Takeaways from The Bee’s endorsement interview with CA governor candidate Steve Hilton
The Sacramento Bee’s Editorial Board interviewed all the major candidates running for governor to determine who would get the board’s endorsement. Each of the candidates vying to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom for the state’s top office shared why their vision for California is the one that should get them elected.
Here is what gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton had to say.
The Bee is also publishing videos and key points from the board’s interviews with six other candidates: Xavier Becerra, Matt Mahan, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, Tony Thurmond and Antonio Villaraigosa.
Why run?
Hilton, a former conservative political commentator, says California needs a political change after long-term control by Democrats. “After 16 years of total one-party control … it breeds complacency and corruption,” he says, arguing that even if Democrats keep control of the Legislature, electing a Republican governor would restore balance. Hilton also says he wants to be part of “the world of action and doing things,” referring to his previous experiences on broadcast television, where he felt he was merely talking about policy and politics..
What’s his platform
Hilton says his campaign theme is to make California ‘Califordable,’ the name of his tax plan.
“$3 gas, cut your electric bills in half, your first hundred grand tax-free, a home you can afford to buy,” he says. He also opposes the proposed controversial California Billionaire Tax, arguing it would push wealthy taxpayers out and shrink revenue. Hilton says housing is a foundational problem in California, causing people and businesses to leave the state, and creating long commutes for those who stay. His says his approach to make homes cheaper entails implementing policies to reduce construction costs and implementing sensible forest management policies, saying that it is “two to three times” more expensive to build the same floor plan in California compared to neighboring states.
When asked about homelessness, he says the status quo is unacceptable and argues the state should treat encampments as illegal developments.
Hilton’s homelessness plan, titled ‘Ending Homelessness,’ is a three-part approach: Clearing encampments, with state enforcement resources if needed; requiring people living on the streets to undergo mandatory drug and alcohol treatment; and enacting policies to add additional mental-health treatment and shelter beds.
On immigration, Hilton says, “(We should be) the most welcoming place for legal immigrants … as a legal immigrant myself.” But he also says that the state “cannot have a situation where we’ve got a subsector of the economy based on lawbreaking.” He also says that illegal immigration should not be a solution to the country’s low labor-force participation rates.
What he says sets him apart from the rest of the pack?
Hilton presents himself as different from the field of candidates partly because of his Hungarian working-class background, saying, “I’m the only candidate in this race who’s an immigrant.” Hilton was born in the United Kingdom to Hungarian parents and worked in politics in the U.K. before coming to the United States. He says that having worked in a coalition government overseas has equipped him with the necessary skills to work with a Democratic supermajority in the California Legislature. Hilton also says the state must stop interest groups from blocking reforms, and points to “three forces that basically control Democrat politicians in California:” unions, environmental activists and trial lawyers benefiting from lawsuits.
California’s primary election is on Tuesday, June 2. Be sure to check out The Bee’s Voter Guide for key information and the Editorial Board’s other endorsements before the big day.