Since announcing a committee of inquiry earlier this month to challenge California government Gavin Newsom, former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer has raised more than $ 1 million. According to Faulconer’s campaign manager, a figure is a sign that Californians are hungry for new leadership.
Faulconer, who was the Republican mayor of San Diego between 2014 and 2020, launched the committee as a petition to recall Newsom dealing with the coronavirus pandemic is gaining steam. On January 31, the organizers of the recall effort say they have collected more than 1.2 million signatures from the required 1.5 million. Their deadline is March 17.
Faulconer’s campaign manager Stephen Puetz told Fox News on Sunday that if a Republican has a chance to oust a Democratic governor in California, it’s Faulconer.
San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer will participate in the San Diego Pride Parade in Balboa Park in San Diego, California on July 14, 2018.
(Getty Images)
“During his time as mayor (Faulconer) was known as the only major city Republican mayor in the country. And he was known as someone who could get things right,” Faulconer said. ‘He was the only mayor of a major California city to reduce homelessness for two years in a row. . And did it all without raising taxes. ‘
Since the launch committee was launched, Faulconer’s team has reached a wide range of potential supporters in California, Puetz said he has managed the spectrum from grassroots organizers, political decision-makers, state legislators, regional leaders such as district attorneys and supervisors. of the country, as well as as major donors and ‘everyday Californians’.
“Whether it’s Republican donors, party activists or Democrats, or just sick of the one-party regime, people are hungry for an alternative,” Faulconer said. “People are hungry for a check and balance in Sacramento.”
Faulconer, a moderate Republican city councilor, was elected mayor of San Diego in early 2014 in a special election brought about by the resignation of Democrat Bob Filner over allegations of sexual harassment.
San Diego had the distinction of being the largest city in the country with a Republican mayor, and Faulconer was the only Republican to lead a large city in California, where Democrats held a firm grip on the country’s offices. has.
Despite being tipped against a Latin Democrat and his unions spending about $ 5 million in his re-election, Faulconer won with 42% of the Latin vote and 30% of Democrats supported him.
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Puetz’s ability to do that offers Faulconer ‘hope for people who pay attention and says,’ Well, of course, we want to make a change. Of course we want someone who can defeat Gavin Newsom. ‘
“But there’s also the element of realism that it has to be someone with a proven ability to win and then get things done. And honestly, he’s now the only person in California who did it,” Puetz said. said. “There’s no other person who has won a tough race … with demographics similar to the state of California, like Kevin Faulconer. And that’s part of why he’s gotten so much support over the last few weeks.”
The recall attempt against Newsom – the sixth attempt since he took office in January 2019 – was initially thwarted by a vigorous effort by fringe activists. But the effort gradually gained general support amid growing dissatisfaction with the governor’s handling of the pandemic. Critics – Republicans and even some Democrats – have accused Newsom’s government of not making the data they allegedly relied on when they closed businesses and schools transparent.
The recall campaign received an increase in support in November last year after Newsom was photographed eating in the excellent French wax restaurant while apparently violating his own guidelines for coronavirus.
But Puetz believes years of failed Democratic leadership in California also play a crucial role in the success of the recall effort.
“Is it just Gavin Newsom? No, it’s not just Gavin Newsom. It’s the whole system, the whole failed system in Sacramento,” Puetz said. “We are one of the countries with the highest taxes in the country. And if we do not even have to raise taxes, they are still raising taxes … while giving away somewhere between $ 10 and $ 30 billion to criminals in unemployment fraud. ”
Last week, the California state auditor found that the state agency that oversees unemployment benefits had paid out at least $ 10.4 billion in fraudulent claims due to “significant missteps and action.” The audit also found that the agency had paid at least $ 810 million to inmates – more than double the amount previously thought. Newsom’s government pointed the finger at the federal government and refused to share details on how often Newsom was informed of the problems.
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“It does not reflect the majesty and beauty of our state and its people,” Puetz said. “The state government does not reflect who the people of California are, the innovation, the care, the smartness, the entrepreneurship. Gavin Newsom and the one-party state law are holding back Californians. I think people are going to see it and they already are.”
Fox News’ Morgan Phillips and The Associated Press Contributed to This Report.