Why I Am Running for Assembly

By Mark Kropp

Where do I begin? My wife says with the Truth!

I took on a New Year’s Resolution a while back to start running 5Ks. Good health and all; plus, it’s run slash walk. A walk in the park? (aka Mission Impossible.)

I eventually, with my daughter, ran ½ marathons and even marathons. I continued to run in cities where I had meetings. I read in ESPN sports magazine that man is built to endure and outrun food. That explained to me the ability of some folks, who by common wisdom, could not be in front of me. I used to joke with Dan Wolk, when are you going to run again? My daughter began the habit of texting me at mile 24, how many runners you got behind you, dad? The answer is kind of like the race for the 4^th Assembly District seat.

I have wanted to help with social services since the 10^th grade. I thought I would learn medicine, the law and then legislate. Don Saylor has done somewhat the same for nearly 40 years. He began with a Masters’ in Public Policy.

I remember Californians calling out for non-politicians and “top 2” primary (party affiliation doesn’t matter etc.) I did not know groups organized here would begin endorsing candidates prior to official Secretary of State sign-ups. If this continues we should get our daughters endorsed now.

Charlie Schaupp has certainly been at this for a while. Just remember, even Al Gore had asked Col. North why he built a fence around his Virginia property and his response was to protect from Osama. This was way before the rest of the world knew who he was. We must stay vigilante but not necessarily be to militaristic in the Assembly. However, it has been men like Lt.Col. Schaupp that allows us freedom to debate and the opportunity to dialog, especially in the House.

I travel to Brazil a lot because we have a clinic and an orphanage there. I tend to compare and contrast. Brazil is a democracy with 27 states as we have 50. Corruption has now become apparent. Their first woman president has been impeached.

I went to medical school at a California approved institution in the Caribbean. One of the islands governments is predominantly women. They have the same legislative quarrels we do. My military friend who diffuses “human bombs” says, you cannot judge the individual by size, color or gender. “Look at their brains like a computer.”

Current monies in the form of independent expenditures (IEs) are in the amounts that far exceed the small contributions made by friends. This is America! Voters need to be aware. My German relatives are always comparing the rise of national socialism to events here. Money from IG Farben, corporate Germany, did effect politics there.

I know Cecilia as an honest person. However, I find her response needs to be more. The devil will dance with you, but we all know the price. If not, let me share that my dad’s great aunt offered him cash when he first came to this country. He said no because she might always feel he was beholden to her.

I personally would have embraced my benefactor or very publically and categorically rejected them and I would have repeatedly entered this into print.

My wife and I are working through the immigration process for our daughter. It has been 4 years. I know how immigrants in California feel. What about migrant workers? We can make this a well-documented and efficient system for farm workers.

My wife is a 5-star hotel chef. She started washing dishes at 1 am in downtown Davis for $10 an hour. I know what minimum wage feels like and believe me we have bills.

I am in law school and I agree we need to refinance student loans.

I work on homelessness in Woodland and with Pastor Love and the mayor, we are borrowing from Seattle’s experience with “tiny homes.”

My main concern remains medical care costs. No one should have to choose between food and medicine.

I read about “Run-Pan” (State Senator Pan) and I am truly sorry. It is not right that an expert Pediatrician be in such a disrespectful position. However, I myself spoke of measles and I meant chicken pox. I too make mistakes.

We need to continue to worry about costs as we age. I propose a senior citizen supplemental billing system so a 90 year-old doesn’t lose cable service because personal finances have run out.

My campaign has always been about education, economy and the environment. I will propose legislation for my constituents and oppose that which we disagree with. I have been doing regulatory affairs and quality assurance for 25 years now. I too had to manage and lobby. I served many years on successful committees for City Council. I have the experience.

As to the money-my high school basketball team was met with a banner that read, “Send the rich kids home.” We played the game!

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