Stiglich vying for seat in state assembly

A Cottonwood man’s desire to bring integrity to state government, secure the border and balance the budget has prompted his run at the District 2 Assembly seat.

Republican Pete Stiglich, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel, has been campaigning in the northstate to replace Doug LaMalfa, who will be termed-out at the end of the year. 

Stiglich is running on the principle of limited government, service and common sense.

“I’m in this race, not as a professional politician, but as someone who truly cares for his community and for his state,” said Stiglich, on a recent visit to Tri-County Newspapers, which publishes the Corning Observer, Orland Press-Register, Willows Journal and Colusa County Sun-Herald.

Stiglich, who has been walking the district and visiting the downtown businesses of most of the cities along Interstate 5, said greed and the lack of personal integrity and responsibility has pulled the state government apart. It’s something he aims to fix.

“We’ve had a system governed by special interests for too long,” Stiglich said. “We need to change it. The voice of the people is not being heard.”

Stiglich said the district needs a legislative plan that matches up with the needs of the community. Shaking his head, he said he noticed the empty buildings where businesses once flourished in the downtowns of the cities in the district.

“Our legislators are letting us down,” acknowledged Stiglich. “In town, I heard people say they are doing the best they can but are barely making it. I never heard once ‘but we’ve got a legislative plan in place and are working with our leaders.’”

Stiglich said the legislature could improve the economic climate of the north state by pursuing worker’s compensation reform, reducing taxes, fees and excessive regulations, by issuing grants and establishing enterprise zones, sponsoring a major north state marketing campaign, and working closely with local business and civic leaders on an effective legislative agenda.

“Our rural communities deserve a helping hand to assist them in revitalizing their economies and preserve their precious way of life,” Stiglich said. “Let’s free them up from the stranglehold of suffocating rules, regulations, fees and taxes.”

Stiglich said the legislature could do that and still solve the state’s $15 billion budget deficit. He admits there’s no simple solution, but common sense tells him that the state should eliminate services to illegal immigrants, cancel programs that the state can’t afford, and fund only requirements.

“We have to draw the line when the money runs out,” he said. “That’s how most of us do it. Why can’t Sacramento? A permanent solution requires special interests be shoved aside and elected leaders focus on meeting our basic need.”

Stiglich said it would be tough to make those choices, but he will do it if given the opportunity.

“It won’t be easy and it won’t be pretty,” he said.

Stiglich said he has other goals, if elected, including working toward the state becoming independent from foreign sources, providing assistance to veterans, defending the rights of the elderly and children, ensuring private healthcare is available to everyone, reducing taxes, improving infrastructure, like roads, dams and levees, supporting balanced growth and supporting a water use policy that makes the north state’s needs a priority.

Stiglich is running against three other GOP hopefuls, including Jim Nielson, a former three-term state senator.

Also on the June 3 primary ballot will be Charlie Schaupp, a farmer and reserve Marine lieutenant colonel from Esparto, and John Martinez, a journalist from Etna.

Stiglich said his biggest disappointment in the election process is that current legislators, associations and organizations began endorsing candidates before the filing period closed. He called the early endorsements misleading and shortsighted of the issues.

Since declaring his candidacy, Stiglich has still not been approached by anyone who endorsed early for debate on the issues.

“They never offered an opportunity to speak with any other candidate or to look at all the facts,” Stiglich said. “Why was there such a rush to endorse?”

Stiglich believes that special interest groups and lobbyists will continue to control the state legislature until the voters put an end to the practice.

“Until the voters are sick and tired of it and decide people are not going to be beholding to those groups, it is gong to remain the same,” said. Stiglich said. “I won’t be beholding to anyone but the voters.”

Stiglich is a long time resident of the northstate. He served 26 years in the Air Force, mostly in weapons acquisitions.

“I was the eyes and ears of the taxpayer,” he said. “I took that job very seriously and will again if elected. Working together, I know California can and will return to the luster of the ‘Golden State.’”

Susan Meeker can be reached at 934-6800 or reporter@tcnpress.com.