You may have just seen Neel Kashkari’s first campaign ad for California governor, which started airing this month in advance of the June 3 primary election. The ad, which was filmed near Kashkari’s home in Truckee, shows Kashkari chopping wood along with a toy train symbolizing Gov. Jerry Brown’s $68.4 billion rail project. Kashkari, who lives in Orange County, is a moderate Republican whose parents immigrated from India. A former aerospace engineer and investment banker for Goldman Sachs, Kashkari was an assistant secretary at the Treasury Department during the Bush Administration, where he oversaw the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), commonly known as the government bailout of the U.S. financial system. Kashkari’s main opponent in the race is Republican Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, a Tea Party favorite. In California’s nonpartisan blanket primary, all candidates will appear on the same ballot, and the top two finishers, regardless of party, will advance to the general election in November. Moonshine Ink caught up with Kashkari on the campaign trail to find out more about his run for governor.
Why did you decide to run for governor? I spent three years in Washington, D.C., tackling the economic crisis. It was brutal but also really rewarding, and I got Republicans and Democrats to work together. I want to do that for California, and I want to put people back to work and give all Californians a chance for a good education. We need to put power back in the hands of parents and teachers. California is ranked 46th out of 50 states for student achievement. On the job front, the state is ranked 47th. Regulations coming out of Sacramento are out of control. We need to rein that in, invest in water storage … and bring manufacturing back to California.
How long have you owned a home in Truckee and what drew you to this area? I bought my house in Juniper Hills, near Glenshire, in 2005. I just love it. If I could live any place in the world, I would live in Truckee. It’s a great community all around. I was last there over Christmas and New Year’s. I will probably be back for Fourth of July. I miss it.
The environment is a big issue for Tahoe/Truckee residents. What would you do as governor to protect the environment, and where do you stand on climate change? I feel that we already have very effective environmental regulations in California. We need to find the right balance between regulations and jobs. Middle class families are the ones who are hurt if regulations keep getting piled on. We need smarter regulations. People want more jobs.
The science behind climate change is compelling and clear, but it’s less clear what to do about it. California has a cap and trade system, but the only way to address climate change is to develop technology that is cheap enough for China and India to adopt them. The solutions to climate change are deeply flawed; we need to take a fresh look.
In light of the mass shootings that have happened across the country and the one at UC Santa Barbara last week that left seven dead, what is your position on gun control and how would you work to prevent future gun violence? I am a longtime gun owner. I deeply believe in the Second Amendment. So often these shootings are mental health issues. Whenever there is a horrible tragedy, people want to put control on people like me — a responsible gun owner. I would like to tackle mental health issues, which is the root cause of this. I don’t think adding gun laws ends up accomplishing anything.
How did your experience at the Treasury Department overseeing TARP prepare you for the job of governor? I had to work across party lines to make bold changes. Too often, politicians put their careers before the country or the state. What we need in Sacramento is politicians who say we need to put people back to work. California is number one in the country in poverty when adjusted for cost of living, but Jerry Brown wouldn’t tell you that.
You have never held public office before. Do you think this helps or hinders your campaign for governor? There are a lot of examples of very effective governors who never served in public office — George W. Bush as governor of Texas, Ronald Reagan in California, Mitt Romney [in Massachusetts]. I have great training to tackle crises.
How do you describe your social views? I am a social libertarian. I want government out of our lives … I am in favor of anybody who wants to get married, let them.
