Diego Martinez, foothill business owner in California’s Gavin Newsom recall election

Name: Diego Martinez

Political party: Republican

Residence: Sonora

Occupation: Fugitive recovery agent, bail bonds agent, business owner

Education: General education

Experience: I have worked for multi-million-dollar businesses that were on the edge of closing their doors. I turned their business around and make them profitable.

Website: www.DiegoMartinezforGovernor.com

What precautions, if any, should California continue to take to cope with COVID-19 and its variants?

I don’t believe that people need to be wearing masks. If a person feels “safer” with wearing a mask, that will be their choice. If the business owner asks for their customers to wear a mask, it will be up to the business owners. I will NOT have mandates for face masks and getting a vaccine. It is a personal choice and it should never be a government’s mandate.

California provided significant cash support to individuals and small businesses who suffered during the pandemic, with billions of dollars allocated for rent relief and small-business grants. To what extent should that assistance continue?

I believe EVERY business should be OPEN without any mandates. If everyone went back to work, together we can get our economy in California working again and being profitable.

What more would you do to address California’s housing crisis?

We will have affordable housing available, regardless of credit. We want to make Californians homeowners. We will work with banks like Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA programs and HUD programs, to help the average Californian to be able to buy their home by building affordable housing for this program.

What should California do to build up its middle class?

I will be bring back higher paying jobs. Furthermore, I will provide trade schools for people to learn a new trade. Additionally, I will work with businesses to offer internships. Working together, we can turn this State around with bold California solutions for California’s problems.

Would you propose any new policies to address climate change?

Communities throughout California are facing serious and growing threats to their ability to provide a safe, reliable supply of water. Drought, coupled with over-allocation of existing water sources is affecting cities, farms, businesses, industries, and the environment all across the state. Capturing and using or storing storm water runoff can help communities increase water supply reliability – so they have the water when it is needed.

What should California do in the long term to address wildfire and drought conditions?

We need to bring back forest management. We need to bring back the lumber industry. Therefore, we will be cleaning up the forest. It will not eliminate forest fires, but help fire fighters fight the fires. They will have better access. Furthermore, there will be less dry lumber on the floor ready to burn.