Endorsements-Positions

Official Endorsements by the Santa Barbara County Republican Central Committee

John Cox
For
Governor of California

John Cox is a businessman – not a politician. Raised by a single mom in the Midwest, John is a Californian by choice, deeply committed to restoring the Golden State to what it once was, and can be again. And John Cox has the knowledge and experience to do it.

John Cox is running for California Governor to take California back from the special interests that own the politicians in Sacramento. Those special interests, and the politicians they bankroll, have given us the highest income tax as well as the highest poverty rate in the nation. They have wrecked our once-proud school system, driven small business owners to relocate their business and jobs to other states, and utterly failed to build the water storage facilities we need to manage California’s abundant water supplies.
John has four daughters and lives with his wife Sarah in San Diego where they are active in and attend Nativity Catholic Church.

Judge Steven Bailey
For
Attorney General Of California

Judge Steven Bailey (Ret.) is the only candidate with a background and expertise in criminal law. He was an elected Superior Court Judge in El Dorado County for 8½ years, where he had assignments in criminal, civil, probate, and juvenile cases and served 4 years as the Presiding Juvenile Judge.

Judge Bailey is calling on Californians of all political persuasions to unite in support of his campaign to bring a fair and impartial approach to the Attorney General’s office and refocus the state’s top law enforcement position on reducing crime. “California needs an Attorney General focused on solving our problems, not fighting Washington D.C.”
Judge Bailey has been endorsed by the California Republican Party, the NRA, Gun Owners of California, Crime Victims United, and even the Los Angeles Police Protective League which represents nearly 10,000 officers of the LAPD.

Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham For Re-election
35th Assembly District

The Santa Barbara County Central Committee has unanimously endorsed Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham (R-San Luis Obispo) in his re-election bid to the State Assembly. In doing so, the Central Committee praised Cunningham’s leadership and strong advocacy for the Central Coast.

Upon receiving the endorsement from the organization, Cunningham said, “I'm grateful to receive the support of the Santa Barbara GOP. This reinforces my commitment to continue working to improve life for my constituents, the Central Coast and California as a whole.”

Jordan Cunningham is a small business owner, former Templeton School Board Member, husband and father of four. He proudly represents all of San Luis Obispo County and a portion of Santa Barbara County, including Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Cambria, Paso Robles, Grover Beach, Guadalupe, Lompoc, Los Osos, Morro Bay, Nipomo, Orcutt, Pismo Beach, Termpleton, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Maria, and surrounding communities.

Justin Fareed
For
Congress - 24th District

In announcing the endorsement, Santa Barbara County Republican Party Spokesperson Greg Gandrud made the following statement:“The Santa Barbara Republican Party proudly endorses Justin Fareed for Congress. Justin is devoted to the betterment of our community and country, and is a proven leader, prepared to take our concerns to Capitol Hill. Justin's experience as a job creator, community leader and former congressional staffer uniquely qualify him to be our next Congressman. The Santa Barbara Republican Party knows Justin will be a fresh voice for our values in Washington, and unlike Salud Carbajal, Justin will be a tireless fighter who will put our interest first. We encourage all our neighbors and friends in California's 24th Congressional District to support Justin Fareed for Congress in 2018."

Mark Meuser
For
California Secretary of State

Mark Meuser is a native Californian committed to fighting for honest and fair elections. He opened The Meuser Law Group to better help small businesses owners handle California’s complex regulatory environment. His unique training in diverse civil litigation, representing both individuals and small business, has taught him how to listen to people, formulate creative alternatives, and achieve workable solutions to real problems.

Mark Meuser’s priority is to guide the Secretary of States office out of the antiquated 19th Century and into the 21st Century. The people of California deserve an open and accessible government that works for them, not against them.

We believe that Mark Meuser will fight to protect the rights of citizens to vote and petition their government. He will restore the people’s confidence in open, secure, and fair elections. California needs a Secretary of State who will utilize the knowledge and experience of Silicon Valley to modernize the way businesses register in the State.

Konstantinos Roditis
For
Controller

Konstantinos Roditis is about Solutions Not New Taxes

As Controller, Konstantinos Roditis will fight to make California affordable, not seeking new ways to tax you.
Repeal the Gas Tax Increase: Sacramento wastes billions of dollars and only use 20% towards road repairs. We pay four times more to fix a road than Texas. We have more than enough money. If you let this tax stand, you are saying it’s okay for politicians to waste your money. I will demand accountability and root out waste, fraud, and abuse.
Environmentally Smart Policies: Don’t waste billions of gallons of water and refuse to capture it and then look to tax us for using more than 55-gallons of water a day for our entire family. I will focus on solutions, not tax increases.
Defund the High-Speed Rail: Waste and out-of-control spending to build a train using 1970s technology. I’ll seek fiscally responsible next-generation transportation solutions like skyTran, which solves our bumper-to-bumper traffic crisis without endless taxpayer funding.
Since the Controller is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of California, doesn’t it makes sense to have a CFO and visionary businessman that understands economics, fiscal responsibility, and balancing a budget as your next Controller, instead of a lifelong bureaucrat?
Vote to make California affordable. Vote for solutions, not tax increases.

Greg Conlon
For
Treasurer

VOICE OF EXPERIENCE

BACKGROUND:

Businessman, CPA and Veteran
Former Pres. of CA Public Utilities Commission
Former Comm. of CA Transportation Commission
30 years Financial and Accounting Experience

Greg Conlon's priorities for California include:

Reform State Public Pensions by starting a defined contribution plan for new employees and keep the present pension plan for current employees.
Change the State Constitution so the State Treasurer and Controller will be appointed by the Governor’s Office rather than elected, helping us recruit truly expert people.
Improve the State’s credit rating from fourth to last to an acceptable rating of AA or above.

Steve Poizner
For
Insurance Commissioner

Steve Poizner held the Insurance Commissioner position from 2007-2011, and is now running for his 2nd term

Steve has the proven experience and leadership as Californians face urgent issues: under-insured homeowners exposed to an increasing number of wildfires and floods, ongoing premium increases in health insurance markets, and the growing economic threat of cyber-crime.

Disaster Relief: Steve has and will make sure victims can collect the claims they need and deserve.

Cybercrime Protection: Californians must be protected from one of the world’s most serious threats.

Tackling Fraud: From 2007 - 2011, Steve arrested 3,000 fraudsters. He’ll do it again.

Healthcare: We need practical solutions that incentivize better care.

Mark Burns
For
Board of Equalization District 2

Candidate's Statement

California Taxpayers have the highest burden in the United States. As a staunch and long term supporter of Proposition 13 and Propositions 60 & 90 (property tax base transfers for seniors); I will work to make our system fairer for all.

For the past 32 years; I’ve worked in the real estate business in Silicon Valley and watched property taxes and sales taxes reach levels that should support California Government well into the future and include surpluses and reserves. Instead; we see continuing efforts to raise taxes further and without meaningful purposes except to back-fund increased spending and over commitment by past representatives and legislators.

I will fight to improve accountability and efficiency within the Board of Equalization. I’ve Chaired Citizen’s Oversight Committees on K-8 and 9-12 school districts in my Community for nearly a decade. I’ve served as Chair and/or President for my 4500+ member trade association – Silicon Valley Association of Realtors (SilVAR), the Cupertino Chamber of Commerce, the contracts publishing division of SilVAR, the Legislative Action Council for SilVAR and successfully argued for our County Supervisors (twice) to retain Prop 90 (inter-county transfer of tax base) for our seniors and the disabled.

Position Statements

California Prosperity Agenda

The Santa Barbara County Republican Central Committee has endorsed the California Prosperity Agenda proposed by the Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy (PRI), a California-based organization which champions freedom, opportunity, and personal responsibility for all individuals by advancing free-market policy solutions. The California Prosperity Agenda is a 12-point, multi-year plan that reflects the best thinking of PRI researchers and think tanks nationwide on how to restore freedom and opportunity to Californians.

To read the California Prosperity Agenda, please click here.

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Repeal The Gas Tax

The Santa Barbara County Republican Central Committee unanimously endorsed Repeal of the Gas Tax, implemented under Senate Bill 1 which became effective November 1, 2017.

The gasoline excise tax will rise 43 percent, or by 12 cents per gallon, generating an estimated $24.4 billion in revenue. The diesel tax will climb 125 percent, by 20 cents per gallon. This increase would add another $7.3 billion.
The diesel sales tax will rise 5.75 percent and raise $3.5 billion.
A vehicle fee, similar to what owners currently pay the Department of Motor Vehicles annually, will raise $16.3 billion.
Zero-emission vehicles will have to pay a $100 annual fee for road maintenance beginning in 2020.

To read the entire Senate Bill 1 please click here: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180SB1

To learn more and to sign the Petition to Repeal the Gas Tax please click here: www.givevotersavoice.com/