VP Mike Pence leaves the Monterey Peninsula after a short stay
UPDATE 3/19/2019 10:30 a.m. Vice President Mike Pence left the Monterey Peninsula on Air Force 2 Tuesday morning after a short stay.
He landed at the Monterey Jet Center Monday at 5 p.m., but there was no public information released about why he was in the area. KION reached out to the Monterey County Republican Party chairman who tells us that the vice president is here for a “private arrangement” and likely not a 2020 campaign event.
PREVIOUS STORY: United States Vice President Mike Pence is on the Monterey Peninsula as of Monday evening.
The high-ranking federal government official landed at about 5 p.m. at the Monterey Jet Center on Air Force Two, the plane designated to fly the vice president of the United States.
Security was heavy as local, state and federal agencies all coordinated security at the airport, with a California Highway Patrol helicopter circling in the air.
“I think it’s really cool,” said Kailey, a young Pacific Grove resident who came with her dad and brother to see the plane.
Vice President Pence exited the plane soon after it landed and was quickly rushed to his destination in a motorcade.
“Sure, love to see Pence. But he’s already come and gone obviously,” said Jim Fairbank, a Monterey resident.
Pence’s public schedule reveals no information about why he is in town. KION reached out to the Monterey County Republican Party chairman who tells us that the vice president is here for a “private arrangement” and likely not a 2020 campaign event.
Still, people got to snap some quick photos, and they say they wish more national figures would visit the Central Coast.
“I’d like to see a few more town halls with (Pence), that’s for sure,” said Fairbank. “But there’s other things that are more important that are going on in the world, so maybe they got to give their attention to that. But we like the attention as well down here.”
Pence is expected to head to Nebraska on Tuesday to tour the damage from the historic flooding happening in the state right now.
