It’s a race between Republican state Senator Chuck Poochigian and former Governor and current Oakland Mayor, Democrat Jerry Brown.  If elected Poochigian says strengthening state efforts toward narcotics enforcement would be among his priorities. 

 “We’ve got big problems in this state… the center of those problems is gang activity and the close linkage between gangs and drugs..” 

Brown says environmental litigation tops his list. 

“That will really do something that will protect air, water or endangered species or low income communities that may be subject to poisonous impacts."

Both Poochigian and Brown say the backlog of D-N-A cases awaiting examination—and possible “cold hits” linking them to criminals in the system—also needs immediate attention.