk in the back of the Assembly floor, establishing my credibility as a member who is willing to work all with all my colleagues in the Assembly and Senate on solving the many issues facing California.

-Can you talk a little about some of the challenges you face in Assembly up in Sacramento?

As a freshman member of the minority party, the biggest challenge I face is lining up the necessary support from the Democratic majority to support my legislation.  It is also challenging trying to obtain a working knowledge of the nearly 2000 bills that will come before the Assembly and understand their full impact.  On the personal front, it has been a challenge balancing my time in Sacramento and here at home.