Tyson rare Imperial County resident seeking House seat
On State Route 111 on the far eastern edge of Brawley a non-descript sign reads “Victor V. Veysey Expressway.” Only old-timers and aficionados of local history may know Veysey is the last Congressman representing Imperial County who had an address inside it, serving from 1971-75. Moreover, many cannot recall if someone from the county has even run for a seat in Congress since Veysey lost his in 1974.
That changed this year when Brian Tyson, a local physician and Republican, became one of seven to file for California’s 25th Congressional District, a new area created by redistricting based on the 2020 Census.
“If there was ever a time to run, this was it,” Tyson said recently, noting it is an open seat even though the field includes U.S. Rep. Raul Ruiz, an incumbent in the soon-to-be-defunct configuration of the 36th District.
Imperial County shifts from the 51st District now represented by Democrat Juan Vargas.
The so-called “jungle” primary is June 7, meaning the top two finishers, regardless of party affiliation, will face off in the Nov. 8 general election. That means no less than one of the six Republicans will be on the November ballot.
The other GOP House hopefuls include James Francis Gibson, a retired farmer from Palm Desert; Brian E. Hawkins, a San Jacinto City Council member and pastor; Jonathan Reiss, a media consultant from Wilton; Burt Thakur, a Palm Springs engineering project manager; and Ceci Truman, a Winchester small business owner.
Ruiz, also a physician, is the lone Democrat, perhaps speaking to the confidence his party has in his candidacy.
Candidate headwinds
Despite having some favorite-son support in Imperial County, Tyson, making his first run for public office, faces headwinds even beyond the crowded field that includes the multi-term incumbent Ruiz. Imperial County is less than half the district’s population and the fact a Congressional candidate from the county is so rare speaks to the difficulty of delivering a message that resonates in other areas, in this case portions of Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
“I’ve learned the district is really large,” Tyson quipped when asked what campaigning has taught him. “You have to manage your time well.”
The district is also heavily Democratic, according to data compiled by the Los Angeles Times. The new 25th District is 43 percent Democrat and 28 percent Republican. The good news for Tyson, and likely part of the reason for his comment about running now, is that is better than the 48-17 Democratic advantage in the current 51st District.
However, Ruiz has experience running in a tighter district; his current 36th is just 42-31 in his party’s favor.
Tyson does have a heavyweight in his corner: local, state and national name recognition from his work developing and prescribing a medicinal cocktail he and his supporters maintain did well in treating the COVID-19 virus. His co-developer was longtime Brawley physician George Fareed, himself widely known and well-regarded.
The pair and their treatment remain controversial with some seeing them as heroes battling government overreach and promoting health choices. Others argue they prescribe uses of medicines that are ineffective against COVID in the least and potentially dangerous at worst. That dispute is not settled and may never be.
According to his website, Tyson appeared on national radio with Sean Hannity, David Horowitz and others to discuss the issue, amid complaints public health agencies suppressed the drugs’ value, and he has the endorsement of Fox News host and conservative heavyweight Sean Hannity. He was also involved in various national and international panel discussions.
Campaign cornerstone
In fact, Tyson noted his work battling the virus is the cornerstone of his decision to seek a seat in Congress.
“We’re talking before (COVID) vaccines were available. It makes no sense to me as a physician to tell people (with COVID) to go home until you can’t breathe,” Tyson said in a recent interview in El Centro.
“The pushback we were getting (for prescribing the drugs), even before the vaccine, was incredible. We were asking questions to public health, Assembly Member Eduardo Garcia, Vargas, CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), NIH (National Institutes of Health). We did our research. There’s clearly drugs available that can help. Why are the positions of the CDC and the NIH to do nothing? It made no sense,” he added.
Explaining specifically how treating patients morphed into a political excursion, Tyson said it’s about personal freedom. He complained that while his treatment worked it was being discounted even as restrictions were placed on the unvaccinated.
“My fight to save the patients of the Valley led me to where I’m at,” he said. “Our rights were being trampled on. Our ability to say no to experimental treatment (vaccines) was being trampled on. Doctors were trampled on.
The CDC, FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and NIH are not law enforcement agencies and don’t treat patients. They discounted doctors like myself who were treating people on the front lines. We never advised against health guidelines.”
Conservative platform
That firebrand approach echoes what is seen on his campaign website, which promotes several conservative calling cards for the 2022 midterms in which Republicans hope to seize House and Senate control from Democrats.
“As your representative, I will fight every day for you and your community to: America and family first agenda, protect our water rights and agriculture, lower food and gas prices, school choice for our children, protect freedom of speech and right to bear arms” among others, the homepage states.
A section titled “Defend Education” reads, “The radical left is trying to take over our education system. From promoting critical race theory to glorifying the tenets of socialism, today’s leaders are attempting to indoctrinate our children from a disturbingly young age. Dr. Tyson will work to eliminate CRT and other radical left theories from the education curriculum.”
Another labeled “Secure the Border” states: President Biden and current leadership continue to preside over the worst border crisis in two decades. Dr. Tyson will support our border patrol and immigration agencies, work to secure America’s southern border, and oppose amnesty.”
