Our March 2026 meeting was dedicated to all things election! We featured four candidates and introduced our new endorsement process. Below is the process we have adopted for candidates to apply for endorsement. Further down you will find the process for you, the member, to vote on which candidates we will endorse.
Candidate Endorsement Process
It all starts with a Values Statement
At the top of the candidate endorsement application is the Values Statement. This is a key part of the application.
What’s next
After agreeing to the values statement and submitting basic campaign information the candidate is directed a page where they can select which race they are in. At this time we have limited our applications to these three categories. Other candidates will be showcased below.
The State Legislature questionnaire is unique in that it asks the candidate to think of pending legislation and how their vote will be affected by certain criteria. Every Assemblyman and State Senator should be asking themselves these questions before they vote:
The school board questionnaire is yes and no questions, with room to expand or clarify answers, because sometimes yes or no is not enough of an answer.
The city council questionnaire is similar to the school board questionnaire. Yes and no questions with room to expand if desired.
This is where you will cast your vote for endorsement. NOTE: this link only works one time; it will expire on Thursday, March 26th; you must make a choice in each category, even if you choose “no endorsement”.
A link for you to vote will be provided at the end of this email.
Here is a example of the Voting Page:
Michael Scott, candidate for Riverside Office of Education, Trustee Area 1, was at our meeting and filled out a candidate questionnaire. Here are his answers:
Ron Edwards, candidate for CA State Assembly Dist 60 was invited to our candidate forum but could not attend due to a scheduling conflict. His answers to the candidate application are in the picture below:
Ed Delgado, candidate for CA State Assembly Dist 60 attended our candidate forum. His answers to the candidate application are in the picture below:
California Congressional Dist 48 candidate, Jim Desmond joined us at our March Luncheon. He is running for the newly created district that Darrell Issa is vacating by retiring. When creating the endorsement process and applications it was the decision of the committee to limit our sights this year to statewide candidates and other down-ticket slots. It was our great surprise and pleasure when Mr. Desmond approached us to come speak. As we had very little notice, an application for this position was not available to him. He was asked four questions at our meeting. Below are the questions and his answers.
1. In 2022 NATO was expanded to include Finland and Sweden, bringing the member states to 32. Ukraine has made a strong push to join NATO. As the size of NATO grows along with it grows the potential for us to become involved in conflict because of NATO’s founding principal that “an attack on one is an attack on all.” What are your opinions on the expansion of NATO?
He felt that NATO was necessary and a good thing. That just because two countries are allied doesn’t mean they will always agree. He did not address the expansion of NATO.
2. The “Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act,” reauthorized for two years, ending this year, which includes the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which governs electronic surveillance of foreign terrorism suspects. Among other provisions, the bill would require additional procedures for searches by the FBI involving U.S. citizens and FBI surveillance requests to the secret FISA Court. What is your position on the FISA courts and how would you protect American citizens from having their fourth amendment rights violated by the FISA courts?
He believes that Americans privacy must be protected but that sometimes we have to make judgment calls and rights might be temporarily set aside in pursuit of a greater good.
3. The last time the US had an actual budget, completed on time was 1997. We have been operating, at least in part, on continuing resolutions ever since. During this time spending has somehow managed to increase and our debt has skyrocketed. Would you be willing to buck the trend and not vote for a CR while demanding an actual budget?
He would not commit to Not voting for a CR because he felt it depended on the need to keep government operational.
4. Regarding the situation with Iran, do you think that the President operated withing the scope of his law and the spirit of the law in the War Powers Act?
He was unsure if the president operated within the scope of his powers about the Iran conflict, but he supported the action.
Ed Delgado, candidate for CA State Assembly Dist 48, attended our meeting and was asked the following questions:
1. Over the last several years many companies, both large and small have left California in droves. Including our own iconic In N Out burger. What are your strategies and ideas for not only retaining businesses but attracting new ones to California?
His strategy to keep more businesses in California is to reduce regulations that place an undue financial burden on businesses.
2. California has an enormous problem with unfunded pension liabilities. The estimates range from $250 billion to $1.5 trillion. What would be your first step to stop the bleeding?
His first step to stop the problem with pension liabilities was to change the incoming state employee pensions to a tiered or “leveled” system.
3. Given the massive Medicaid fraud just uncovered in Los Angeles involving over 700 hospice organizations there is no doubt that an equal or greater amount of fraud is involved with Medi-Cal. The Medi-Cal budget has more than doubled in four years, from $108 billion in 2022 to $222 billion in 2026. Would you support a full audit of Medi-Cal and what else would you do to fix the overburdened California state health system?
First, he would remove non-citizens from Medi-Cal benefits programs. Second, he would tighten the rules as to who would be able (as citizens) to receive such benefits.
Having judicial candidates is always so important because they are the hardest to find information about. We were very blessed to have Michelle Paradise, candidate for Riverside County Superior Court Judge attend our meeting. She was only asked two questions, but they are very telling of her judicial philosophy.
1. Do you consider yourself a strict constructionist or judicial activist? Why?
She stated that she must apply the law fairly and equally. The bench is not the place for activism.
2. Do you believe the Constitution is a living document?
She was unfamiliar with the term, but stated that the Constitution must be applied with absoluter truths, never relativism.
Now it’s time to vote!
On the voting page you will see that most of the names are in blue. That means if you click on their name, not the circle next to their name, it will open their official campaign website in a new window if you would like to read more about them.
You cannot submit your vote if you do not make a choice in each category.
The link expires Thursday, March 26th.
If you have any questions about any of this, please feel free to email me here or you can call or text me at 703-859-1865. Please do not share this email with friends. This vote is strictly for TVRW! members.
