Gubernatorial candidate John Chiang visits Santa Barbara and gets endorsement
Current State Treasurer and gubernatorial candidate John Chiang ended a two-day road trip with a stop in Santa Barbara to receive a key endorsement and meet with prospective voters.
His visit comes just weeks after one of his opponents, Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, came to town.
Chiang’s day started at the Mesa Cafe for a breakfast hosted by Santa Barbara County Democratic Delegates. Chiang answered several questions from voters and asked them a question in turn, “What is your dream?”
Isla Vista resident Jonathan Abboud asked Chiang, if he is elected governor would he make higher education free and accessible.
“He said ‘yes’, I really believe that he supports it and he wants to find a way for us to get there,” said Abboud.
Next, Chiang swung by the Santa Barbara County Courthouse and got an endorsement from County Supervisor Das Williams who called Chiang, “a good person, a really good person.”
Williams said, “He’s got the values and priorities that are important to the Central Coast.”
Chiang said when he was on the State Lands Commission, he voted against offshore oil drilling. “We have to make sure when you have a very unique and special place you honor it, you preserve it,” Chiang said.
Then, Chiang went to Alameda Park to celebrate the Summer Solstice Festival and talk with constituents.
The 54-year-old was elected state treasurer in 2014 after two terms as state controller. As controller, Chiang made headlines for docking state legislators’ pay after they did not pass a balanced budget on time.
He also took on former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger by refusing to furlough state workers during California’s budget crisis. He was later overruled by the courts.
Chiang’s next stop on his tour is California’s Central Valley.
To follow his road trip across the country you can follow him on Twitter @JohnChiangCA and on Facebook at John Chiang For Governor 2018.
To check out his website, click here.
Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsomstate treasurer in 2014 after two terms as state controller.state legislators’ pay for failing to pass a balanced budget on time.
