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| Andrew Kotyuk |
By Douglas V. Gibbs
Author, Speaker, Instructor, Radio Host
Over the last couple months I have had the pleasure of being introduced to, and getting to know, Andrew Kotyuk. The San Jacinto City Councilman is also a successful businessman, and a pillar of his community. When Republican minority leader in the California State Assembly Chad Mayes decided to vote in favor of extending Cap and Trade to 2030, and essentially approving a gas tax increase that will soon go into effect with a rise in gas prices by about 67 cents per gallon, it triggered something in Kotyuk. He recognized that Mayes was not acting like a leader of the Republican Party, but instead a lap dog of the opposition.
Along with Mayes, another six assembly critters, and one State Senator, voted in favor of Cap and Trade. 14 County Republican Parties called for Mayes to be removed as leader, and he was (He was replaced by Assemblyman Brian Dahle). Now, Kotyuk is poised and prepared to “repeal and replace” Chad Mayes.
Andrew Kotyuk joined the Conservative Voice Radio team for two segments during pre-recording, and you can hear what he had to say on the radio program this coming Saturday at 8:00 AM on KMET 1490-AM on the radio dial, or listen live at the website at www.kmet1490am.com.
We invite his opponents to join us, as well, on future programs.
My latest opportunity to spend some time with Andrew Kotyuk was at the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Meeting of the Banning-Beaumont-Cherry Valley Tea Party (we meet every Tuesday at 8:00 am, Farm’s House Restaurant, 6261 Joshua Palmer Way, Banning, CA). He addressed the group with common sense ideas, and solutions to derail the super-majority Democrats. He discussed the importance of repealing the Gas Tax and getting rid of the Cap and Trade deal. He voiced his concerns regarding the rise in homelessness in the State, and has ideas on how to tackle the problem. He called out the Democrats on how they really don’t plan to fix our already very badly maintained roads. The monies they plan to take from us are not tagged to primarily go to roads. In fact, no “new lanes” are planned at all. Instead, the gas tax money will largely go to unpaid pensions, and Jerry Brown’s high speed choo choo train that nobody plans to ride.
Kotyuk also discussed our prisons, how criminals are being let out onto the streets, and how the money that should be going into roads and our prisons are being spent on unconstitutional illegal alien programs, instead.
California is feeling a lot of pain as a result of liberal left policies, and as Californians, we need to be asking “why”?
While Kotyuk was discussing the prisons, he also verbalized that he is in favor of capital punishment. The problem, he told us, is that jail is no longer a difficult place to stay. In fact, criminals “want to be in jail, and are doing harder crimes to get there.”
They get a gym, television, three square meals, and a yard. For many, that’s a lot more than what they get on the outside world.
Following a discussion where Kotyuk stated he is against regionalism organizations like WRCOG, which are essentially extra-governmental organizations who are filled with appointed officers (rather than elected) who make many of the large decisions regarding the path our cities will make, especially when it comes to future economic and building development. Yet, after slamming the regionalism style of these organizations, he stated he supports CCAs.
That was a red flag, and I actually asked him again to make sure I had it right, “Are you saying you support CCAs, or are you against them.”
“I support them.”
Read my articles explaining why I oppose CCAs (which are essentially regional co-ops for electricity that creates a regional collectivist organization to replace the free market activities of companies like Southern California Edison) HERE, and HERE.
After fishing around, I also discovered that Mr. Kotyuk is not opposed to the legalization of marijuana, and voted on the city council to expand the number of dispensaries allowed in San Jacinto. On the dais he said that a large part of his reasoning was the money it would bring into the city. According to the Press Enterprise, under Kotyuk’s mayoral leadership, San Jacinto has taken the lead among Inland cities when it comes to Prop. 64, which legalized recreational marijuana in California.
Read my article about why I oppose the legalization of marijuana (and other drugs) for recreational use HERE and HERE (among other places).
Aside from Chad Mayes, Kotyuk’s other GOP challenger is former Palm Springs Police Chief Gary Jeandron who is running on a “no more taxes” pledge. Among Kotyuk’s challenges is the fact that Jeandron and Mayes are known in the desert communities, and Kotyuk has yet to establish himself out there, east of the San Gorgonio Pass Area.
While Kotyuk’s positions on CCAs and marijuana are not in line with my own positions, of the three candidates on the Republican side of things, Kotyuk has proven to be the best, and strongest candidate. Unlike Jeandron, who has virtually no experience running for anything other than local office, Kotyuk’s ability to raise money has been impressive. The real trick, however, is to use that money in such a way that he can overcome Mayes’ notoriety. Mayes may have ticked off the conservative wing of the Republican Party with his Cap and Trade vote, but there are a lot of voters who pull the lever based on familiarity, and Kotyuk has to make sure those voters know who he is.
— Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary