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AT -LARGE CANDIDATES Andy Cagle Why are people poor? Two words! Opportunities and alternatives, we must make sure that everyone has an opportunity to improve their lives. What we need is more available job training programs that are tailored to the skill set of our diverse population. We need to promote and attract light Industrials development along with other environmental friendly businesses that hire and train within the County. When the opportunity is present then the alternative is our own individual choice. Matt Hughes This is a complex question because people are poor for a variety of reasons, however, no one chooses to be poor. Despite being one of the most affluent counties in the state, and one of the few counties to see incomes above the state average, nearly a fifth of our community lives in poverty. As someone who experienced childhood poverty first -hand, I understand the struggles that these members of our community face. However, it was because I lived in a great county that provided vital programs such as Head Start, that I was ultimately able to succeed. As it relates to being an Orange County Commissioner, I see it as my job to make sure we are providing the opportunity for all of our resident to have access to education, from early childhood to adulthood. This includes providing the vocational education needed to learn new skills for jobs of the 21 st century. By the same token, creating a variety of jobs, both those requiring advanced degrees and those targeting trades, is a must. Additionally, I believe that environment, family and social services, and elder care are essential to the wellbeing of all of Orange County residents. In short, addressing poverty in Orange County is going to require a multi -level approach, including job training, the addition of jobs, the addition of affordable housing, and expanding access to public transit. The Family Success Alliance is a great tool that the county is currently using to address cradle to grave poverty in our community. By coordinating our various organizations focused on poverty, we can better serve those living in poverty and make a dent in this issue. KidScope, an organization for which I am proudly serving as a member of their Advisory Council, is a partner organization with the Family Success Alliance. KidScope provides great resources, like their Incredible Years Preschool Parenting Classes. These classes help parents understand their children's academic, social, and emotional needs and learn positive, evidence -based parenting skills. The Family Success Alliance can help break the cycle of poverty for children like me. I would like to see this program begin to expand beyond the two current pilot zones in the county. Mark Marcoplos People are poor for a variety of interconnected reasons, many of them the result of an economy that serves the ultra - wealthy at the expense of everyone else. One of the key justifications for allowing our economy to be