Third term Assemblyman Van Tran, a Republican from Orange County, yesterday announced that he was forming an exploratory committee to official look at running for Congress in California’s 47th District, currently represented by Democrat Loretta Sanchez.
I had an opportunity to sit down with Tran, and ask him some questions about this major decision in his life. Here is that interview…
FLASHREPORT PUBLISHER JON FLEISCHMAN INTERVIEWS ASSEMBLYMAN VAN TRAN
FlashReport (FR): Van, I’m glad that you could spend some time with the Flash Report today to talk about your very significant announcement that you’re making. So why don’t we start off by having you share with our readers the big news?
Van Tran: I’m very excited to make the announcement that I will be running for the 47th Congressional District, a district I have worked in and represented for 20 years.
With our economy devastated over the past year and unemployment in California near the national high, it is critical that we have a representative who will focus on creating jobs. Unemployment in California is up a remarkable 35% in just five months. We need to get government out of the way and let people get back to work.
FR: Van, why don’t you tell our readers where the District is that you’re running for, maybe some of the major cities that are in that District and talk about – give everyone a little briefing so they kind of get a little picture.
Tran: The 47th Congressional District is located in the heart of Orange County. It comprises parts of Anaheim, a very small part of Fullerton, a large chunk of Garden Grove and also a large chunk of Santa Ana as well. About 650,000 residents, usually a very low turnout District. It’s very diverse.
FR: It’s a blue collar District.
Tran: It’s a blue collar, Reagan conservative District. And a District I know very well- I represent a good portion of it now and represented more when I was Mayor Pro-Tem of Garden Grove. I even worked for Congressman Robert Dornan from ’85 to ’87 when he represented it.
FR: And the reason you’re running for Congress? You already mentioned kind of in a broad sense. But what are some of the priorities for you, both maybe taking into account some of your background as a businessman in this District, and of course, you’ve now been, for five years, a member of the California State Legislature. So talk to us about why you’re running.
Tran: You know, being a State legislator, working in Sacramento, which is really a microcosm of what’s going on in Washington. We have the majority party running rough-shod over the American people, as well as the business community.
My first priority, as far as being a candidate is concerned, is to create jobs, something I am working on very hard in Sacramento. I have a series of legislative initiatives and bills to help create jobs here in California. California, of course, has the largest economy in the nation, and what we see now in our country is the shrinking of our economy. Unemployment is over 11% and growing, near the highest in the country.
Our leadership in Washington and Sacramento should be focusing on creating jobs. Instead we hear more and more regulations that stifle ingenuity and make the economy worse.
FR: Sure. Here at the FlashReport, we certainly have noticed that, regardless of whatever the rhetoric may be from the incumbent, Loretta Sanchez, she has been a consistent vote for all of the hard, hard left policies that have been passing out of Washington, D.C. lately, the big spending and all those priorities. You had mentioned that this District is really more of a blue-collar Democratic Reagan Republican District. So would you make the case that where you’re coming from is a better fit?
Tran: That’s not an opinion. That’s born out by the voting results. This District, voted for George Bush. This District also voted for Arnold Schwarzenegger by over 13%. This District also voted two to one in support of Prop 8.
FR: So one of the advantages that you get to bring to bear – in some respects it’s unfortunate for the country – there’s going to be a clear contrast between your candidacy and the issues you believe in against the incumbent, who clearly is representing the far left extreme.
Tran: It’s clear as night and day, and our voting record speaks volumes about that. While supporting the ordinary tax-payer’s family/social values, and also believing the values of freedom and liberty, in terms of getting the government out of people’s daily lives, you can contrast that to the ridiculous things coming out of Washington DC. The so-called stimulus package that this administration just passed, along with the new federal budget plan, is going to be the largest debt package in the history of America that will continue to be paid by our children and grandchildren, the future generation.
As somebody with two young children, that’s something I care greatly about. Something we need to fix.
FR: Van, as you’ve been making the assessment about whether to run for the seat, and obviously, you’ve decided to run, where is that support coming from? Where are you seeing the strength that you’re going to have in terms of constituency in running for the seat?
Tran: Right inside the community. I’ve worked and lived in this area for well over two decades. I’ve represented Garden Grove and Anaheim, so I’m very well-grounded in the District. But more importantly, from a political perspective or from a campaign perspective, there is a large constituency that is very loyal and supportive of my candidacy, and they’ve encouraged me, local leaders, as well as community activists here. They’ve encouraged me to run for this seat, and at this time in my life, it’s very appropriate that I take a serious look at it and approach it from a very sober – sober and analytical perspective, to run for this seat.
FR: : Speaking of analytical perspective, obviously it sounds like you’ve got a lot of support at home. I know you recently took a trip to Washington. So what kind of reception have you received as you’ve kind of chatted with folks? Has it been pretty positive?
Tran: The trip to Washington was, of course, at the invitation of the Republican leadership, and I can say that the reception was beyond expectation. It was very, very positive. I met with Republican leader, John Boehner, with Republican Whip Eric Cantor, even with Senator John McCain and I had a long discussion about my candidacy, my potential candidacy for this seat. They are very excited. They are supportive with hands – with both hands and feet, as well, and they’re willing to do what it takes to bring this seat back into the Republican column. And of course, Congressman Kevin McCarthy. He is the Chief Deputy Whip of the caucus and is the biggest booster for me. I really appreciate all the help and guidance that he has given me.
FR: Well, I know from conversations we here at the FlashReport have had with Kevin McCarthy, he’s said that the experience that he gained in spending time in the California State Legislature has really served him well in Washington. So I’m sure he had another reason why he’d like to have you back there is he knows that you’ve got a unique skill set to bring to play when you’re there.
Van, we’re very excited about your candidacy. We think there are lot of great things in store for you. We look forward to kind of covering this race as it develops, and obviously, you’re in the exploratory phase now. I don’t mind saying that we hope that it moves beyond that. But in the meantime, know that we’re here and keeping an eye on things, and our mission is to make sure that our readers have a bird’s eye view on the developing campaign. So good luck to you, and we’ll look forward to keeping in touch with you on the campaign trail.
Tran: I’m very excited about this campaign and about the opportunity that I will have in giving the constituents of the 47th Congressional District the opportunity, and also an alternative, to do what we can do to move America forward, what we can do to gain back, for the American people, and for the constituents in the District, more freedom, more liberty and less taxation and less government, and then positive change.
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