Freedom isn't complicated. Communities thrive when people control their lives and keep more of what they earn. But today, in California, that basic principle feels like a distant dream.

Every paycheck tells the same story. State income tax, gas tax, disability insurance tax—each taking a bite out of what hardworking Californians earn. Sacramento's appetite for revenue seems endless, while its ability to spend wisely remains questionable at best.

The solution isn't another program or promise. It returns to fundamental principles: lower taxes, fewer restrictions, and more individual choice. As your Libertarian candidate, I'm proposing real change, starting with those who serve our community daily.

Although "Free markets" are often mentioned, absolute economic freedom goes deeper. It means letting people work, create, and innovate without drowning in paperwork or begging bureaucrats for permission.

In California, we import more oil than we pump from our ground. That's not just an economic problem—it's a self-inflicted wound. While protecting our environment is non-negotiable, we've created such a complex regulatory maze that buying oil overseas is more straightforward than producing it here. The irony? Some of that imported oil comes from places with far weaker environmental standards than ours.

This isn't about choosing between regulation and chaos. It's about being smart enough to tell the difference between rules that protect us and rules that protect the status quo. When regulations start suffocating new ideas instead of safeguarding the public, something's gone wrong.

Freedom isn't some abstract idea gathering dust in a philosophy book. It's what happens when people can build businesses, solve problems, and chase dreams without asking for permission slips from bureaucrats.

Take California's AB5 law. Sacramento decided it knew better than workers how they should earn a living. The federal government already has clear standards for independent contractors, but California had to go further, creating rules so strict they're strangling the gig economy. Freelancers, truck drivers, and consultants who chose independence are now forced into traditional employment—whether they want it or not.

The insurance crisis tells a similar story. When the government caps insurance rates with good intentions but lousy math, the results are predictable: companies flee the state, leaving homeowners with no coverage options. We've watched this movie before. Every time politicians try to outsmart the market, they hurt the people they claim to protect.

Sacramento's job isn't micromanaging our lives or running broken subsidy programs. It's to protect our rights and then get out of the way. But too many politicians have forgotten that. They see a problem and immediately seek new regulations, restrictions, and ways to control how we live and work.

We need leaders who understand that government is like seasoning—a little goes a long way, and too much ruins the dish. We need leaders who will fight to put choices back in your hands, where they belong.

Heroes Tax Reduction- Our first responders, healthcare workers, teachers, and military personnel deserve more than verbal gratitude. That's why I propose eliminating state income tax for these public servants. A police officer shouldn't worry about taxes during a graveyard shift, and a teacher shouldn't lose sleep over their tax bill while preparing tomorrow's lessons.

Overtime Pay Tax Exemption: When factory workers work double shifts to make ends meet, California shouldn't penalize their dedication with additional taxes. Overtime pay should be precisely that—pay for extra work, not another revenue stream for Sacramento.

This isn't just about money. It's about respect for individual choice and recognition of personal responsibility. When the government steps back, people step up. They invest in their communities, start businesses, hire workers, and build the future they envision—not the one prescribed by distant bureaucrats.