FLASHREPORT

THE PEOPLE WANT OUR COUNTRY AND STATE BACK

Ken Mettler, Candidate For Assembly, 32nd District

[Publisher's Note: As part of an ongoing effort to bring original, thoughtful commentary to you here at the FlashReport, I am pleased to present this column from Ken Mettler, candidate for State Assembly and President of the California Republican Assembly -- Flash]

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Over the last few years many businessmen in California have decided to call it quits in this over-regulated and over-taxed state and move on to more business-friendly environments. While that is completely understandable and justified, I have decided to take a different path. I am a local activist, a businessman and an elected school board member. And like many of you I am mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore. So I have made the decision to run for the State Assembly in California's 32nd District.

Many of us are beyond tired of politicians who have never signed the front of a check nor had to sweat to make a payroll. This is the time for true fiscal and social conservatives to ascend to higher office and use the position to do more than just say "no". We should use that bully pulpit to aggressively drive home basic principles that have to be reinstituted if we are ever going to pull our state out of its financial abyss. 

The top priority of our legislature should be to produce an atmosphere for creating private sector jobs. Period. There are three things that must happen, in my view, in order to develop that atmosphere for the job creators in our state. Cut government spending, eliminate stifling regulations and reduce punitive taxes. While our state is careening toward fiscal disaster, our representatives should not be wasting time on any legislation that does not accomplish these goals.

I believe that the time for passivity or neglect by our legislators on the economy has long since passed. Upon election to the State Assembly I will view all proposed legislation through this 3-point prism - does it cut government spending, does it remove stifling regulation or does it reduce punitive taxes? There is no greater priority in these current economic times than restoring the fiscal health of the world's eighth largest economy, reversing incredibly damaging regulations on businesses and putting citizens back to work. The enormous debt burden we have placed on our children and grandchildren must be addressed and eliminated. Anything short of that intense focus is failure by our generation.

My public service record is clear and conservative. I am not remotely interested in doing what is politically correct today, but a disaster for our kids in the future. 

This is a critical time in our country and in the state of California. It is a shameful experience to watch the so-called leaders in our state, dominated by irresponsible liberal activists, continue to destroy California through gross fiscal malfeasance.

While I am keenly aware that I am just one man, it seems incumbent upon each of us as citizens to step up to the plate and lead. To make a difference where we live. To be a good example to our children of the type of citizen-activists our country was designed to have serving in government. People from the private sector who can return home and be productive again in that private sector and live under the same laws that they themselves created.
 
There has been a natural progression in my life as a businessman, long time conservative activist, advocate for private property rights, school board member and County chairman of the "Yes on Prop 8" campaign, Tea Party organizer,  right up to the clear and purposeful decision to run for and shake up the California State Assembly. 

The time is right. We the people want our country back, our state returned to us and our freedom restored. I am determined to go up to Sacramento and make these demands. I hope that you will join me in this cause.

My name is Ken Mettler. It is a privilege to live in America and it is time for us to stand up and fight to preserve that great honor. Thank you in advance for your support in this endeavor.
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Ken Mettler is President of the California Republican Assembly, an elected member of the Kern High School District Board of Trustees, a homebuilder and a conservative Republican candidate for the 32nd Assembly District.  You can reach Ken, or get more information about his campaign at www.KenMettler.com.