Who am I?

First of all, I hate politics. I'm disgusted by how it brings out the worst in people. But I view it as a necessary evil that should not be surrendered only to those who glory in it.
 

I have come to realize that I will not find success in electoral politics due to the expenditure of time or money, as I am lacking in sufficient quantities of either to compete head to head. Instead I must rely on simple messages which (hopefully) resonate with people.

Guiding me are ideas such as other quotes on this page from Lincoln and JFK as well as:
 

"However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterward the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion." ―George Washington

When it comes down to it I am just a regular guy who is tired of all the political "junk". I am tired of feeling like those we elect to “represent us” are out of touch with our every-day issues and lives. That is further compounded by a situation where so many people don’t have the time or energy to participate in our political system, or don’t feel like it will make a difference because of the money influencing the system or some rigged game promoting the status quo.
 

We end up with more lawyers because they can “win arguments” and they have money. We end up with re-elected incumbents due to name recognition and the attention they can pay to being re-elected while other candidates have to work at their actual jobs for a living.
 

I run on the simple platform that I have outlined because those are the things I view as top priorities in getting the process of real citizen government headed back in the right direction for our future. Yes there are many other important issues, but these simple things are where it starts.
 

I run because someone has to stand up and say “Enough is enough, we need people in government who are not perfect reflections of what is expected, but who are real people fighting to do what is right for all of us!”
 

Thank you for reading and please feel free to add your input as this process is supposed to be inclusive of all of us, not reliant on a few individuals making decisions on their own.

To make this simple:

Politicians make promises that are rarely kept. Instead I will commit to bringing a problem solving background (engineer) to working for our future. I can do this because it is who I am already.

Do you like the “status-quo”? Do you like the current norm of the political culture in California? If so, then I am not the candidate for you.
 

If you want an advocate for a modern “...government of the people, by the people, for the people.” using 21st century technology. If you want to fight political corruption. If you want to lean out the massive complexity of government into a more efficient, better machine for the will of the people. If you want someone who looks past divisive politics; with an engineering based problem solving approach. Then I am the candidate for you.

Path to success:

I will be straightforward, the only way this campaign will be successful is as a "Frankenstein's Monster" coalition. Independents, Anti-Establishment Democrats (aka Bernie-crats) and a big chunk of Republicans looking for a new future for our state.

Authenticity

In politics what I want to be more than anything is authentic, honest and straightforward (which is a bit redundant since "authentic" is inclusive of honest and straightforward). For me the most important goal is better representation for all of us. This takes getting the corruption of money out of politics and using modern technology to better engage government and politicians with those they represent. I reiterate this in different ways (kind of starts to feel redundant) but to me these are the key starter issues that need to come first. If I am elected you will get me, a regular unedited person, flaws and all. I will not "say what needs to be said" to get elected and I will use my problem solving background (engineering) to work on any issues that are put in front of me. Sometimes defining this mentality in easily digestible "campaign bites" is hard and not what we are used to, but it is how I think and who you would be electing.

 "I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man."
- George Washington, 1st President of the United States (and only Independent)
 

I do not pretend to be perfect in anything, much less politics. All I can be is myself, and hopefully the best version of me possible. This is why I try to leave the trail of my progression out in the open. Am I the best person to “fix the system”? If I am we are screwed. But I do aspire to try. My Independence, if I am successful, may seem to some to be an accomplishment, in and of itself, but my goal is much loftier. To follow the path as described by this quote, and be the “honest politician” that Washington hoped to be. This may doom me to failure, but at some point we need to hold those who lead and represent us to a higher standard.