Los Alamitos Mayor Troy Edgar and Huntington Beach resident Travis Allen squared off in a debate last week in their battle for the 72nd State Assembly District office, a newly-formed district that includes Garden Grove and Westminster.
The debate was held in the Fountain Valley City Council Chambers and was hosted by the 405/605 Tea Party Patriots.
The race pits two Republican candidates, who agreed on many of the issues, including both being pro-life, anti gun control and in support of more small business and fewer taxes. But the two candidates found plenty to disagree about in how they would serve the district and who would be the best person for the job.
Allen attacked Edgar for being for tax increases, despite his claims to have no intention of raising taxes. Edgar dismissed Allen’s statements, saying that because Allen had no experience in public office, that he had no idea what he could promise the constituents.
But the two Republicans also had to answer some concerns from Republican voters as to links by both candidates to the Democratic party. Edgar had been a registered Democrat until 2006, while records show that Allen had given money to Democratic candidates in the past, including Sen. Barbara Boxer and Gov. Jerry Brown.
Allen said that he had written checks to support Boxer and Brown, but said at the time, he had simply been invited to fundraisers and was merely helping out friends. Allen said he was sorry for making the contributions, and noted that he has always been a registered Republican and pushed the concern back to Edgar.
“It’s another thing to flip parties,” Allen said, referring to Edgar.
Edgar responded by saying he had simply had a change in ideology. He noted that as his companies grew and he became responsible for more employees and business costs, he changed his views because he felt the Republican party was more business friendly.
“The right place to be was in the Republican party,” Edgar said.
Much of Edgar’s strategy was centered on the fact that Allen had not served in public office before and had no track record on his voting.
“Tonight what I want to be able to show you is contrast in the candidates,” Edgar said. “The contrast is going to come through experience.”
Edgar noted not only his experience on the Los Alamitos City Council, but also his experience as a Navy submariner, business owner and family man. He noted that his endorsements include the mayors of each of the cities within the district.
Allen responded by saying that the experience he saw within the district and from Edgar was nothing he valued. He noted his business experience as a certified financial planner and business owner. In particular, he said taxes were draining California of businesses and jobs and that he hoped to reverse that trend.
“All of these taxes combined are pushing people and jobs and businesses out of our state,” Allen said.
Allen also said that he had signed the American’s For Taxpayers Reform, No New Tax Pledge, but said Edgar had not. He pushed the idea that Edgar would look to raise taxes once he took office.
“For some reason, my opponent won’t sign it,” Allen said.
Edgar said he had no intention of pushing for tax increases. He also said he has made promises that he would not raise taxes, but reiterated the fact that Allen, without any experience, was simply reciting rhetoric with his no tax pledge.
“You don’t have experience, I understand why you’re clamoring to that tax pledge, it’s OK, it’s going to be all right,” Edgar said.
But the event’s most memorable moment came when Allen questioned Edgar’s ethics, revisiting reports that Edgar had paid for campaign brochures with company money, rather than campaign money, potentially violating FEC regulations. Edgar had stated that the payment was a bookkeeping error and had been resolved. But Allen didn’t back down from his statement.
“I believe in this race, I’m a business owner, I got into this race because I believe California has got real problems. I think that he is not telling the voters the truth and I think the voters need to hear the truth,” Allen said.
When asked if he wished to respond, Edgar replied, “It doesn’t deserve one.”
