BayAreaGOP.com

Your Window On Bay Area Republican Politics

Read how the Primary results put the GOP in a position to battle for a Fall Victory

Feature Article: Meet Senate District 12 Candidate Rob Poythress

UPCOMING GOP EVENTS

View more details for events on the Calendar of Upcoming Events or view the Monthly Calendar of Events.

Primary Results Put GOP in Position to Battle for Fall Victory

California Republicans broke the Democrats 2/3 majority in the State Legislature with the successful recall of Democratic State Senator Josh Newman and election of former Assemblywoman Ling Ling Chang to the State Senate.  This brings the number of Republicans in the State Senate to 14 – enough to block the 2/3’s vote requirement to raise state taxes.

This win sets up the battle this fall to keep or expand the GOP presence in the State Legislature to prevent Democrats from pursuing their relentless effort to increase the tax burden on hard working Californians.

Perhaps the most pivotal race in this effort will be the open seat in Senate District 12 which includes some or all of Monterey, San Benito, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, and Fresno counties.  Madera County Supervisor Rob Poythress (see accompanying article) is the Republican nominee.

Equally important is the battle to retain incumbent Republican Assemblywoman Catharine Baker as the only partisan Republican representing a portion of the 9 county Bay Area. Baker received 56.6% of the vote in her primary, but the general election will be a challenge in a district with 27.9% GOP registration.

Republicans filed candidates in 24 districts touching portions of our coverage area extending from Sonoma to Monterey.  In all but one of those districts, Republicans earned a spot in the top two. In the remaining 10 districts, incumbent Democrats will be opposed by other Democrats, NPP’s or write in candidates – opposition made possible or easier in the case of write-ins by the top-two system.  Republicans will field five statewide candidates, this fall giving every GOP voter a strong reason to turn out to support our Republican ticket.

Republican chances will be boosted by the recent qualification of Proposition 6, the initiative to repeal the gas tax, that will now appear on the November ballot, providing our candidates the opportunity to run on a platform of lower taxes for all Californians.

In addition, the Supreme Court’s recent Janus decision will make it harder for public employee unions to raise campaign dollars to oppose our nominees.

As a result, Republicans will have some wind at their backs going into the fall election.  With your hard work and support, we look forward to many Republican victories.

Rob Poythress for Senate District 12

Rob Poythress, a businessman, farmer, and county supervisor, is running in Senate District 12, a race with statewide significance.  After breaking the Democrats’ two thirds supermajority in the State Senate in June, Republicans need to hold this swing seat to maintain their position.
 
Poythress says “The good people who live in our communities deserve better from our political leaders.  And that’s why I’m running for State Senate.”
 
Rob Poythress also declares, “Working together, we can make the changes we need in Sacramento to ensure more reliable water supplies, remove obstacles from economic growth, get our fair share of state resources, and protect our neighborhoods from crime, drugs and violence.”
 
Senate District 12 is currently represented by Republican Sen. Anthony Cannella, who is termed out.  It runs from Modesto down highway I-5 to Coalinga, and from Salinas on the west to Madera on the east. (See the map.)  It’s largely agricultural area and contains voters from six counties, including San Benito and northeastern Monterey Counties, which are in the BayAreaGOP coverage area.
 
SD-12 is one of just a few open seat swing districts in the state, so it’s expected to be heavily contested.  Democrats have an 18% registration advantage, but in the primary Republicans won 48.5% of the vote, so victory is achievable with work.  
 
Rob Poythress grew up in the Central Valley and graduated from Madera High School.  He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in Agricultural Business Management.  Eighteen years later he went back to school and earned a graduate degree from Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington.
 
Poythress has long experience with business and agriculture.  He and his brother own a local almond farm.  They are also partners in Teco Hardware, a small business that sells products to local farms.  He says, “As a small business owner, I know excessive regulations kill jobs and chase investment away.”  Rob has also served as both manager and Vice President of Citizens Business Bank, where he helped local farms and businesses grow.
 
Rob served three terms on the Madera City Council and was Madera’s first elected mayor.  Now he serves as a Madera County Supervisor, where his responsibilities also include serving on several boards.  He has recently chaired the Madera County Economic Development Commission and the Madera Community Hospital Board, and served on the Madera County Transportation Commission, among others.
 
Rob Poythress has also been active in the community, supporting several non-profit groups. He has served on the boards of Court Appointed Special Advocates of Fresno and Madera Counties, West African Vocational Schools (that teach job skills in Guinea-Bissau), and the Sherman Thomas Charter School.
 
Rob and his wife Carol, a teacher, have three grown children and four grandchildren.  You can learn more about Rob Poythress’ campaign on his campaign website.

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GOP IN THE NEWS

Major online privacy bill becomes law after whirlwind week

By Chris Reed
CalWatchdog.com
July 2, 2018

A far-reaching online privacy bill that got next-to-no vetting or legislative debate was signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown last Thursday – the product of a quickly hammered-out agreement among state legislators, privacy advocates, tech firms and a real estate tycoon whose qualifying of an even more sweeping privacy measure for the November ballot triggered a frenzy of action at the Capitol in the past week.

