REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION (WINNER OF THE CA-49 PRIMARY)
DIANE HARKEY
Partisan Affiliation: Republican
Background: Currently serving as Chair of the California State Board of Equalization (a state agency charged with tax administration and fee collection). Prior to being elected to the Board of Equalization in 2014, Harkey served three terms in the California State Assembly representing the 73rd District. Before her career in public service, Harkey spent 30 years in the private sector working in corporate finance and banking. Married with one child. Lives in Dana Point.
Issues: Jobs, business and economic development, tax policy. Harkey has not listed her positions and issues on her campaign web site. In an interview with Channel 10 News (ABC), she stated that her focus will be on "business, military, national security, transportation, water and mental health issues". In another interview, this time with the San Clemente Times, Harkey said, "my whole policy has been basically helping Californians stay in business and do more business and collect taxes to help pay for the things we all want. I’m very strong on anything that’s financial or budgetary. I have 30 years’ experience in banking and corporate finance.” She has strong conservative credentials with an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association, a 100% rating from the Capitol Resource Institute (a conservative social issues advocacy group), a 100% rating from the California Taxpayers Association, and an "A" grade from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.
Background: Currently serving as Chair of the California State Board of Equalization (a state agency charged with tax administration and fee collection). Prior to being elected to the Board of Equalization in 2014, Harkey served three terms in the California State Assembly representing the 73rd District. Before her career in public service, Harkey spent 30 years in the private sector working in corporate finance and banking. Married with one child. Lives in Dana Point.
Issues: Jobs, business and economic development, tax policy. Harkey has not listed her positions and issues on her campaign web site. In an interview with Channel 10 News (ABC), she stated that her focus will be on "business, military, national security, transportation, water and mental health issues". In another interview, this time with the San Clemente Times, Harkey said, "my whole policy has been basically helping Californians stay in business and do more business and collect taxes to help pay for the things we all want. I’m very strong on anything that’s financial or budgetary. I have 30 years’ experience in banking and corporate finance.” She has strong conservative credentials with an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association, a 100% rating from the Capitol Resource Institute (a conservative social issues advocacy group), a 100% rating from the California Taxpayers Association, and an "A" grade from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.
OTHER CA-49 REPUBLICAN PRIMARY CANDIDATES
ROCKY CHAVEZ
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Partisan Affiliation: Republican
Background: Currently serving in the California State Assembly representing the 76th District. Prior to being first elected to the Assembly in 2012, Chavez was appointed as Undersecretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs. He was on the Oceanside City Council for seven years before that. In 2002, Chavez retired as a Colonel from the United States Marine Corps after a 28 year career in military service. Married, three children, lives in Oceanside. Issues: Military strength and national defense, deregulation, tax reduction, investment in education, criminal justice reform, veterans affairs. Passionate about the military and national defense issues. Wants to expand the military and develop/deploy the latest military technology. Describes himself as a "budget hawk" on many non-defense issues. Favors reducing the power of the Federal Government through deregulation. Believes in unleashing innovation and economic growth by reducing taxes and clearing away the regulatory burden on businesses and individuals. Believes passionately in the power of education and supports investment in early childhood education, a rigorous K-12 curriculum, and vocational schools. In favor of giving legal status to young immigrants living in the country illegally. Wants to fix serious problems with recent criminal justice reforms that released tens of thousands of inmates without adequate support or preparation. Believes that some crimes were improperly reduced to misdemeanors such as theft under $950, triggering a wave of thefts by serial offenders. Strongly believes that America must keep its promise to its veterans and will vigorously engage on veterans affairs to make sure the VA provides timely service and support to veterans and their families. |
KRISTIN GASPAR
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Partisan Affiliation: Republican
Background: Currently serving as Chairwoman of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. Prior to her campaign for Supervisor, Gaspar was the elected Mayor of Encinitas for two years and served on the City Council before that. Was the CFO of her husband's physical therapy business before entering into public service. Married, three children. Lives in Encinitas. Issues: Strongly supports a full repeal of Obamacare. Opposed to "sanctuary" laws being advocated by Sacramento politicians. Wants to repeal the California gas tax. Favors strong enforcement of immigration laws (and is happy with the new tax law passed by Congress last year as an example of tax policy). Supports better care for veterans including victims of PTSD. |
