Ahead of the special election for the 36th State Senate District, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.
• Also see: What to know about the special election for the 36th State Senate District
Name: John Briscoe
Political party affiliation: Republican
Other political positions held: Ocean View School District trustee for 16 years; California State Party vote delegate 2016-present; Ex-officio member of the LAGOP and OCGOP Central Committee.
City where you reside: Huntington Beach
Why should voters trust you to fill this seat?
As Californians, we know that our state is the most beautiful, diverse and unique in the nation. It has so much to offer; unfortunately, taxes and expenses are just too high for most residents.
As a longtime educator and elected school board trustee in Huntington Beach, I know the value of our excellent public schools. We all know they can’t function without the necessary resources. My commitment is to demand increased funding for State Senate District 36. As a 16-year elected public school trustee for the Ocean View School District, I know how to get work done for all our families.
As a longtime business leader in Orange and Los Angeles counties, I have common-sense business knowledge. As a licensed broker, U.S. military veteran housing provider and union-endorsed candidate, I have support from many stakeholders.
My experience has allowed me to be a community leader in Boy Scouts, Rotary, Optimists, Crosspoint Church, PTA, AYSO Soccer, Little League, Toastmasters, LB Century Club and CA State Party Delegate.
I am a local and well-educated community member, a Cal State Long Beach graduate with an MBA and an MPA, and an Eagle Scout as well. As a small business owner, I will work for all small business owners to maximize their assets and realize profits.
As an advocate for local control, I will empower local city councils and school boards to make decisions that are best for their districts, not what’s best for Sacramento politicians and their special interests.
Unlike some folks in the marijuana business (a category 1 federal narcotic drug), I do not believe our youth should have access to any drug. Marijuana use causes long-term brain deficits in children under age 18; it is dangerous and illegal.
We will focus on student achievement, lowering crime and improving public safety. We must also work to reduce state taxes and make California affordable again. I ask for your support and vote.
Many of the cities in this district are older and more established. How can the state help with their housing and economic needs? How would you, as the state senator, help their economies evolve?
1. Fireproof California. California’s government can best serve our established and older cities by getting out of the way! Making California “Trump-proof” instead of making California fire-proof is but one example of misplaced priorities by the majority party. Our communities need rigorous wildfire prevention assessment and public infrastructure investments, including adequate ingress and egress, hydrants, water availability, storage facilities and pumping to supply all neighborhoods.
2. Drought-proof California. Land purchases, entitlements and federal approvals exist for the construction of an enormous water storage dam in Auburn. It has been approved for more than 20 years! No dam! We must build additional water storage to supply our burgeoning population. California’s census has increased almost 50% in the last decades with no added major water storage.
3. Recession-proof California. California is spending money like a drunken sailor with no prospects for a truly balanced budget without raising taxes. The other party wants to tax and spend us into oblivion. Half of California residents pay no federal income tax at all, and, likewise, state taxes! The top 5% of California earners pay over half of all the income taxes, and they are not happy about it, as evidenced by their moving out. We must revise our tax structure to attract and entice rich folks back to continue to pay for all the rest of us who don’t pay.
4. School failure-proof California. 63% of the total state budget pays for K-12, Community Colleges, Cal State and UC school costs. There is no room for more spending without raising taxes and scaring away more rich taxpayers. Our K-12 public school system must stop doing the same old thing that produces low test scores and forces high-achieving families into private, parochial and home-school options. School district complacency is driving student public school participation rates into the toilet far beyond any decline in population decline. Parents are fleeing the school! Districts must install innovative education programs that compete with private options and actually produce measurable results.
What could the state government do to help the cities in the 36th District meet housing needs while still preserving their quality of life and special characteristics?
California has declared itself to be a sanctuary state (whatever that is) and garnered the largest border invasion of illegals in the last four years (compared to Arizona, New Mexico and Texas). Of course, there might be a housing crisis with the addition of 4 million more residents lacking language, job and cultural skills.
The first thing to do is eliminate California-sanctioned efforts to thwart the deportation of criminal aliens. The elimination of million(s) of unauthorized residents who reduce wages and take jobs from legal residents will go a long way to bolstering the home budgets of legal residents and curtail housing demand.
