The Valley Chronicle - 5 candidates for Assembly District 42, and 3 ar

[caption id="attachment_10979" align="alignright" width="228"] Photo source: Gary Jeandron for State Assembly
34-year public servant Gary Jeandron.[/caption] ■ By Melissa Diaz Hernandez / Editor Assemblyman Chad Mayes, 42nd District, has four other candidates vying for his seat. Last week, The Valley Chronicle covered the Democratic and Green Party candidates, DeniAntionette Mazingo (Democrat) and Carol A. Bouldin (Green Party) running to replace Mayes. Now, we will cover the three Republicans, Gary Jeandron, San Jacinto Councilman Andrew Kotyuk and incumbent Chad Mayes. All five candidates are competing for one of the top two spots for November’s general election. Meet Gary Jeandron In his candidate statement, Jeandron talks about his roots consisting of the Banning/Beaumont Pass and the San Jacinto Valley. After graduating from Hemet High School, Jeandron went on to a 34-year career in public service, starting as a records clerk, and later, becoming Palm Springs’ Police Chief. Jeandron is currently living in the Coachella Valley. He has also served as a board member of the Palm Springs Unified School District. Jeandron ran for this same seat in 2014, but lost in the June primary to Mayes and Democrat Karalee Hargrove. Mayes won the seat in the general election. “I do not want to be or ever become a politician,” states Jeandron on his campaign website. “I keep my word, I don’t change my beliefs depending on what group I am talking with. I will resist big money influence that is contrary to Republican principles of smaller government, lower taxes, and support for small business. I will maintain public safety as a priority and individual rights and freedoms. I will continue to respect the Second Amendment and fight against those who foolishly think guns kill people. The truth is people kill people.” Jeandron signed a ‘No New Tax Pledge,’ stating in his candidate statement that he “will vote against tax increases and will fight to repeal the gas tax.” To learn about Jeandron, visit http://www.jeandronforstateassembly.com/index.html. [caption id="attachment_10982" align="alignleft" width="211"] Photo source: Andrew Kotyuk for Assembly 2018
San Jacinto Councilman Andrew Kotyuk.[/caption] Meet Andrew Kotyuk Kotyuk is a Navy veteran and small businessman, who also serves as a San Jacinto Councilman. According to his campaign statement, Kotyuk is running to “fight higher taxes, oneness regulations, and stop out-of-control spending.” He is a member of the National Rifle Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, and Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. “California is broken; homelessness, crumbling infrastructure, bloated government pensions, and out-of-control taxes. Despite the highest revenues in the nation, we are the highest taxed in the nation. Our tax dollars are being used to fund illegal aliens, high-speed rail, and unnecessary government programs and regulations. It’s time to reform our budget and cut spending.” San Jacinto City Council voted, in a 3-1 vote, to oppose SB-54 and join the amicus brief in support of the Department of Justice of the United States. Kotyuk was one of three council members, along with Mayor Crystal Ruiz and Mayor Pro Tem Russ Utz, who voted in favor of the motion. Kotyuk made an appearance at the last couple of Hemet City Council meetings to urge the council to take the same action. To learn more about Kotyuk, visit https://kotyukforassembly.org/. Incumbent Chad Mayes Mayes was elected as Assemblyman to serve the 42nd District in November 2014. “I don’t have all the answers, but I’ve kept my word,” says Mayes in a statement on his campaign website. “I promised to cut taxes, reduce regulations, save California jobs and put people first. As your voice in Sacramento, we’ve done just that.” [caption id="attachment_10981" align="alignright" width="240"] Photo source: Wikipedia
42nd District Assemblyman Chad Mayes.[/caption] Mayes became the Republican leader after 10 months in office, according to his campaign website. In that position, Mayes voted against SB-1: The Transportation Tax better known as “the gas tax.” Mayes was asked to step down as the Republican leader by The California Republican Party’s board after he voted in favor of extending the state’s cap-and-trade program. He did not step down. Assemblyman Brian Dahle was later elected by the board to replace Mayes. Mayes voted against a bill that requires professional sports teams to classify cheerleaders as employees, but the bill passed both the State Assembly and Senate. A bill co-sponsored by Mayes, but failed to pass, was to establish May 26 as John Wayne Day. Mayes was able to get a meeting with Gov. Jerry Brown in an effort to halt the construction of a raised medians along SR-74/Florida Avenue in Hemet. The newspaper previously reported that Hemet’s City Manager Allen Parker stated in a council meeting in early January “that the head of Caltrans would be willing to put construction on hold and await the city’s ability to take over the segment of Florida Avenue giving the city six months to do an evaluation if Caltrans received a letter and resolution from the city of Hemet.” The adopted resolution was sent to Caltrans accompanied by a letter penned by Mayor Michael Perciful requesting Caltrans halt the project and begin discussions to relinquish the segment of SR 74/Florida Avenue to the city of Hemet. The six-month deadline is approaching. For more information on Mayes, visit ChadMayes.com.