MIKE SCHMITT
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Partisan Affiliation: Republican
Background: Started out in mortgage banking. Founded a series of specialty medical clinics around Southern California in the nineties. Divested his clinic business and went back to school to get a masters degree and doctorate in neuro-audiology. Operates as a sole proprietor practitioner embedded in a primary care specialty. Married, two children, lives in Dana Point. Issues: Strongly believes in military readiness (equipment and personnel). Health care is the next most important issue. Advocates cost containment in health care as the path to improving access along with interstate competition for high deductible catastrophic care policies. Proposes "Transferable and Inheritable Health Savings Empowerment Accounts" for consumer choice. Favors market solutions for renewable energy. Pro-life. Strong supporter of second amendment rights. Would let DREAMers stay but would require them to begin and manage the residency application programs with no special status. |
BRIAN MARYOTT
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Partisan Affiliation: Republican
Background: Maryott is serving as Mayor Pro-Tem of San Juan Capistrano. He has been a Council Member since 2016. Maryott had a long career in the private sector in financial services (working for Wells Fargo Bank) before retiring in early 2018 to focus entirely on public service. He had early political experience as a Chief of Staff for a State Legislator in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Married, three children, lives in San Juan Capistrano. Issues: Maryott's campaign web site does not list his proposed policies or positions on issues. He has not articulated specifics in the press other than to say that he wants to overhaul immigration and social services, that he will use his business experience to end congressional stalemates, and that congress needs to do more to support President Donald Trump (San Diego Union-Tribune, January 17). |
JOSHUA SCHOONOVER
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Partisan Affiliation: Republican
Background: Schoonover is a patent attorney. He initially announced a primary campaign against Duncan Hunter but then switched districts to the 49th once Darrell Issa indicated he would retire. Schoonover is married with one child. Issues: Deregulation to promote the economy and jobs, market based approach to environmental stewardship, health care reform, immigration reform, national defense, background checks for gun purchases. Passionate about deregulation and policies that promote small business and jobs. Strongly believes in science-based environmental policy that provides market based incentives for corporations and individuals to take care of the environment. Proponent of health care reform that changes regulations to allow moving routine procedures to less costly clinics and private practice. Believes in strong borders and enforcement of immigration laws but favors a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants who have assimilated and are productive. Favors a strong national defense. Strongly believes in the right to bear arms but would push for common sense measures to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill (background checks). |
CRAIG NORDAL
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Partisan Affiliation: Republican
Background: Nordal has a real estate valuation, consulting, and sales business. Nordal began his work in public service as HOA President. He then became a Republican Party precinct captain for many years. He founded the North Coast Republican Club where he served as President, Vice President & Treasurer. Nordal is a member of the San Diego County Republican Party Central Committee. Issues: His Evangelical Christian faith guides his passion for religious liberty and issues of faith. Strong supporter of Donald Trump and his agenda, including border security and restricting immigration. Strong supporter of the Tea Party. Defender of second amendment rights. Passionately pro-life, believes that Roe v. Wade must be overturned. |
DAVID MEDWAY
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Partisan Affiliation: Republican
Background: David Medway is a physician, medical director, and small businessman. He is currently serving as the medical director of a Vista non-profit community clinic. Before that, Medway had his own medical practice. Medway opened his practice after serving as assistant Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine at U.C. Irvine. Lives in Carlsbad, is married, and has two children. Issues: Medway is a moderate Republican. He wants to expand health care coverage but harness the power of competition in the process to keep costs down and improve quality. He supports women's rights, including the right to choose. He cares deeply about public health including pandemic and disaster preparedness. Fiscal responsibility is a high priority as well. Medway is a strong proponent of moving the nuclear waste from San Onofre as quickly as possible. On the foreign policy front, he favored abandoning the Iran nuclear deal. |