Ladies and gentlemen, ballot season has returned! You may have noticed that the political ads on Facebook and YouTube are starting to increase, the emails from candidates finding their way to your inbox, and a text message stating the June Primary ballot is arriving at your door.
From the high-stakes California governor race to Los Angeles County races like the assessor, sheriff and Board of Equalization, there is a lot to focus on. Voter guides will come next week from many disciplines and political camps that cover these races, but please also take a moment to personally research candidates and issues and participate in the election!
There are two races I wanted to touch on: The 27th Congressional District race, and the “Essential Services Restoration Act.”
Full disclosure, I might be a “little” biased here, but I would highly encourage you to vote Jason Gibbs for the 27th Congressional District.
Having served on the Santa Clarita City Council for five years, we have championed the values and ideals that have made Santa Clarita the incredible community that we call home. I have battled the overbearing policies of Sacramento that force housing density and development into our neighborhoods with little to no regard to needed infrastructure and good planning practices, supported our public safety partners with constant dialogue and resource allocations, and served on regional committees like the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency and North County Transportation Coalition to bring back funds to support homeless and families needing shelter, along with the transportation needs of our freeways, busses and railways.
We have done all of this while prioritizing fiscal responsibility to limit the financial burdens on our residents and make our governmental partners accountable to the dollars that come from all of us.
My advocacy for the 27th goes beyond my role on the council and is one that has connected me with the community in an intimate and relatable way. Serving on the advisory committees for the Boys and Girls Club of the Santa Clarita Valley, the Salvation Army Santa Clarita Chapter, and previously serving on the executive boards of the WiSH Foundation and Valley Industry Association, we work at the most personal level to connect with our vulnerable community members to create opportunity, offer safe and nurturing places to play and grow, and offer opportunities to those feeling disadvantaged, or forgotten.
During my time in Santa Clarita, I have given my heart, my time, and my own finances to many nonprofits that have given back to me the understanding and appreciation for what makes Santa Clarita truly special; all of you! Being nominated as a Man of the Year candidate, serving as your mayor in 2023, and being named the most influential person in the Santa Clarita Valley in 2025, was all possible because of selfless nonprofit and community leaders who gave me opportunity to serve you all, and I would be honored to earn your vote to bring local leadership and understanding to Washington, D.C.
Along with the CD-27 race, a tax initiative, Measure ER, was placed onto your ballots, which is a half-percent general sales tax increase. The state of California has been working hard to pass bills allowing local municipalities to raise your sales taxes above current state limits. In Santa Clarita, if the measure were to pass, our tax rate (the lowest in L.A. County) of 9.75% would increase to 10.25%, nearly 33% higher than our Fillmore neighbors in Ventura County.
Just like when criminals came into Los Angeles County to commit crimes because District Attorney George Gascón would not prosecute them, we will see residents drive 20 minutes out of town to spend 33% less on a sales tax transaction. In Santa Clarita, we have prided ourselves on smart growth and fiscal discipline. Measure ER is just a continuing precedent that says whenever state or federal funding is cut, the county will take more from you under the guise of moral imperatives.
The money will also not be directly allocated to hospitals and care facilities, nor will it be dedicated to communities to look at expanding health services. It will go into the county’s general fund, and all bets are off with what happens next.
Please don’t let your ballot collect dust on the counter! There is no cost to mail it, there are election drop boxes throughout the community, and you can even have your ballot collected and submitted on your behalf. America celebrates her 250th birthday this year, and what better way to honor her than by voting!
Jason Gibbs is a member of the Santa Clarita City Council. “Right Here, Right Now” appears Saturdays and rotates among local Republicans.
