3 challengers eye seat in 36th
Race for Assembly seat on east side of SCV starts to heat up
In the 2020 race for the 36th Assembly District seat, three challengers have filed for a chance at the seat held by Assemblyman Tom Lackey, R-Antelope Valley.
The 36th Assembly District, which encompasses northeastern portions of Saugus and Canyon Country, has been represented by Lackey since 2014. All three challenges come from the Democratic Party hopefuls.
Lackey said Friday
he’d be once again running on a platform that includes strengthening the economy, making California affordable for working and middle class families and standing up for strong public safety laws and the protection of victims.
“We’re definitely in an unbalanced political climate right now and I believe that balanced policy is best policy,” said Lackey. “Extremes create an imbalance and generally do not serve the public.
Lackey, who spent 28 years as an officer in the California Highway Patrol, said he’s worked hard to fight impaired driving and the burgeoning black market for illegal marijuana sales. He’s also proud of his advocacy for victims rights.
Lackey is being challenged by three candidates: Steve Fox, Johnathon Ervin and Ollie McCaulley.
Fox, who represented the district from 2012-14, said he’s running as an anti-tax Democrat, who opposes things such as the gas tax and high California property taxes, and in favor of bringing jobs and a four-year institution to the district, he said Friday.
“I think I can get things through and I think I’ve proved that,” said Fox. “And I think that I can get the Democratic (Party’s) support.”
In addition to saying that he would also like to help the veteran communities, Fox said he’d also like to explore measures that bring optional meditation and/ or prayer into high schools for students.
Another Democratic Party challenger to Lackey, Ervin, has served 10.5 years in active service for the U.S. Air Force and the last 11.5 as a reservist, and also works as an engineer in the private sector. He said Friday after being a local leader in the 2018 election he would like for he himself to head up to Sacramento and get the district “its fair share.”
“I think I fit the district very well, and I think the issues were going to be talking about are going to be resonating with folks,” Ervin said. “We’re more than ready for the challenge of running, and more than ready to pass monumental legislation in Sacramento when we get there.”
Issues Ervin said would be included in his platform included strengthening and diversifying the economy, pushing for larger investments in infrastructure projects that benefit commuters within the district, ensuring healthcare and “mortgage-paying” jobs for citizens, and strengthening the state’s education system.
The Signal was not able to reach McCaulley. A phone number listed on the Secretary of State’s website for his campaign was not in service as of the publication of this story Friday.
The candidates listed above are expected to be listed on a single primary election ballot in March 2020. The top-two candidates will advance to the general election in November.
Lackey is being challenged by three candidates: Steve Fox, Johnathon Ervin and Ollie McCaulley.