Peter Bono, a Republican and retired Navy technician, is running for Congress representing California’s 50th Congressional District. The 50th encompasses San Diego’s downtown, Balboa Park and coastal neighborhoods and stretches north into Escondido and San Marcos. To help inform voters, the San Diego Union-Tribune asked the candidates a series of the same questions about their priorities, positions and campaigns. Their emailed answers have been lightly edited for clarity. Bono’s have also been edited for length, since the responses he submitted exceeded the word limits all candidates were given. Why are you running, and what makes you the best candidate? First of all, I am a proud U.S. citizen by birth here in our great country. I served my country HONORABLY for 30 plus years in the naval service. During those years I was instructed to give respect, to trust my fellow shipmates and to support our country, in whatever way that I was instructed to perform. Character should be considered in choosing a candidate. What makes me the best candidate, I have several character traits: Be loyal to our flag and country. Be respectful to your fellow man. Hold trust and character of all persons to the highest esteem. Show that you really “care” for our citizens in the 50th District. Because “BONO CARES” for the constituents’ concerns FIRST!! I feel that I am the best candidate because my heart is for assisting the striving citizens in this district. There has not been a prior U.S. congressman that takes care of his constituents FIRST. What are the top 3 issues facing this district and California generally? Economy is in the tank, there is a need for the oil industry to re-open the pipelines, Keystone pipeline and others, like our future president says! DRILL BABY DRILL. There is a great need to believe in AMERICA FIRST!!! We need to bring back our manufacturing industry from China, to give our businesses a deduction in our capital gains tax to be lowered to 24%. Immigration: To close the southern border, until the thousands of illegal foreign visitors can no longer breach our southern border. Immigration system needs improvement, to follow the existing laws is a start to resolve this massive problem but “Remember the Biden administration has caused this tragic problem!” There is a great desire to place a stop to our local pillaging of our stores by not allowing only these illegal foreign visitors, but also by our local U.S. homeless citizens. What are the first three things you would do in your first term in Congress? There is presently a massive corruption of our local leaders and city officials, let us also not forget our esteemed U.S. congressman, who is standing on the sidelines, with his not getting involved in the “local politics policy” he says. While there is so much noticeable corruption, our present U.S. congressman fails to appear. During my first days in office, I will seek our congressional leaders in supporting my “FIRST” U.S. congressional investigation into the massive corruption in the 50th District, also to hold these corrupt officials accountable for their massive corruption. I WANT OUR MONEY BACK!!! I will be working with our new President Donald Trump in his first days as our president. I will be working on new proposed bills for our district’s concerns first, to get the bills on their way through Congress, then to the U.S. Senate, and finally to our president’s desk for his quick approval. What would you do to curb climate change and its effects on California? This is not a topic that I am very knowledgeable on, but what I am aware of is that there are several professionals in this climate control system residing in our district that I would be seeking their advice and recommendations, and after I have reviewed their findings, I would deal with the problem, to make a final solution that will benefit the constituents in the 50th District FIRST!! How should U.S. migration and asylum policy change, what should guide it, and what specifically will you pursue in Congress? We are dealing with the lives of these foreign visitors to our country, however they illegally breached our southern border, these illegal foreign visitors should be treated with somewhat respect. I will pursue a very FAIR position for the many 121,000 illegal foreign visitors residing in our district first, when it is proven that they are currently employed and providing their fair share to paying taxes. Establishing a residence that they can raise their family in, not some riverbed canyon or city streets. The current illegal foreign visitors who have committed crimes of a serious nature shall be apprehended and prosecuted to the fullest measures of our present laws. It’s been nearly a year since Hamas attacks in Israel sparked the ongoing war in Gaza, which has recently escalated conflicts between Israel and Hezbollah that threatens another war. What is your stance on the war in Gaza and what the U.S.’s role in the region should be? I will support the country of Israel in maintaining their sovereignty, but with the existing conflict, it’s not a declared war. I would stand by President Trump’s decision on dealing with this very conflict issue. I wouldn’t want to send any more funds to Israel. No U.S. boots ever should be on the ground. I fully agree on a very reasonable agreement to a 2-to-3-month end of all operations. Would you support federal statutory restrictions on, or protections of, abortion rights? Which, and to what extent? This is a very controversial dilemma that is causing a fracture inside our country. As I said in my (previous) statement, I fully support each state’s right, no federal intervention should be allowed. A woman’s body is her own body. She should be able to decide her and her physician’s opinion and move on from there. There should always be a qualified physician’s decision. Would you support or oppose stricter federal gun laws and background checks? Which, and to what extent? I fully support the Second Amendment. As a citizen, I do not own a firearm. During my military service, I have witnessed several deaths by handguns, rifles and these assault weapons. I feel all of these weapons do not kill, it’s the maniacs using the weapons. I would approve of more strict severe punishments, including the death penalty, for these several incidents caused by weapons.