Lester Herman

[{"question": "Ballotpedia survey responses", "answer_html": "<p>See also: <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a></p>\n<div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-xs-10 col-md-6 col-xs-offset-1 col-md-offset-3\"><p><a href=\"https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\"><img align=\"middle\" alt=\"Candidate Connection\" src=\"https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/8/88/Candidate_Connection_Logo.png\" width=\"90%\"/></a></p></div></div>\n<p>Pini Herman completed <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a> survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Herman's responses.</p>\n<p><span class=\"expand-all\">Expand all</span> | <span class=\"collapse-all\">Collapse all</span></p>\n<div aria-multiselectable=\"true\" class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion\" role=\"tablist\"><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-361600-2026-04-21\" id=\"heading-bio-361600-2026-04-21\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-bio-361600-2026-04-21\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-361600-2026-04-21\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWho are you? Tell us about yourself.\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading-bio-361600-2026-04-21\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-bio-361600-2026-04-21\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI am a community-based researcher, PhD demographer, and candidate focused on the real cost-of-living pressures facing residents across California’s 30th Congressional District. I came to this country as a refugee child of Holocaust survivors. I grew up here, have lived in this district for many years, and raised my two children here. I know the problems families face because I have lived them alongside my neighbors.\r\n<p>I have collected and analyzed hundreds of survey responses across many neighborhoods. What I found is that people are not dealing with one problem—they face overlapping pressures from housing, food, healthcare, and transportation.\r\n</p><p>Housing is central. Costs are too high, and homes are quietly leaving the long-term rental market. As units disappear, rents rise, forcing people to move. Seniors on fixed incomes must choose between rent, medicine, or food.\r\n</p><p>By reviewing city housing records, I found thousands of homes meant for low- and moderate-income residents are not being used as required, while illegal short-term rentals remove housing from the market.\r\n</p><p>This is also a representation problem. Congress has been capped at 435 members since 1911 while the population has more than tripled, diluting each voter’s voice.\r\n</p>\nI am running to bring real data, accountability, and stronger representation, and to fight for affordable homes for working families and seniors.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-361600-2026-04-21\" id=\"heading-key-message-361600-2026-04-21\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-key-message-361600-2026-04-21\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-361600-2026-04-21\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tPlease list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading-key-message-361600-2026-04-21\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-key-message-361600-2026-04-21\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><ul><li>1. I go where others don’t and listen directly to residents.\r\nI have personally visited communities across the district—places many candidates have not set foot in—and collected and analyzed hundreds of survey responses across more than two dozen neighborhoods. This work shows that families are facing overlapping pressures from housing, food, healthcare, and transportation. My campaign is grounded in what people are actually experiencing, not what policymakers assume.</li><li>2. Housing costs are rising because supply is being lost and misused.\r\nHomes are quietly leaving the long-term rental market, driving rents higher and forcing people to move. Seniors on fixed incomes and working families are being priced out. My research found thousands of units meant for low- and moderate-income residents are not being used as required, while illegal short-term rentals are removing housing from the market.</li><li>3. Representation has not kept up with population growth.\r\nCongress has been capped at 435 members since 1911, even as the population has more than tripled. As districts have grown larger, each voter’s voice carries less weight. I am running to bring stronger representation, accountability, and a closer connection between people and their government.</li></ul></span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-361600-2026-04-21\" id=\"heading1-361600-2026-04-21\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse1-361600-2026-04-21\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-361600-2026-04-21\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading1-361600-2026-04-21\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse1-361600-2026-04-21\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI am most passionate about housing, cost-of-living pressures, and fair representation. Housing is central to many challenges families face. Rising rents, along with the loss and misuse of long-term rental housing, are putting pressure on working families and seniors.<br/><br/>\n<p>Through my survey work, I have found that housing, food, healthcare, and transportation costs overlap and compound, creating real strain on households.<br/><br/>\n</p>\nI also care deeply about representation. By collecting surveys directly from residents, I help strengthen the connection between people and their representatives. I support reducing the size of congressional districts so each voter’s voice carries more weight.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div></div>\n<div class=\"small\" data-nosnippet=\"\"><p><i><b>Note:</b> Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.</i></p></div>", "answer_text": "See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection\n\nPini Herman completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Herman's responses.\nExpand all | Collapse all\nWho are you? Tell us about yourself. I am a community-based researcher, PhD demographer, and candidate focused on the real cost-of-living pressures facing residents across California’s 30th Congressional District. I came to this country as a refugee child of Holocaust survivors. I grew up here, have lived in this district for many years, and raised my two children here. I know the problems families face because I have lived them alongside my neighbors. I have collected and analyzed hundreds of survey responses across many neighborhoods. What I found is that people are not dealing with one problem—they face overlapping pressures from housing, food, healthcare, and transportation. Housing is central. Costs are too high, and homes are quietly leaving the long-term rental market. As units disappear, rents rise, forcing people to move. Seniors on fixed incomes must choose between rent, medicine, or food. By reviewing city housing records, I found thousands of homes meant for low- and moderate-income residents are not being used as required, while illegal short-term rentals remove housing from the market. This is also a representation problem. Congress has been capped at 435 members since 1911 while the population has more than tripled, diluting each voter’s voice. I am running to bring real data, accountability, and stronger representation, and to fight for affordable homes for working families and seniors. Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office? 1. I go where others don’t and listen directly to residents.\r\nI have personally visited communities across the district—places many candidates have not set foot in—and collected and analyzed hundreds of survey responses across more than two dozen neighborhoods. This work shows that families are facing overlapping pressures from housing, food, healthcare, and transportation. My campaign is grounded in what people are actually experiencing, not what policymakers assume. 2. Housing costs are rising because supply is being lost and misused.\r\nHomes are quietly leaving the long-term rental market, driving rents higher and forcing people to move. Seniors on fixed incomes and working families are being priced out. My research found thousands of units meant for low- and moderate-income residents are not being used as required, while illegal short-term rentals are removing housing from the market. 3. Representation has not kept up with population growth.\r\nCongress has been capped at 435 members since 1911, even as the population has more than tripled. As districts have grown larger, each voter’s voice carries less weight. I am running to bring stronger representation, accountability, and a closer connection between people and their government. What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? I am most passionate about housing, cost-of-living pressures, and fair representation. Housing is central to many challenges families face. Rising rents, along with the loss and misuse of long-term rental housing, are putting pressure on working families and seniors. Through my survey work, I have found that housing, food, healthcare, and transportation costs overlap and compound, creating real strain on households. I also care deeply about representation. By collecting surveys directly from residents, I help strengthen the connection between people and their representatives. I support reducing the size of congressional districts so each voter’s voice carries more weight.\nNote: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it."}]