The seas are rising and affecting our communities with erosion and flooding, along with a variety of other issues that often look different for different communities. What can the state do to help alleviate those issues caused by climate change for the cities along the coast in this district and those more inland?
The seas rise and fall every day; it’s called high tide and low tide! The waters have risen and fallen throughout history, regardless of human intervention. Our national leadership talks a double line shouting every day about rising sea levels and then buying homes directly on the open ocean (Obama family in Massachusetts). The problem is who is to be believed. It is an undisputed scientific fact that a high-carbon atmosphere absorbs and holds more heat. However, what this means is disputable. The Luddite climate alarmists project the future in a “hockey stick” straight line. Nothing in real life ever looks like a “hockey stick” graph.
Personally, I have installed 36 solar panels and two battery packs in my home. Not because I am a little chicken fearing the sky falling, but because things made sense in the face of SCE rates doubling in the next five years! I own a Sunset Beach duplex 500 feet from the sand, surf water and waves. I am, of course, concerned about the historical “king tides” seen in Sunset Beach for the last 100 years, but not so much about the ocean rising an inch. We must figure out how to incent apartment owners to install solar when they receive no direct benefit from rate savings. 50% of California rent their home, which would be very helpful to tenants.
This year has been dubbed the year for affordability policies in the state legislature. What’s one specific idea you have to address an affordability issue in this district and/or the state as a whole?
Affordability in the 36 State Senate District starts with the simple small things like buying groceries and gas after the Biden-Harris 30% inflation binge. Food and gas are top priorities since both are needed by many residents go survive.
1. California has the most onerous gas tax burden of any state. State gas taxes must be cut.
2. Southern California has some of the highest grocery prices in the nation due to a lack of real competition. The consolidation of grocery operators must be examined for the impact on retail prices.
If elected, what is the first bill you plan to introduce, and how does it address a pressing issue in the 36th District?
Homelessness is a pressing and annoying problem for the 36th State Senate District residents:
1. I will introduce a plan to compel local jurisdictions to actively test homeless people on public property (alleys, streets, curbs, sidewalks, parkways, public parks, beaches) for substance use sufficient to rise to the low level of “under the influence in public.” Police will stop and test any and all folks lying about on public property in apparent intoxication for alcohol and THC on the spot.
2. The individuals so identified as under the influence will be immediately taken to court for same-day adjudication.
3. The judge will offer the offer three choices:• go to jail• pay up to $1,000 fine (statutory maximum in California for this offense)• go to go rehab for 90 days (the most likely choice).
4. Recidivism will result in second offense mandatory imprisonment for up to six months (statutory maximum in California for this offense).
This program will require money for policing, drug test kits, more judges and more rehab space (maybe reopen Fairview, Norwalk and Ventura live-in lockdown facilities). This should reduce the offending intoxicated homeless population load in our communities by 50% to 70%.
How would you balance the district’s needs with statewide fiscal challenges, particularly if budget cuts or revenue shortfalls arise?
The 36th State Senate District is not a high state financial payment recipient. We give more than we pay. If we were to gain our “fair share” of the California state budget compared to our population, there would be money to pay for my proposed alcohol and drug intervention program for homeless people.
The legislature is in the midst of a special session that’s been called to “Trump-proof” California in preparation for the second Trump administration. Legislators have been asked, among other things, to bolster the state’s Department of Justice budget in the event that California would challenge in court some of the Trump administration’s policies. Do you support the idea of setting money aside to protect Californians’ rights? Why or why not?
We must protect our legal tax-paying residents from the rapacious California Legislature. These ravenous gluttons for ever-more money have run California into the ground. It’s gotta stop! Literally, Rome is burning (Los Angeles) and the legislature and governor are fiddling around trying to manage the federal government. They should be focused on fixing the problems that led to the worst-ever fire conflagration in Southern California.
What legislative committee would you request to join in the Senate, and how do you feel your background would make you a good fit for the role?
I will seek all possible education-related assignments based on my lifetime as an educator, including Cal State Long Beach professor and public school trustee for 16 years.
Where is your favorite place to grab a bite to eat in the 36th Senate District?
Fogo de Chao (on Beach and Edinger).