Read More

Opinion: Time to admit criminal reform measure not working

By David Swing
The Mercury News
June 28, 2018

Proposition 47 has increased property crimes, decreased participation in drug rehabilitation

The Bay Area News Group editorial board recently lauded Californians for taking a “leap of faith” in 2014 and voting to reduce the penalties for certain crimes.

From a police chief’s perspective, Proposition 47 has been an ill-conceived measure that has increased property crimes, decreased participation in proven drug rehabilitation programs and is now the subject of a ballot initiative to address the unintended consequences.

It’s only working for criminals who are walking away from burglaries, illicit drug possessions and fraud without facing meaningful consequences. For heroin addicts who are shooting up in broad daylight at BART stations, know they will receive little more than a ticket and have no incentive to attend proven drug treatment programs that once helped address the issues of addiction. And for repeat shoplifters, bad-check writers and people who commit forgery.

Read More

Budget trailer bills have become Christmas trees

By Dan Walters
CALmatters
June 20, 2018

As detailed in this space a few days ago, the Legislature is using a budget “trailer bill” to deprive voters of vital information about local government and school bond issues.

The legislation, drafted without public hearings or other input, would suspend for two years a new law, which took effect on January 1, requiring proposed bond measures to reveal to voters how they would affect property tax bills.

The local officials who sought the suspension apparently believe that revealing the tax consequences to voters would make them less likely to vote for bond issues.

Read More

An Old Tale: Help is Coming for Public Unions from Legislative Majority

By Joel Fox
Fox & Hounds
June 19, 2018

Spooked by the imminent prospect of losing mandatory dues from bargaining unit employees, widely anticipated in the soon-to-be announced Janus case, California government employee unions have hauled out some of their most ambitious countermeasures to date and are rushing them through the legislature.

SB 866 would cement union control over access to individual employee decisions on whether to continue paying union dues, should mandatory agency fees be deemed unconstitutional. The bill calls for an appropriation, which qualifies it as a budget trailer bill—another example of the misuse of the process.

Read More

Publisher’s Message: Primary Results Put GOP in Position to Battle for Fall Victory

Feature Article: Meet Rob Poythress, Republican Candidate in Senate District 12

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LIST OF UPCOMING GOP EVENTS

View more details for events on the Calendar of Upcoming Events or view the Monthly Calendar of Events.

GOP In the News

Major online privacy bill becomes law after whirlwind week

By Chris Reed
CalWatchdog.com
July 2, 2018

A far-reaching online privacy bill that got next-to-no vetting or legislative debate was signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown last Thursday – the product of a quickly hammered-out agreement among state legislators, privacy advocates, tech firms and a real estate tycoon whose qualifying of an even more sweeping privacy measure for the November ballot triggered a frenzy of action at the Capitol in the past week.

Read More

Opinion: Time to admit criminal reform measure not working

By David Swing
The Mercury News
June 28, 2018

Proposition 47 has increased property crimes, decreased participation in drug rehabilitation

The Bay Area News Group editorial board recently lauded Californians for taking a “leap of faith” in 2014 and voting to reduce the penalties for certain crimes.

From a police chief’s perspective, Proposition 47 has been an ill-conceived measure that has increased property crimes, decreased participation in proven drug rehabilitation programs and is now the subject of a ballot initiative to address the unintended consequences.

It’s only working for criminals who are walking away from burglaries, illicit drug possessions and fraud without facing meaningful consequences. For heroin addicts who are shooting up in broad daylight at BART stations, know they will receive little more than a ticket and have no incentive to attend proven drug treatment programs that once helped address the issues of addiction. And for repeat shoplifters, bad-check writers and people who commit forgery.

Read More

Meet Rob Poythress, Republican Candidate in Senate District 12

Go To Article

Primary Results Put GOP in Position to Battle for Fall Victory

California Republicans broke the Democrats 2/3 majority in the State Legislature with the successful recall of Democratic State Senator Josh Newman and election of former Assemblywoman Ling Ling Chang to the State Senate.  This brings the number of Republicans in the State Senate to 14 – enough to block the 2/3’s vote requirement to raise state taxes.

This win sets up the battle this fall to keep or expand the GOP presence in the State Legislature to prevent Democrats from pursuing their relentless effort to increase the tax burden on hard working Californians.

Perhaps the most pivotal race in this effort will be the open seat in Senate District 12 which includes some or all of Monterey, San Benito, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, and Fresno counties.  Madera County Supervisor Rob Poythress (see accompanying article) is the Republican nominee.

Equally important is the battle to retain incumbent Republican Assemblywoman Catharine Baker as the only partisan Republican representing a portion of the 9 county Bay Area. Baker received 56.6% of the vote in her primary, but the general election will be a challenge in a district with 27.9% GOP registration.

