Vote As If Climate Matters
Governor
The governor of California heads one of the world’s largest economies. The governor can advance legislation and is the executive in charge of state operations. As such, the governor has a huge say in promoting action to address climate change.
Candidates:
Gavin Newsom - Scores 85% from California League of Conservation Voters. Regularly emphasizes the need for climate action now, and has called for and signed budgets and legislation to address climate change: vastly increasing offshore wind development, energy efficient construction, reducing methane leaks, moving from fossil fuels, and carbon sequestration through natural/working lands. Also, to deal with climate change effects, supports an array of water saving/development measures. After initially cutting the wildfire fighting budget and overstating prevention efforts, he has increased that funding as part of broader climate efforts but remains widely criticized on the subject.
Brian Dahle - Scores 11% from California League of Conservation Voters. Regarding climate, focuses on fires, sponsoring legislation requiring more firefighters and establishing a Firefighter Appreciation Month. Also sponsoring a requirement for utilities to burn biomass [which can be renewable but emits CO2] and promotes both fossil fuels and clean energy. Supports water storage. Says “Climate change is not the primary cause of California’s recent super fires…even more important is our decision to ignore forest fuels.”
US Senate
With its filibuster that allows a minority to block legislation, the Senate is designed to resist change. A strong majority of senators who understand climate change and are willing to rein it in is necessary if we want to meaningfully address it.
Candidates:
Alex Padilla - Scores 100% from League of Conservation Voters. Opens his “Environment” page with “Alex is determined to fight the existential threat of the climate crisis.” His statements and votes address both effects and causes of climate change: strengthen the grid, enhance water infrastructure, build resilience against weather extremes, invest in clean energy, end reliance on fossil fuels.
Mark Meuser - Does not mention climate change, the environment, or energy on his campaign website, or, apparently, in other accessible venues.
US House of Representatives
This is probably your most important vote if you want to reduce climate change. Congress writes the most far-reaching rules for pollution and its regulation, and House Representatives are our most localized voice at the national level.
Candidates:
Doug LaMalfa - Scores 2% from the League of Conservation Voters. Consistently calls for oil and gas development. Asserts an “all of the above'' energy strategy but continues to call renewables “less reliable and more expensive.” (Note: Renewables are less expensive than fossil fuels. See, for instance, Oxford University.) Opposes federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions, asserting that climate change is “largely outside of governmental control.” Sidesteps whether fossil fuels cause climate change. Supports dealing with some effects of climate change–reducing forest fuels and building Sites Reservoir–but does not deal with causes.
Max Steiner - Like the incumbent he favors reducing forest fuels and increasing water storage–Sites Reservoir, Shasta Lake, and underground. Clearly recognizes the need to address climate change: “Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our century, and we need to act. 𝑵𝑶𝑾… [It] will impose increasing economic costs, especially in water-dependent California.”
Lieutenant Governor
The Lieutenant Governor has the political standing of the state’s second-highest executive; serves as Acting Governor whenever the Governor is absent from the state, chairs the California Commission for Economic Development, is President of the Senate when casting a tie-breaking vote, and serves on numerous boards and commissions, including as Chair of the State Lands Commission and boards of both university systems.
Candidates:
Eleni Kounalakis-Worked on the Paris Climate Accord as U.S. Ambassador to Hungary. Lists climate change as a priority issue. Promises to “protect the environment and ensure California is a global leader in the effort to fight climate change.” Opposes offshore oil drilling. Supports better-paying jobs while protecting the environment.
Angela Underwood Jacobs-Prioritizes public safety, being tough on criminals, supporting law enforcement. Does not list climate change as a priority but recognizes it as a problem. Supports investing in wildfire defense and local, rather than state, water regulation. Opposes offshore oil drilling. No definitive statement regarding climate change.
State Attorney General
The State Attorney General is the chief law enforcement officer of the state and has broad powers to file civil actions or proceedings in regard to enforcing the law, preserving order, or protecting public rights and interests.
Candidates:
Rob Bonta-Scores 99% from the League of Conservation Voters. Focuses on social justice regarding poorer communities who suffer disproportionately from big polluters. He is expanding the Department of Justice’s capacity to prosecute polluters and get justice for those who have been harmed. As AG, has protected and promoted energy efficiency standards.. As a State Assemblyman, voted for alternative energy, tax rebates for electric vehicles, and an increase for the state’s renewable energy target.
Nathan Hochman-Prioritizes various aspects of public safety other than climate related safety issues. No statement on the environment, climate, or energy found.
State Assembly for California District 01
Legislative authority and responsibilities of the California State Assembly include passing bills on public policy matters, such as climate change, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes. This is the voter’s most local voice in state policy.
Candidates:
Meghan Dahle-Prioritizes forest management and above ground water storage mainly for agricultural purposes. “The truth is many fire prevention measures were neglected: we need more clearing out of overgrowth, real fire breaks around residences and businesses, and ensure power lines are maintained correctly….It’s as simple as this: if our farms don’t have enough water we can’t grow food. Instead of sending billions of gallons of fresh water to the ocean every year, we need to use the funds we already have to increase above ground water storage here in the North State.” No direct climate statement found.
