James Gallagher, Aaron Draper answer key questions in California Assembly District 3 race
In the 3rd California Assembly District, incumbent Republican James Gallagher will face Democrat Aaron Draper in the November election.
Gallagher is seeking a sixth term to represent the solidly Republican district. In the Assembly, Gallagher serves as the Republican Leader. Draper is an educator and small business owner from Chico.
The 3rd Assembly Distrist did not undergo major changes during the 2021 redistricting cycle. It spans six counties north of Sacramento: Butte, Glenn, Placer, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba.
The Bee asked the candidates to fill out a survey. Their responses were checked and slightly edited for spelling and grammar
James Gallagher
Political party: Republican
Age: 43
Birthplace: Yuba City
Residence: Yuba City
Occupation: Assemblymember, farmer and businessman
Education: University of California, Berkeley, B.A. political science; University of California, Davis, J.D.
Offices held: State Assembly Republican Leader; State Assemblemember, Dist. 3; Sutter County Supervisor District 5
Campaign website address: electjamesgallagher.com
Q. What would be your budget priorities for the upcoming budget year?
After years of surplus and ample opportunity to do the right thing, Democrats have squandered taxpayer money and recklessly spent themselves into a deficit. The budget passed this year embraced Newsom’s gimmicks to punt our biggest problems one more year into the future. The budget next year should make Californians safer and lower families’ costs. It should NOT include any tax increases. The Legislature must fully fund infrastructure, water storage projects, education, and public safety.
Q. What do you think the Legislature should do to address the state’s ongoing homelessness crisis?
Californians can see with their own eyes the growing homeless camps and filth in their communities. But Capitol Democrats are in denial. Let’s be clear: it is their policy agenda that has largely caused this crisis. Meanwhile, nearly every proposal brought forward by Republicans has been rejected by the ruling party. I support empowerment, not enablement. I support reforms to make it easier and cheaper to build housing. I support Prop 36. And I support making it easier to mandate drug and mental health treatment for those who need it.
Q. How should the Legislature respond to concerns about retail theft and fentanyl and drug overdoses?
The Legislature should embrace Proposition 36, Alexandra’s Law and other common-sense measures that have been introduced by Republicans. Instead, the Democrat majority is moving in the opposite direction. They continue to author new laws that make it easier to release violent felons back into our communities. I support bringing back accountability and justice for victims.
Aaron Draper
Political party: Democrat
Age: 51
Birthplace: Yuba City
Residence: Chico
Occupation: Educator and small business owner
Education: Cal Northern School of Law, J.D. and Master in legal studies; Academy of Art University, San Francisco, M.F.A.; California State University, Chico, B.A. in English literature
Offices held: CSU Chico Academic Senator
Campaign website address: draper4change.com
Q. What would be your budget priorities for the upcoming budget year?
One of my top priorities for the budget is ensuring that Gavin Newsom maintains, if not increases, the funds he recently allocated to victim services through California Office of Emergency Services. It’s vitally important that the state step up and cover any gaps created by the federal reductions in Victims of Crime Act funding and that these are included in the governor’s budgets going forward. We need to secure ongoing, dedicated funding for victim services programs.
Q. What do you think the Legislature should do to address the state’s ongoing homelessness crisis?
Many think homelessness is a singular problem that should receive a singular solution. The unhoused represent a multi-faceted challenge. Veterans, students, the mentally ill, and those struggling with substance abuse, all need different plans to help them become housed. Due to rising costs in insurance and inflation, more and more seniors have been losing their housing. And wildfires have displaced thousands across California and my district. We need a multi-pronged approach to ensure that more and more of the middle class don’t slip into homelessness.
Q. How should the Legislature respond to concerns about retail theft and fentanyl and drug overdoses?
Reduce the ability for criminals to use online platforms to sell their stolen goods. Ensure rural counties have the personnel required to prosecute the crimes. Penalties for retail theft should increase. Host local events that offer fentanyl training. We need to be more informed on how to recognize overdoses and administer Narcan. Increase efforts to stem the supply and distribution of the drug. There is an increasing need for mental health services and there should be a concerted effort to ensure that rural counties have adequate resources for its residents.
