Former Santa Barbara County Supervisor Mike Stoker on Friday announced a run for California State Assembly.
“I promise you I will give you 100% every day I serve as your state Assemblyman to turn California around and head it on a new course that respects the police, respects our parents, respects our small businesses, respects the taxpayer and will oppose every proposal to raise the taxes we pay in this state,” Stoker said in a statement.
Stoker is the third candidate to enter the race for the newly created 37th Assembly District. Santa Barbara County Second District Supervisor Gregg Hart is seeking the seat. Gabe Escobedo, a member of the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission, is also running.
In his public statements on Friday, Stoker said he believes California is headed in the wrong direction under Gov. Gavin Newsom and that “Hart believes we are headed in the right direction.”
“The bottom line is pretty simple for the voter in this election,” Stoker said. “Whether you’re Democrat, Independent or Republican, if you think California is headed in the right direction don’t vote for me. Your guy is definitely Gregg Hart. But if you think California is headed in the wrong direction and you want to see our state take a reset and rethink these policies, if you think California is worth saving and turning things around … then I am your man.”
The primary is June 7, and the top two finalists will face each other on Nov. 8.
— Noozhawk staff writer Joshua Molina can be reached at jmolina@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.