Belle Starr Sandwith- “Climate change poses existential threats to humanity and the natural environment. The damage it wreaks, from burn scars to dry river beds, are etched into AD1’s landscape. Every resident of AD1 has felt –and will continue to feel– its impact. As a district especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change, AD1 must lead on key climate initiatives. The future of the district depends on it.” Priorities include: ensure that state law is safeguarding a clean and reliable water supply for District 1’s residents, industry, and environment; forest health and reforestation; improve management of urban wildlands interface regarding wildfire prevention.
Shasta County Board of Supervisors
County Supervisors, using both local and state resources, oversee numerous services, including public safety, health, family services, zoning, transportation, and the budgets that enable those services.
District 1 Candidates:
Erin Resner-Currently City of Redding council member, former mayor and business owner. She states she took a class on climate change and its effects, and she takes it seriously. Feels the most significant effects of climate change in Shasta County will be less rainfall, thus less water. She says we will be required to focus on water storage and fire mitigation. States if we do a better job at lessening the chances of wildfire we will help prevent unnecessary carbon emissions. She also states that we need to protect and preserve our natural spaces, our tree canopy and our waterways. This is a priority to her.
Kevin Crye-Owns and runs a gym. Did not respond to requests for information about his environmental/climate change stance. He is backed by the Liberty Committee which has no environmental stance or, apparently, interest. No personal climate, environment, or energy statements found.
District 5 Candidates:
Baron Browning- Currently mayor of the city of Anderson. With regard to climate change, Baron said that he agrees that the burning of fossil fuels does contribute to climate change, along with other factors, such as wildfires. He believes that local city tree ordinances could be stronger but “need to take everything into consideration, such as what types of trees must be preserved and if there’s enough water to keep them alive.” Believes that state and federal governments should have completed an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) before withholding water from the Anderson-Cottonwood Irrigation District (ACID).
Chris Kelstrom-Currently a salesman, backed by the Liberty Committee. Website states he is “a fiscal conservative, a Constitution originalist and lean Libertarian on social issues'' who wants to bring “the punishment back to crime and punishment.” No statement on environment or climate change.
Redding City Council - three seats
The Council establishes city priorities and policies, and oversees city operations including Development, Public Works, and Redding Electric Utility. Note: local and new candidates often lack websites and voting records. We have sought candidate information on climate change from information available through public forums and media sources in which interviewers often ask open questions like “What are your priorities?”
Candidates:
Kymberly Vollmers - Emphasizes respectful dealing with one another. Recognizes value of trees for cooling and ecosystem health, supports strengthening the city’s Tree Ordinance, supports capturing methane from green waste for power generation, and wants to reduce the city’s pesticide use. Supports leaving Turtle Bay riverfront as it is. Has written “It is important that we protect our land and water,” and “My husband and I want to be proud of the place we call home, we are leaving to our four daughters.”
Jordan Valenzuela -Emphasizes local business and entertainment. Notes “We cannot allow another devastating wildfire…We need to continue to identify ways to promote fire prevention programs and support our fire department.” Supports “balanced” updated Tree Ordinance.
Marcus Partin - Developer promoting The Village at Tierra Oaks and Shasta Wine Village. Supports Tree Ordinance update with mitigation fees for tree removal. Supports protecting some riverfront from commercial use.
James Crockett-Prioritizes ensuring special interest groups do not dictate public policy. “I love trees and I think climate change is serious. But I also think that people are more important than trees, so if we have to cut down a tree to get someone off the street, I think we should do that…. Green energy is more expensive than traditional carbon-based energies and using it tends to hit poor people the hardest.” (See note above regarding Oxford study.) Favors solar farms.
Michael Dacquisto - Emphasizes fiscal and legal responsibility. Attended a session of a course on climate change. Supports brush clearing in green zones. Supports Tree Ordinance with mitigation for tree removal. Supports REU prioritizing solar. Has voted to maintain the benefits to, and agreements with, local owners of rooftop solar. Supported the council motion to create a site specific plan for the riverfront area near Turtle Bay.
Ian Hill - Emphasizes housing and climate. Supports protecting green space and mitigation for tree removal. Sees a need for urban planning to limit sprawl. Says “I think the second biggest issue [after housing] we’re facing is climate, including water and wildfire. …There’s not enough recognition of what normal rainfall is, or will be, in California, which would allow us to switch our focus to being a more drought-resistant community.”
Jack Munns - Emphasizes housing and jobs, also criminal accountability and fiscal planning. Chose not to attend the Candidates’ Forum on the Environment. No climate statement found.
Tenessa Audette - Emphasizes inclusive political process. Wants to keep green space at Turtle Bay undeveloped. Emphasizes energy efficiency in buildings. Favors solar farms to reach zero carbon emissions, city rebates for going electric (appliances), and capturing methane from green waste.
Alex Shea -Emphasizes the economy. Believes Redding should continue to attract visitors for its beautiful natural surroundings while providing good-paying jobs. Favors mitigation fees for tree removal. Supports solar farms, not rooftop. Sees the need for hotels built at the airport for business travelers.
Joshua Johnson -Believes in “city building” and creating “sustainable jobs.” Favors balancing fees for tree removal with cost of development. Favors electrifying homes and businesses.
Thank you for including climate in your voting considerations. We hope these reports are helpful.
