It has been a true
privilege to run for office and meet — and learn from — so many people who care
so much about our community. I've enjoyed knocking on doors every day and have
been lucky to be in dozens of living rooms and back yards for honest conversations
in neighborhood meet-and-greets.
It is hard to take on
the establishment; most of the endorsements my opponent boasts of, including
that of the Democratic Party, were made long before I even entered the race,
not affording me or anyone else the chance to interview. That's the power of
incumbency: the status quo.
I had about 50 candid conversations about whether I should run before I jumped into the race. One was with my friend Lee Heller. Lee is now a major funder of the shameful PAC that is now fueling my opponent's candidacy, along with cannabis, Chumash, oil, and other corporate interests. It’s unfortunate that Lee is now misrepresenting that private conversation we had with assertions that, frankly, don’t make any sense. I’m equally surprised and disappointed to see the Independent publish her comments without questioning them or even asking me for a response.