Core Value: TRANSPARENCY
In the chronicle of a democratic endeavor, as I sought the mantle of California’s Assembly District 63, I was guided by a beacon that shone brighter than any ambition: Transparency. It stood as the gold standard, the unyielding principle that governed every step in public service. To serve was not merely to hold office, but to lay bare the process, to invite the people into the heart of governance. My campaign was not just a quest for victory, but a pledge to uphold this sacred trust.
Core Value: ACCESS
Hand in hand with transparency walked another core conviction: Access. Without access, the doors of participation remained barred; without participation, the promise of the republic faltered. My mission was to fling wide those doors, ensuring every voice was heard, every citizen empowered to shape our shared destiny.
The first milestone was the filing of Form 501, the Candidate Intention Statement, a modest yet essential rite of candidacy. The process, while straightforward, demanded precision. I found solace in the assistance offered by the Secretary of State’s office, where a courteous voice named Alex had provided clarity, illuminating the path forward.
The form required a “wet signature,” a tangible mark of commitment in an age of digital ease. For one versed in Adobe Acrobat—a skill honed in my daily labors at the college—this posed no great obstacle. Yet, I noted, with a historian’s eye, the subtle barriers that might have daunted the uninitiated.
The links provided for submission proved uncooperative, leading me to dial (916) 653-6814, a number that rang into silence. Persistence prevailed, and at last, Tiffany answered, her directness cutting through the fog of bureaucracy like a lighthouse beam.
The Next Step
With Form 501 filed, I turned to the broader map of the campaign, navigating to the California Secretary of State’s Elections Division website. A click on “Running for Office” promised guidance, yet the path was less clear than hoped. It was here that I leaned upon a modern ally, Grok, whose insights directed me to the next bastion: the County of Riverside Registrar of Voters. A call to (951) 486-7200 connected me with a representative whose warmth matched her efficiency.
She outlined the road ahead, noting that her office had convened a meeting to finalize critical details—numbers that shaped the campaign’s course. Among these was the “In Lieu of Signatures” packet. By gathering an estimated 143 valid signatures from the district’s voters, I could have forgone the registration fee, a sum pegged at roughly $1,300, or one percent of an Assembly Member’s annual salary. This mechanism, she explained, leveled the field, allowing conviction to triumph over coin.
Hurry and Wait
I stood at a moment of anticipation, awaiting the registrar’s call to confirm these figures, to etch in stone the next steps of the odyssey. The packet of signatures loomed as both challenge and opportunity—a chance to walk among the people, hear their hopes, and bind their trust to my cause.
As I reflected, I was reminded of the weight of this undertaking, not merely to win an office, but to forge a bond of openness and inclusion.
The story of this campaign, like the history of our republic, was one of perseverance, of voices raised and hands extended. The next chapter awaited, and I invited all to stay tuned.