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In a Senate district that does not have an incumbent because of redistricting that followed the 2020 Census, veteran lawmaker John Laird is facing newcomer Tony Virrueta. The district includes San Benito County, Monterey County, the northern part of San Luis Obispo County and Santa Cruz County. Senator Anna Caballero was appointed representative of the district until the new elected official takes office.
Laird and Virrueta were the top two vote-getters in the primary with 50.9% and 32.9%, respectively. The Senate term is four years.
John Laird, 74, was first elected to the state Senate in 2020. He has lived in the district for 56 years and served at various levels of public office including the Santa Cruz City Council, California Assembly and the Cabrillo College Board of Trustees. He served as secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency from 2011 until 2019.
BenitoLink: Why are you running for office?
Laird: I am running for re-election because I have a broad public policy background, deep knowledge of the district, and good skills in bringing people together to develop solutions to important challenges. In my legislative service, I have authored over 130 bills signed into law, guided many budget appropriations to the district for local needs—and have advocated with state agencies to address local problems. I want to continue to make a significant difference for the residents of the 17th District.
Which issues are most important to your district and how do you intend to handle them, if elected?
Across the district there are common issues of fire prevention and fire insurance; water supply; climate resilience; sustainable and available public education; a road system that works; and support for the local economy. I have authored successful bills on fire prevention and coastal resilience; supported major increases of assistance to public education; and have helped restore UC Cooperative Extension to past levels to allow for assistance to farmers across the district. I have advocated for specific transportation projects. I want to continue to build on this work.
San Benito County residents oppose housing mandates by the state because of a lack of adequate transportation infrastructure and the likely loss of agricultural land. How would you balance housing needs with preserving farm lands?
Not every county is the same. I’ve tried to bring that perspective into the discussion as the state addresses the housing crisis. As California’s Secretary of Natural Resources, I was an architect of the sustainable agriculture land conservation program, which provides state support for conservation easements on key agricultural land—so that it is permanently protected as we debate how to accommodate new housing. As senator, I have also been advocating for transportation funding that matches the need. I intend to continue to make this issue a priority.
Rural counties don’t have the same staffing resources to compete for grants and state funds. If elected, how will you ensure that those jurisdictions receive their fair share?
When I was Secretary for Natural Resources, when there was a potential grant award in one of our grant programs, we would help the local jurisdiction with technical assistance to make sure they had the capacity to apply. I believe this is something that should be more prevalent in state government. Every county pays their share of taxes, and we should make sure a fair share gets returned to them in state grants and services.
Gov. Gavin Newsom is pushing local municipalities to address homelessness, but rural areas such as San Benito County lack related services such as mental health care. How should the state ensure its mandates don’t create a fiscal burden on local jurisdictions?
I do not believe it is fair to push municipalities to address homelessness unless the state helps with the tools to do the job. I have helped local governments and agencies in the 17th District with support for temporary shelter, building permanent housing, and trying to guide supportive services to their efforts. I want the chance to continue to do that as senator.
Hazel Hawkins Hospital says it’s in a financial emergency because of low reimbursement rates from state and insurance companies. How should the state ensure hospitals are reimbursed in a timely manner, at a rate which allows them to survive?
I worked persistently to save Watsonville Hospital from closure, which has many of the same pressures that face Hazel Hawkins. We also worked to establish a grant program for distressed hospitals—from which both Hazel Hawkins and Watsonville received support. We raised Medical rates—albeit not anywhere near where we should be. We have to work to make sure hospitals are reimbursed in a timely manner. The greater San Benito County community cannot afford to be without a hospital, and I will work in partnership with the local community in whatever way I can to make sure Hazel Hawkins survives.
Tony Virrueta is an Army veteran who, following his military service, worked in sales in the wine industry. He has lived in the district his whole life. Virrueta has not held public office but has volunteered for the community of Soledad and advocated for veterans services.
BenitoLink: Why are you running for office?
My commitment to veterans and community advocacy has been unwavering since my military service. I am driven by the need for change in our district and I am prepared to lead with dedication and experience.
Which issues are most important to your district and how do you intend to handle them, if elected?
I have three key issues that I think resonate with our community.
Education: Our state’s education system ranks very low nationally, and our children deserve better. They are our future leaders and professionals, and their education is the foundation of their success.
Inflation: Many residents in our district and across the state struggle to make ends meet due to skyrocketing prices for groceries and gasoline. These high costs are driven by taxes, fees and regulations from Sacramento, which burden working people. I am committed to addressing these issues tirelessly.
Crime: California’s lenient stance on crime, including offenses like shoplifting and drug possession has created an unsafe environment. Families and businesses are leaving the state because of this. I will work to restore safety and security in our communities.
San Benito County residents oppose housing mandates by the state because of a lack of adequate transportation infrastructure and the likely loss of agricultural land. How would you balance housing needs with preserving farm lands?
Agriculture is the backbone of our district, and our workers need adequate housing. We must adopt a smart growth plan tailored to each community, rather than a one-size-fits-all solution from Sacramento. District 17 has unique challenges that differ from those of the Bay Area or Los Angeles. At the state level, we need to fund logical transportation solutions throughout the district and state.
Rural counties don’t have the same staffing resources to compete for grants and state funds. If elected, how will you ensure that those jurisdictions receive their fair share?
Smaller communities, just like our schools, and other services like health care and mental health receive far less support than the larger ones. I will bring a focus to this critical issue, and work across party lines to bring equity and fairness to how budget dollars are distributed.
Gov. Gavin Newsom is pushing local municipalities to address homelessness, but rural areas such as San Benito County lack related services such as mental health care. How should the state ensure its mandates don’t create a fiscal burden on local jurisdictions?
To ensure that state mandates do not create a fiscal burden on local districts, I believe California can take several proactive measures. Such as:
- Conducting thorough cost-benefit analyses before implementing new mandates. This helps to understand the financial impact and ensures that the benefits outweigh the costs.
- Encouraging a periodic review of the mandates and their financial impact on local districts and possibly make adjustments based on feedback or local changes.
- Collaborating with local governments during the development process to help identify potential financial challenges and develop solutions that are feasible for all.
Hazel Hawkins Hospital says it’s in a financial emergency because of low reimbursement rates from state and insurance companies. How should the state ensure hospitals are reimbursed in a timely manner, at a rate which allows them to survive?
I believe that there are numerous ways to assist hospitals in financial need. When elected I will:
- Review the administrative processes to look for ways to streamline them and possibly reduce red-tape so that hospitals can receive payments quicker.
- Introduce or support legislation that mandates timely reimbursement, to include setting specific deadlines for payments and penalties for delays.
- Encourage partnerships between public hospitals and private entities.
- Establish oversight mechanisms to monitor the reimbursement process and ensure compliance with payment timelines.
- Require regular reporting to address trends and help identify issues.
- Advocate with state and federal governments to secure sufficient funding for Medi-Cal and push for higher reimbursement rates.
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