E L E C T I O N
RACING TOWARD
Sacramento Seven Candidates Vie for California’s 37th District State Assembly Seat
COFFERS
CAMPAIGN
In the first truly competitive race in 30 years, seven candidates are vying to represent California’s 37th District. All but one are registered Democrats — reflecting the district’s registered voters: 46.26 percent are Democrats, and 23.11 percent are Republicans. Incumbent Assemblymember Monique Limón, who was elected in 2016, seesawed for months on running for reelection in 2020 or giving up her seat for a shot at State Senate. When she finally announced she was set on the latter, Santa Barbara and Ventura candidates jumped at the chance to snag her spot.
STEVE BENNETT (as of Feb. 11, 2020)
Total Raised: $265,000 Largest Donor: $9,400 combined from Yvon and Malinda Chouinard Cash on Hand: $208,000 CATHY MURILLO (as of Jan. 23, 2020)
Total Raised: $140,746.99 in 131 contributions Largest Donor: $9,300
by Delaney Smith
In the past, the local Democratic Party has endorsed one candidate far in advance of the primary. That candidate always won by a landslide. This year, the party didn’t make an endorsement, so the 2020 race could go one of many ways. The district covers all of Santa Barbara County and much of Ventura County. Five of the seven candidates are Santa Barbarans. Santa Barbara Mayor Cathy Murillo has the best name recognition and, despite not getting the early Democratic endorsement, has racked up a long list of endorsements from key groups such as the California Labor Federation and from elected officials such as California State Controller Betty Yee.
from the California Federation of Teachers - COPE Cash on Hand: $79,534.87 JONATHAN ABBOUD (as of Jan. 31, 2020)
Total Raised: $94,753.02 in 146 contributions Largest Donor (besides himself): $5,362.81 from Unitemized Contributions Cash on Hand: $48,564.39
ELSA GRANADOS (as of Jan. 23, 2020)
Total Raised: $46,015 in 64 contributions Largest Donor (besides herself): $4,600 from Veronica Lee Cash on Hand: $4,527.39
Of the two Ventura candidates, Ventura County Supervisor Steve Bennett has wide name recognition as a progressive on the Ventura Board of Supervisors and an environmental veteran. He has the Sierra Club endorsement and that of the California Professional Firefighters despite also having a strong reputation for fiscal responsibility. The March 3 election will select the top two candidates from any party, who will run against each other in the November election. That winner will become the next 37th District’s assemblymember.
Largest Donor: $4,700 from James P. Dominguez Cash on Hand: $27,985.41, including money rolled over from previous campaigns CHARLES COLE (as of Feb. 11, 2020)
JASON DOMINGUEZ (as of Jan. 23, 2020)
Total Raised: $19,451 in eight contributions
Total Raised: $12,062 Largest Donor: $9,000 from father Thomas Cole Cash on Hand: $1,200
STEPHEN BLUM
(as of Feb. 11, 2020)
Total Raised: $7,000 Largest Donor: Because of his self-imposed $100 contribution limit, Blum himself is his largest donor Cash on Hand: $2,000
DANIEL DREIFUSS
CATHY MURILLO
W
hen Cathy Murillo was elected to the Santa Barbara City Council in 2011, she was the first Latina to sit on the dais. Now three years into her first term as mayor, she has strong support from labor unions, support that has given her the largest campaign chest in the race at $135,046.99 in 129 contributions. “I am the only candidate that has leadership experience over a full-service city,” Murillo said. “And on top of that, I’ve been the mayor through fires, the 1/9 Debris Flow.” Murillo, 58, moved to Santa Barbara at 17 to obtain her bachelor’s in stage acting from UC Santa Barbara when she fell in love with the community, ultimately making it her permanent home. The progressive Democrat, known for her tight ties with the local party, is a self-described social activist. Murillo’s top issues include improving public education, protecting the environment, moving toward a fossil-fuel-free state, and improving economic opportunity for working families and individuals. Murillo wants to increase access to pre-kindergarten and improve the quality of the overall education system. “To address the achievement gap, children need to be reading at grade level by 3rd grade, or we’ve lost them,” Murillo explained. “The state is already beginning to address the early education piece, though. The tricky part will be increasing enrollment in universities.” Murillo cited Santa Barbara’s goal of using 100 percent renewable electricity by 2030 as one of her prouder environmental accomplishments that she hopes to take to Sacramento. She wants to see investment in job training for people now working in the fossil fuel industry so that they won’t be left behind in the transition to renewable energy. Murillo, like almost every other candidate, is a proponent of the “housing first” method when it comes to tackling the statewide homeless issue. This means securing a place for someone to live before helping them find a job or complete a treatment program to get sober from drugs or alcohol. “Housing first is the way to go, but there must also be wrap-around services,” she said. “Social workers need to be checking in on them regularly, and medical services need to be provided, all of that.”
INDEPENDENT.COM
FEBRUARY 13, 2020
THE INDEPENDENT
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