Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom visits Monterey ahead of primary election

The California primary election is exactly one week from Tuesday. In the governor’s race, Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom is arguably the top polling candidate from the start. He made a stop in Monterey Tuesday afternoon.

At the campaign event with him, was environmental group, The Sierra Club. Newsom focused on environmental issues, like stopping offshore oil drilling, and in turn, developing renewable energy sources.

He said he agrees with much of what current Governor Jerry Brown has done to push back against the Trump administration and said he’ll leave the federal government with no choice but to find oil somewhere else.

“I was willing to lead, willing to get ahead of the curve, willing to step up, take the hits, shape public opinion, not wait for public opinion to come around,” said Lt. Governor Newsom.

Newsom showed support for an ambitious effort, not yet passed, to make California’s energy 100 percent renewable.

“Almost 73 percent, just a month ago, proving this can be done,” Newsom said.

But many Democrat politicians push for these policies, including his challengers. So, I asked him what sets him apart. He pointed to his time as Mayor of San Francisco, with same-sex marriage and mandatory composting.

“I was wiling to lead. Willing to get ahead of the curve. Willing to step up, take the hits, shape
public opinion, not wait for public opinion to come around,” Newsom said.

The Sierra Club was eager to give him their endorsement.

Rita Dalessio/Sierra Club, Ventana Chapter, Conservation Chair, : “(Newsom) has sworn to
protect the coast,” Rita Dalession, with the Sierra Club Ventana Chaper, said. “(protect the) state from climate change, and oil and gas leaks. All the things we care deeply about.”

Newsom has led the primary polls just about the entire way. The latest had him at 25 percent, comfortably in the top two.

But Republican candidates John Cox and Travis Allen have been polling higher, recently, campaign against Democrat policies they blame for California’s high cost of living.

Newsom said its an issue he is ready to tackle.

“I acknowledge that critique that affordability is something that happened collectively on our watch. And
I think we have a responsibility to own up to that and address it and hit it head on,” Newsom said. “Not just housing, but childcare and cost of higher education.”

California’s primary election is Tuesday, June 5th.