Republican Jeff Gonzalez plans to turn Assembly District 36 red – California Globe

Assembly candidate Jeff Gonzalez had just returned from a six-hour road trip to Needles, Calif., when we spoke. Residents told him that they had not seen their elected representative for ten years.

Jeff Gonzalez lives in Indio, 167 miles away. Gonzales is a combat veteran, first-generation American, small business owner, pastor, community leader and father. He is a now retired Marine, but still and always a Marine.

Gonzales is running for California Assembly District 36, currently represented by Rep. Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella), who announced after the filing deadline that he is not seeking re-election – one of 15 representatives not running for re-election in 2024.

California Assembly District 36 is one of the oddly shaped districts in inland California, on the state's southernmost border. The Assembly District has a population of 494,709 and includes Imperial, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

In a crowded field of primary candidates vying to replace the longtime Garcia, Republican Jeff Gonzalez led with 34.5% of more than 30,000 votes cast.

In a Globe interview, Gonzalez said that access to health care was one of the biggest problems in 36 AD. The district lacks resources and manpower, and like most of California, there is also an affordability issue.

“For people who have a business in California, it’s not worth it to have a business in California,” Gonzalez said. If you need a plumber and live in Needles, the closest plumber across the border is in Arizona. However, since there is no reciprocity, your border town plumber will have to drive for hours… if you can find one. “There is an issue of affordability and access.” To perform work in California, Arizona plumbers must also be licensed in California.

Public safety is also a concern, especially given the state's push toward electric vehicles. Gonzalez described a nearby town that has two 30-year-old fire trucks. They can't afford to replace them, and they don't have the training to deal with the relatively new problem of lithium fires caused by electric vehicles.

The California Legislature’s one-size-fits-all solution doesn’t work in most parts of California – what might work in big cities won’t work in agricultural towns. “It has to be geographically specific,” Gonzalez said. In many cases, laws and regulations must apply regionally or locally.

Gonzales said there are schools in his district that are over 100 years old and need repairs and modernization. But the state tends to cater to wealthier school districts rather than rural ones. “There is a visual sign of the difference in how money is directed or not,” Gonzalez said. “It should be 'Is it fair?' ring. to everyone who is insured?'” he said.

Gonzales said he traveled throughout the county speaking to voters and residents about the concerns of hard-working people across the county. He said the problems were clear: the cost of living was too high; Criminals will not be held accountable and healthcare must become more accessible and affordable.

We discussed agriculture in 36 A.D. “Our carrots feed the nation,” Gonzalez said. “Dates, onions, alfalfa—generations of farmers and growers help feed America. But many are leaving – it’s just no longer sustainable” as the state withholds water.

We talked about how much agricultural products will be imported into the state if we grow everything.

“Fire, food, water and shelter,” Gonzalez said, are the four basic needs of every human being. “If you 'mistreat' the food, it becomes cheaper to import avocados or grapes from other countries than from our own.”

“Imagine if the Legislature and the governor actually prioritized farmers and the agricultural community. It would help the world. We need to take care of California again.”

“Make California great again,” came to mind.

“In general, water issues don’t make sense if we let water flow into the ocean,” Gonzalez said.

“We have to approach this like a business…How can we be successful?”

“As a newbie, I get a little insight behind the scenes and the lack of common sense and know-how. It’s so silly.”

As a 21-year-old Marine officer, Gonzalez served four combat tours – two in Iraq and two in Afghanistan. He was injured in combat and retired in 2011.

Gonzalez said his faith helped him in his combat missions. When he returned home, he put his faith into action and became a pastor. He also founded a staffing firm serving the Coachella Valley, Temecula Valley and Riverside.

Because he works full-time and is committed to campaigning, he is reducing his work as a priest, but can still “marry and bury” and fill in for vacationing priests as a pastor.

His bipartisan list of endorsements is impressive and includes State Senator Scott Wilk, Republican Assembly Chairman James Gallagher, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, Imperial County Sheriff Fred Miramontes, and former Democratic Central Committee Chairman, among others Imperial County, Tony Gallegos.

Gonzalez and his wife Christine have four children, the oldest of whom is a 31-year-old son with cerebral palsy who requires around-the-clock care. Gonzalez and his wife know firsthand how daunting dealing with the government is for their adult child with special needs. He said his wife recently spent eight hours on the phone with a government agency trying to convince them it was their son still has it Cerebral palsy. “Hundreds of people say the same thing,” ha said as he spoke to residents in his district. “Why do we have to constantly prove that the disability exists?” they tell me.”

“We needed a new bath chair for our adult, disabled son because he had outgrown his old one, and we were told it was a 'luxury item' and 'he didn't really need it,'” Gonzalez said. “'But we will approve a dresser,' they said.”

“I asked her, 'Have you ever bathed or showered in your toilet?' She said “no”. And nine months later they finally moved into the bath chair.”

“We have a voice, but 99% of Californians don’t have one,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez wants to bring that voice to Assembly District 36. “I want to be a voice and a representative.”