J.J. Galvez seeks Assembly District 71 seat in November

J.J. Galvez, a Democrat, is running for California State Assembly District 71 in the Nov. 3 general election. He faces Republican Kate Sanchez.

Asked why he is running, Galvez said in our candidate questionnaire: "I'm running to restore faith in a better future. I was born and raised in Honduras, came to California for college, and paid my way through school with scholarships and part-time jobs. I'm an immigrant who still believes in the American Dream … In the Assembly, I'll focus on bringing down the cost of living, creating opportunity, serving with unity, protecting our quality of life, and ensuring safe communities …"

Candidate information

Party: Asked about his party affiliation, Galvez said in our questionnaire: "Democrat. But first and foremost, I am running as an American. We are extremely divided right now, and I aim to be a voice of unity …"

Family: Galvez said in our questionnaire: "I was born and raised in Honduras. My mother was a kindergarten teacher, my dad was an insurance broker. My parents' sacrifices gave me the education that opened every door I've walked through since. I am the oldest of 4 brothers. Today I live in Silverado Canyon with my wife, Carolina, and our two rescue dogs, Nacho and Mona."

Education: Galvez said in our questionnaire: "I attended a bilingual school in Honduras, where I learned English growing up. I received a student visa to attend college in the US. Through scholarships and part-time jobs, I was able to pay my way through Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, graduating with honors and a double-major in Entrepreneurship and Economics."

Experience and public service

Asked about his occupation, Galvez said in our questionnaire: "I am a Strategy and Operations Manager at Transformco, a tech-enabled home services company. I have more than 10 years of experience in technology startups and business consulting …"

On previous public office, Galvez said in our questionnaire: "I currently serve as Director and Treasurer on the Silverado-Modjeska Recreation and Park District Board of Directors, an appointed position. Shortly before I joined the board, the district's funding had been reduced by 30%. I worked with the rest of my board members (Republicans and Democrats) to rebalance our budget while preserving core services …"

Highlighting his primary performance, Galvez said in our questionnaire: "… In this year's primary, we earned 41.8 percent of the vote, running a strong field operation that knocked on over 20,000 doors and resulted in a 7.5-point improvement over the past Democratic candidate in the district."

On the issues

Housing: Galvez said on his campaign website: "Housing costs aren't our only challenge and we need to address the affordability crisis from multiple angles: eliminating unnecessary or out-of-date burdens to build more affordable housing, addressing rising and unsustainable insurance costs, working with state utility regulators to alleviate energy and utility prices …"

Transportation: Galvez told the Orange County Register he would freeze gas tax increases, invest in practical public transportation and bring more jobs to Riverside County to reduce commuting times.

Healthcare: Galvez told the Orange County Register he would reduce drug pricing through state-negotiated volume discounts, expand CalRx and tackle the shortage of nurses and primary care providers.

Immigration: Galvez told the Orange County Register: "We can have strong immigration enforcement while preserving constitutional rights and our shared humanity …"