If the Democratic Celebration had been to dream up the perfect candidate to problem Republican Rep. Mike Garcia, a former Navy fighter pilot and enterprise govt, for the twenty seventh Congressional District they couldn’t have imagined somebody a lot better than George Whitesides.
In a district that stretches from Santa Clarita to Lancaster and the place aerospace is without doubt one of the main industries, Whitesides has had a space-focused profession in each the non-public and public sectors. He was chief of employees for the Nationwide Aeronautics and Area Administration through the Obama administration and later grew to become chief govt of Virgin Galactic, Richard Branson’s industrial house firm based mostly in Mojave. That’s the job that introduced him and his household to the Antelope Valley in 2012.
His resume, nonetheless spectacular, just isn’t probably the most compelling cause that voters ought to choose Whitesides on Nov. 5. He’s a wise, pragmatic Democrat whose purpose in Congress is to work with colleagues, no matter get together, to handle issues going through People. That’s an necessary trait for the subsequent consultant of this district. Historically this has been a protected seat for Republicans, however a shift in voter registration in recent times means Democrats have made some inroads. For instance, President Biden won the district in 2020, however Gov. Gavin Newsom got here in second in 2022.
Just lately, the issue Whitesides has centered on is one which has plagued California: “megafires,” these huge wildfires such because the Camp fireplace that leveled the city of Paradise in 2018. In 2020, Whitesides left Virgin Galactic to co-found a brand new advocacy group, Megafire Motion, which focuses on pushing insurance policies to stop wildfires, harden properties in high-risk areas and use science to raised struggle fires. He plans to show what he has realized into laws coping with associated points such because the insurance coverage disaster, wildlands administration and incentivizing owners to make their properties extra fire-resilient.
However most necessary, he’s the one candidate within the race who will struggle to guard two cherished, basic rights which were underneath assault in recent times: the precise of ladies to manage their very own our bodies and the precise to forged a vote in a free and honest election.
Rep. Mike Garcia (R-Santa Clarita) is without doubt one of the lawmakers working to undermine these rights. When he received the seat in a particular election in 2020 after Democrat Katie Hill resigned within the wake of a intercourse scandal, Garcia was a political unknown with an interesting document of navy service, a business-friendly platform, and real-world expertise in actual property and as an govt at Raytheon.
However his votes shortly revealed that Garcia is not any average. After the assault on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, he voted against certifying the election outcomes. He co-sponsored the Life at Conception Act, a invoice that will have banned abortion nationally, with no exceptions together with saving the lifetime of the girl. He even voted against a bill defending the precise to contraception. If voters ship him again to Congress, Garcia can be a reliable vote for restrictions on reproductive rights.
He additionally seems to have adopted Donald Trump’s penchant for misrepresenting the truth. In his first marketing campaign advert this election, Garcia boasts that he co-sponsored the Violence In opposition to Ladies Act to guard girls in opposition to home violence. What he co-sponsored was a sham model put ahead by Republicans to derail the Democrats’ invoice to re-authorize the 1994 legislation with expanded protections for LGBTQ+ individuals and firearm restrictions for individuals convicted of home abuse. Fortuitously, the tactic didn’t work and the up to date legislation handed — without Garcia’s vote.
Whitesides additionally identifies as a business-friendly average, particularly a “New Democrat.” This coalition of centrist members say they’re centered on modern options and dealing throughout the aisle. Moreover, he has a document of constructing the sorts of bridges he desires to see in Congress.
Early within the COVID pandemic, Whitesides helped organize local aerospace leaders to work with hospitals and native authorities to supply front-line healthcare staff with assets. The group, which finally grew to become the Antelope Valley COVID Process Drive, even tapped its engineering abilities to develop medical gear comparable to oxygen hoods that helped COVID sufferers breathe. Anybody can forged a vote on get together strains. However having the ability to construct alliances is important talent to perform something in Congress.
Whitesides says he’s working to construct a greater future for his two children. “I don’t need to go away them with a authorities that doesn’t work. I don’t need to go away them with a local weather that’s in disaster. I don’t need to go away them with a gun security epidemic.”
Nor can we. It’s time for a change of management within the twenty seventh Congressional District.
