About 50 students attended a meeting that showcased four candidates running for the California State Assembly and the California State Senate.

The event was co-hosted by the SF State College Democrats and the SF State Political Science Student Association (PSSA) on Feb. 14 at 12:30 p.m. in the Rosa Parks room. It featured District 12 Assembly candidates, Fiona Ma and Janet Reilly, and District 8 Senate candidates, Mike Nevin, and a representative for Leland Yee. The meeting gave students the opportunity to ask the candidates tough questions and be familiar with their platforms.

“This was an important way for the candidates to get their message across to some of their most passionate constituents,” said Adrian Covert, president of the PSSA, and one of the organizers of the event.

Covert added that the event was a great way for students to get to know the candidates as neighbors and real people instead of “shadowy figures in Washington or Sacramento.”

Student questions ran the gamut from the budget deficit to Proposition 13 to the death penalty.

“I was really impressed with the knowledge behind all of the questions,” said Michelle Montoya, president of College Democrats and one of the organizers of the event.

Ma, however, received the toughest line of questioning when a student confronted her about her voting record on tenants' rights issues. Ma is currently representing District 4 on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

Her response was that her District is 70 percent homeowners and only 30 percent renters. “I do support tenants' rights, but I was elected to represent my constituents," she said.

Kevin Bard, an SF State student pursuing his master’s degree in political science, was particularly interested in hearing Ma speak because she represents the Sunset district in which he resides.

“I thought she was very well poised with the person who was drilling her,” Bard said.

Speakers touched on some of the major issues that will be addressed in this year’s election. While all the speakers touched on healthcare, education spending and budget deficits, all four emphasized certain aspects of these issues.

“I believe that fundamentally we need to change the way we manage healthcare in this country and in this state,” Reilly said. “I am a big believer in universal healthcare.”

Ma emphasized the need for increased employment to boost budget revenues. She also mentioned her own employment experience.

“Experience does matter in this job,” Ma said. “I have had seven years at the state level and four years at the local level.”

Nevin highlighted his work in advocating medical marijuana despite his previous job as a San Francisco police officer. He echoed Reilly’s call for healthcare for all.

“I want universal healthcare for everyone in California,” Nevin said.

Yee’s representative, Erich Albrecht, highlighted pushes for alternative energy sources, such as wind and tides. He pointed out that if Yee is elected, he will be the first Chinese American ever to sit on the California State Senate.

California primary elections will be held in June, and the regular election will be on Nov. 7.