Recall candidate John Cox makes campaign stop in Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - John Cox, one of the handful of candidates to throw their hat in the ring in Governor Newsom's recall election, made a campaign stop in Santa Barbara Thursday.

No bear was in sight at Cox's downtown pit stop, but the businessman and gubernatorial candidate did reiterate the marketing strategy he makes in political ads. Calling himself the "Beast" and Gov. Gavin Newsom "Beauty," saying the governor cares too much about politics and California's issues have only gotten worse under his watch.

He said the recall effort really started before the pandemic and issues like water, wildfires, power outages during fire weather, homelessness, taxes and more are major issues that Newsom is not doing enough to address.

Cox said the pandemic and the shutdowns afterward that forced many businesses to close added "firepower" to the discontent and the recall movement.

"I think voters ought to look at Florida vs. California. Take a look at those two states' experience. Florida far older population but their death rate was roughly similar to California, yet they've been open almost all this time," Cox said. "Their kids have been going to school with a teacher in the classroom. So they haven't experienced the tremendous damage that this shutdown has done to our kids and our small businesses."

When asked about the current status in California as the pandemic is waning, restrictions are being lifted and the economy is recovering, Cox saids the other issues California is facing are still here.

Cox made a campaign stop in Monterey County Wednesday.