YOUR SAY: A GOP GOVERNOR? State may be ready to pick a Republican
We asked: With San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer ‘seriously considering’ a run for governor, would you vote for him? Do you think any Republican could win? Why or why not?
As Mayor Kevin Faulconer is being discussed as the top contender in a 2022 run for governor, results from this past election should be encouraging for statewide Republicans looking to develop an alternative view of major policy ideas to those currently holding office. Ballot propositions relating to the undoing of Proposition 13 protections, imposing rent-control and reinstituting affirmative action all failed statewide. And across the state, three incumbent Democrats lost their congressional seats to Republicans.
These victories are rooted in the notion that we as Republicans can effectively communicate a message focused on the issues that truly impact Californians each and every day, rather than one that doesn’t resort to a personality contest of those at the top of the ticket. With President Donald Trump no longer holding office come Jan. 20, 2021, this becomes much easier.
Suffice it to say, this is a positive foundation for a Republican who has a history of presenting solid policy ideas to address the issues all Californians deem important to them: housing, homelessness and the recovery of our small businesses and economy. Voters are looking for an alternative viewpoint to address these challenges that doesn’t automatically resort to increasing our taxes, fees or overall cost of living.
Having both worked for, and with, Mayor Kevin Faulconer, I believe he can easily build upon the successes we have seen right here in San Diego.
For the past seven years, we have seen San Diego be a leader in a solutions-oriented approach to address the housing crisis in San Diego, combat homelessness and expand economic opportunities for our entrepreneurs, small business owners and employees.
These are ideas that can be replicated in other cities across the state, assuming there is the leadership in Sacramento that can lay out the evidence of how these solutions can work. And what better person to have making those claims than someone who has actually done it.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the lack of leadership this state currently has to make a full recovery. There has been a constant mishmash of ideas and executive orders that has many feeling less than satisfied there is the needed vision and leadership at the top of our state government. Not to mention the “do as I say, not as I do” actions of our sitting governor.
Now is the time to present an argument against the status quo to voters. I personally believe Mayor Faulconer is the best choice for Republicans to do just that.