Republicans filed candidates in 24 districts touching portions of our coverage area extending from Sonoma to Monterey.  In all but one of those districts, Republicans earned a spot in the top two. In the remaining 10 districts, incumbent Democrats will be opposed by other Democrats, NPP’s or write in candidates – opposition made possible or easier in the case of write-ins by the top-two system.  Republicans will field five statewide candidates, this fall giving every GOP voter a strong reason to turn out to support our Republican ticket.

Republican chances will be boosted by the recent qualification of Proposition 6, the initiative to repeal the gas tax, that will now appear on the November ballot, providing our candidates the opportunity to run on a platform of lower taxes for all Californians.

In addition, the Supreme Court’s recent Janus decision will make it harder for public employee unions to raise campaign dollars to oppose our nominees.

As a result, Republicans will have some wind at their backs going into the fall election.  With your hard work and support, we look forward to many Republican victories.


Rob Poythress for Senate District 12
 
Rob Poythress, a businessman, farmer, and county supervisor, is running in Senate District 12, a race with statewide significance.  After breaking the Democrats’ two thirds supermajority in the State Senate in June, Republicans need to hold this swing seat to maintain their position.
 
Poythress says “The good people who live in our communities deserve better from our political leaders.  And that’s why I’m running for State Senate.”
 
Rob Poythress also declares, “Working together, we can make the changes we need in Sacramento to ensure more reliable water supplies, remove obstacles from economic growth, get our fair share of state resources, and protect our neighborhoods from crime, drugs and violence.”
 
Senate District 12 is currently represented by Republican Sen. Anthony Cannella, who is termed out.  It runs from Modesto down highway I-5 to Coalinga, and from Salinas on the west to Madera on the east. (See the map.)  It’s largely agricultural area and contains voters from six counties, including San Benito and northeastern Monterey Counties, which are in the BayAreaGOP coverage area.
 
SD-12 is one of just a few open seat swing districts in the state, so it’s expected to be heavily contested.  Democrats have an 18% registration advantage, but in the primary Republicans won 48.5% of the vote, so victory is achievable with work.  
 
Rob Poythress grew up in the Central Valley and graduated from Madera High School.  He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in Agricultural Business Management.  Eighteen years later he went back to school and earned a graduate degree from Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington.
 
Poythress has long experience with business and agriculture.  He and his brother own a local almond farm.  They are also partners in Teco Hardware, a small business that sells products to local farms.  He says, “As a small business owner, I know excessive regulations kill jobs and chase investment away.”  Rob has also served as both manager and Vice President of Citizens Business Bank, where he helped local farms and businesses grow.
 
Rob served three terms on the Madera City Council and was Madera’s first elected mayor.  Now he serves as a Madera County Supervisor, where his responsibilities also include serving on several boards.  He has recently chaired the Madera County Economic Development Commission and the Madera Community Hospital Board, and served on the Madera County Transportation Commission, among others.
 
Rob Poythress has also been active in the community, supporting several non-profit groups. He has served on the boards of Court Appointed Special Advocates of Fresno and Madera Counties, West African Vocational Schools (that teach job skills in Guinea-Bissau), and the Sherman Thomas Charter School.
 
Rob and his wife Carol, a teacher, have three grown children and four grandchildren. You can learn more about Rob Poythress’ campaign on his campaign website.

GOP IN THE NEWS (cont.)

Budget trailer bills have become Christmas trees

By Dan Walters
CALmatters
June 20, 2018

As detailed in this space a few days ago, the Legislature is using a budget “trailer bill” to deprive voters of vital information about local government and school bond issues.

The legislation, drafted without public hearings or other input, would suspend for two years a new law, which took effect on January 1, requiring proposed bond measures to reveal to voters how they would affect property tax bills.

The local officials who sought the suspension apparently believe that revealing the tax consequences to voters would make them less likely to vote for bond issues.

Read More

An Old Tale: Help is Coming for Public Unions from Legislative Majority

By Joel Fox
Fox & Hounds
June 19, 2018

Spooked by the imminent prospect of losing mandatory dues from bargaining unit employees, widely anticipated in the soon-to-be announced Janus case, California government employee unions have hauled out some of their most ambitious countermeasures to date and are rushing them through the legislature.

SB 866 would cement union control over access to individual employee decisions on whether to continue paying union dues, should mandatory agency fees be deemed unconstitutional. The bill calls for an appropriation, which qualifies it as a budget trailer bill—another example of the misuse of the process.

Read More

Republicans Are More Eager to Vote This Year Than Democrats

Rasmussen Reports
June 7, 2018

Republicans are more enthusiastic than Democrats and independents about voting this November, but all Americans are more eager to vote than they were in the last mid-term elections. 

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 70% of Likely Republican Voters say they are more likely to vote this year than they have been in past election years. That compares to 64% of Democrats and 51% of voters not affiliated with either major political party.

Read More

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