However, in the interview Tyson at times cast a more conciliatory tone, even mentioning bipartisanship that is seen as a four-letter word in some Republican congressional campaigns. He also noted campaigning has given him a greater understanding of the electorate and its needs.
Tyson, 48, was born into an Air Force pilot’s family in Florida and grew up in and worked in the Redlands area.
Varied experience
Before becoming a physician he held positions as adult/youth sports supervisor and community center supervisor in the cities of Redlands and Moreno Valley. As a doctor, he worked at San Gorgonio Hospital in Banning and Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs.
That work provided him with connections in, and familiarity with, areas outside Imperial County of the district he seeks to represent, Tyson said.
He said he first came to Imperial County about six years ago to work with Dr. Alex Zadeh at his Brawley office. Later, he opened
All Valley Urgent Care after noticing there were none such facilities in the area. It has locations in El Centro, Brawley and Imperial Beach and others are planned for Calexico and Calimesa.
Tyson has seven children; a stepson and a biological daughter from his first marriage, three adopted children and is stepfather to two children of his wife, Fabiola. She has a nurse-practitioner degree and also helps manage the clinics. The family lives in El Centro.
Asked what endeared him to the area and put down roots, he noted, “It’s very similar to Redlands where I grew up where there’s citrus groves. It has a rural, agricultural flavor to it. Coming out here was very similar and I like the small community, that people know each other and help each other out.”
Youth supporter
Tyson stressed he has a long-held passion for youth issues and youth sports, something he sees as an issue that can resonate with Democrats.
Sports, he noted, kept him away the “riff-raff and gang-infested life around the neighborhood” where he grew up and he sees it as a valued path. As an adult he said he has continued that with coaching and what he estimated is more than $1 million in financial support for youth sports, activities and academics over his career.
“Sports teaches you if you work hard, you get better. It can further your education,” Tyson said. “We have to get back to investing in our youth. COVID destroyed our youth. All those opportunities were taken away. They were the least susceptible and the most impacted.”
Among proposals he would advocate in Congress is a “First Seven educational program.”
He explained, “The first seven years of life are when children experience things that are important for personality formation. I will seek non-partisan legislation. I think we could clearly achieve that with bipartisan support. Love, socialization, compassion. You’re going to have better outcomes.”
Reaching across the aisle
Being a physician has also taught him to reach across the aisle by promoting efforts such as First Seven.
“The appeal (to voters) is pretty simple. As a physician, everything I’ve done is serving the community,” he said noting his appeal to Democrats “goes back to being a doctor. Medicine is non-partisan. I’ve never played politics. It’s easy because it’s never been polarized and clearly even on issues that were polarizing, such as vaccines.”
Campaigning has given him a broader insight into the communities he seeks to represent, Tyson added.
“Listening to what people are in need of is probably the best thing about running. I’ve learned so much about ag, about water, the fears of our residents. There’s a lot of apprehension of what is to come. Jobs, the economy, inflation, the border, education,” he said.
Tyson added he seeks to be a tireless advocate for an area long neglected.
“You send me to Congress, this Valley is not going to be neglected anymore, not in favor of big business,” he said. “We need to get back to government by the people and for the people. That’s my promise because that’s what I’ve done my whole life.”
That message is resonating with some Imperial County voters, even a prominent Democrat. County District 3 Supervisor Michael Kelley openly expressed his support for Tyson at a board meeting in March, while acknowledging he is of the opposing party.
Last week, Kelley spoke further on the difference he sees between Tyson and others who have represented the county.
“I look at this election as non-partisan—the best person to represent Imperial County is somebody who has a vested interest in it,” he said. “I think he’s the guy to do it. I’ve gone to Sacramento and Washington and talked to legislators, and I’ve walked away wondering if they’ve even heard me.”
Local support
Support from Republicans is equally as impassioned as Kelley’s, though less surprising.
“We in the Imperial County Republican Party are tired of sending people to Washington that are not representing what they say and what the people want,” said Sayrs Morris, local party chairperson.
“We think Dr. Tyson has shown in the last two years he is not self-serving. We said to him, ‘ run.’ He has our endorsement. He has a lot of common sense and tries to keep government in its role and not this overstepping” as with COVID restrictions, she said.
A strong advocate against what some see as government overreach in the COVID battle, Jarrad Reeves of Imperial, also said he sees the physician as an ideal fit for the office.
“Tyson has shown true leadership the last two years. He has purchased restaurants to keep them open and helped employees stay employed, as well as run all the All Valley Urgent Cares,” said Reeves, the de facto leader of a group that for months protested state and county face-covering mandates.
“He has been to county/ school board meetings as an expert witness for COVID treatment, preventive measures, and he did it all for his community and something he believes in,” he added.
The candidacy received a tepid response from the Imperial Valley Democrat Central Committee.
“We acknowledge that there is a candidate from the Valley, however, with our current local and national concerns, our committee’s values are aligned with Dr. Raul Ruiz,” said Roxanna Pacheco, committee chairperson. “He has experience and has successfully advocated for communities similar to Imperial County. That is why we are asking Democrats in Imperial County to vote for (him).”