Ready for the Challenge as Republican Leader

An exclusive column penned for the FlashReport by Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines

READY FOR THE CHALLENGE AS REPUBLICAN LEADER

 

An exclusive column penned for the FlashReport by Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines

 

Yesterday, I was very fortunate to have been unanimously elected by my Republican colleagues to serve as the next Assembly Republican Leader.  

I know that my colleagues have bestowed an enormous responsibility upon my shoulders, one that I accept with humility and confidence.  In the months ahead, I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and leading a united Republican team as we work to make our state a better place.

As I begin the transition to my tenure as Republican Leader, I want to commend my predecessor George Plescia for his service and tremendous sacrifices.  George led our caucus with great purpose and professionalism during some very complex and often trying times for our party and our state, and I will continue to value his counsel greatly in my new position.

My election as Republican Leader should not be seen as a statement about any one individual, or whether as Republicans we should pursue a moderate or conservative course.  Rather, my election as Leader is an embrace of the importance of continuity and stability in the Republican Leader as we face many legislative and political challenges in the coming years, especially retaining our three Republican-held Assembly seats in Democratic-leaning districts.  

Having served as an aide to both Governor Pete Wilson and State Sen. Chuck Poochigian and having been a small business owner prior to my election to the Assembly, I believe that I will bring a unique set of life experiences to the office of Republican Leader.  

In fact, my priorities as Republican Leader are the priorities shared by California ’s hard-working families – improving our public schools, keeping dangerous criminals locked up behind bars where they belong, planning responsibly for our infrastructure future, fixing our broken redistricting system.  I will stand firm in protecting our job-friendly economic climate in California and keeping taxes low – to grow our economy and bring in more tax revenue to our state treasury.

California has made great progress in recent years in reducing the severity of our budget problems.  However, the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst recently forecast that our state will face a structural budget deficit of at least $5 billion this year and next, and that figure could grow even larger in the face of economic uncertainty.  Republicans believe that we must eliminate our structural budget deficit once and for all, and I will fight hard to better prioritize state spending, refrain from creating costly new programs and resist the temptation to raise taxes on our families.  

Make no mistake, I will be a strong advocate on behalf of Assembly Republicans when I negotiate with Governor Schwarzenegger and Speaker Núñez.  I anticipate having a very productive working relationship with them, but there will undoubtedly be times when we disagree.  However, our respectful disagreements will be based on principle, not divisiveness, and will always be civil.  

I am grateful for the opportunity to lead Assembly Republicans into the future, and I look forward to leading our Republican team as we fight for the common-sense solutions the people of California deserve.
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Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines of Clovis represents the 29th Assembly District in the California Legislature.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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