Mayoral candidate Craig X. Rubin is a pastor at The Family Church in Pasadena and a native of East Los Angeles.
Daily Bruin: Why are you running for mayor?
Craig Rubin: I think that I’m the best out of all the candidates. I’ve been to all the forums and seen all the candidates, and I’m better than (Mayor Antonio) Villaraigosa.
DB: How are you a better candidate than Villaraigosa?
CR: His judgment is horrible, and he doesn’t represent the entire city. The Ten Commandments don’t mean anything to him. To be a leader of any people, you should at least follow the Ten Commandments as a minimum.
DB: What are the most important issues facing Los Angeles right now?
CR: Jobs ““ 10 percent of people are unemployed and in some areas, even more. We need to improve the economy and we need to have water in the city.
We still have a strong economy ““ our city is so rich that people still drove to work and managed to pay for the gas during the times when gas prices were so high. We have plenty of money, but we need to put it to good use.
We also need to protect medical marijuana clubs and we need clean air, clean water and a stable food supply.
DB: How has Villaraigosa addressed or not addressed these problems?
CR: With jobs, Villaraigosa has not addressed this because he is never here to address this. He only runs on public safety.
For the medical marijuana clubs, the mayor has not once stood up for the medical marijuana industry. This could help our economy and provide thousands of jobs to California. It could bring revenue to the city.
DB: How would you address these issues as mayor?
CR: Well, there’s talk about cutting off water to farms because there’s not enough drinking water, so we need to secure drinking water for workers to work here and businesses to grow. Los Angeles is completely dependent on water and right now, we get all water from far away.
In terms of jobs, we need desalination plants. We need to work with start-up companies. We need jobs for people without college degrees and to keep a middle class in Los Angeles.
DB: From where have you received funding, and how has this affected your campaign?
CR: From people over the Internet. But I have not raised much money, so I haven’t spent much. I go to churches and ask people to pray for me, and I go to forums and debates. I’m doing everything I can without spending money.
DB: What experience in your track record can you point to that suggests that you have the leadership skills and understanding of issues or infrastructure necessary to be an effective mayor?
CR: When I was at UCLA I led a free speech group, and after I graduated I opened a hemp store, which eventually became a chain. Then I started a manufacturing business. I feel that from these experiences, I understand how to generate wealth.
I’m also involved in community affairs, and I’m a leader at my church as a pastor. And I have seven kids. I have experience with tight budgets and making it work. I think I have more of an ability to connect with people.
DB: If you were to choose among the other mayoral candidates, for whom would you vote, if not for yourself?
CR: Zuma Dogg. I trust that he is a sincere person and wants to do what is best for the city. He dresses appropriately and has been to every single council meeting for three years.