Person all that aage, continue to do you've done, you'll get what you've got. We cannot continue to do what we have done. Over the last number of weeks. Many of us understandably developed a little cabin fever. Some, I would argue, have developed a little amnesia. Others have just frankly taken down their guard. Uh. And I understand that I was discussing it at an early dinner, not that
that matters. So that's the governor of California who's in the midst of a recall threat, so that it hasn't happened yet, right, not enough signatures yet, And then I know the deadline is the middle of March. And what's amazing is I've lived through one of these already. When Arnold Schwarzeneger ended up the governor of California, they recalled their dull d old governor at the time. But I
remember how works. So if if and the recall, is there a vote to recall, and then you're out, and then you have an election to see who's governor or do you you run again? How does it work? I think? Well? We could asked Kevin Faulkner, who is the mayor of San Diego among other positions through his career until recently, it was turned out and has announced that he is going to run for governor. Indeed, if Gavin Newsom is recalled, Kevin joins us, Now, how are you, sir, gentlemen? Great
to be back with you. I'm doing great. Thank you. Cool, So refresh our memories? Is there first to recall vote? Yeah? I think we are going to be in a recall a situation. You correctly pointed out that the deadline here in California is the middle of March to get about one point five million signatures. I believe that it's absolutely going to happen because of the anger and frustration towards our existing governor. By the way, that's that's across the spectrum,
fair enough, because he's an absolute idiot. But then is the if that's successful, is the election for who takes his place? Like the next day or a month later? I don't remember. Yeah, no, that's right. It's on the same ballots questions shall the governor be recalled? And then the list of candidates below, So okay, it all goes together, and then when would that probably happen? I guess everybody's best guest is sometime in the late summer or fall,
so we both live in California. It is in many ways an astoundingly beautiful and interesting slice of planet Earth and has a history full of awe inspiring innovation, creativity and energy. On the other hand, most of that's gone, and it's a bit of a crap heap in a lot of ways. How screwed up do you think California is? Look, we're heading in the wrong direction. And I've been very vocal about that, um and particularly over the last several years.
And you know, as I announced that it's time for a comeback in California and to take on, you know, the failed status quo that that knew some represents and and it's across the board. And you know, I'm glad you've been talking about schools not reopening in California because look that they're they're opening safely across this country and other states. Private schools are open in California, and yet our kids are getting put farther and farther behind because
our schools haven't safely reopened. It's time to open our tools now, not a week from now or a year from now, UM, and all the other issues that you know, folks are really just at their woods ending California homelessness, are jobs that are leaving to other states, you know, public safety. I did not defund the police as mayor of San Diego. I increased the budget because guess what,
we want safe neighborhoods. And it works well. I remember it was last year in the Bay Areas where I first thought saw the stat or over half the people were considering moving in the next year, and I wondered if that's ever happened in human history anywhere in the planet, in any era, where half the people were considering leaving
in the next year. It's just amazing. Well, it's amazing, and it's real, unfortunately, and and look we're you know, I love our great state where we had a natural beauty, some of the best entrepreneurs, right and you know, the California dream is still there. But to see so many folks, jobs, companies, families that you know, can't stay because they're going to get taxed out of existence. That's what I'm talking about, and that's that's the type of change that we need
to make. It. You cannot, I repeat, you cannot take California companies for granted because guess what, they have a choice to locate to other states. How about a governor that says, we want your jobs here. How about a governor that says it's important for us to grow our economy and not take it for granted. So Kevin is a pretty moderate Republican. That's the way I would describe you. Are you going to run within our next year? Name or independent or or doesn't matter? Yeah, I don't think
it matters. And look, I am a proud Republican. I'm a proud Republican who's won in a majority Democratic city in San Diego and was able to do all the things that I'm you know, I'm proud of the only big city in California where we reduced homelessness the last two years by double digits. Why because, as we've talked about in the past, I didn't allow tents on our sidewalk. I think that, you know, condemns folks to die on your sidewalk. We're better than that. And so look, I
think what Californians want. They're less interested in partisanship. To your point, I think they want somebody who's gonna roll up their sleeves and get the job done, don't. I don't care if you Republican, Democrat or independent. It's let's turn this state around. Let's let's get us back on track. So I thin get enough signatures on the ballot and then it's officially okay, we're gonna have a recall election in the scheduled the election. The people that are officially running,
will you all have debate each other? I think that will probably be the case. But I think, as he also mentioned, uh, in a recall situation, we are likely to have That's that's right. I now remember Ted Kennedys, You remember Arnold Schwarzenanger debating what's her name from? Ran who ran huff Pole? Remember her aria? And then uh Gary Coleman. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I think it's okay. We got that to look forward to. There was a few candidates.
Kevin Faulkner's online He was the mayor of San Diego until fairly recently, and he's running to be the new governor of California. Would you like to say anything, unkind about the other two major candidates who have announced, John
Cox or Chamath Paula Pataya. No, Look, guys, I think we're gonna have a lot of folks jump in, but I do think, um, you, what Californians have seen is a lack of competence, and they're looking for somebody who can run a major American city, got results like we did in San Diego, and the type of person that can say, again, I want Republicans Democrats to say, let's put our the best interests of our state forward and actually not be afraid to make decisions and to get
things done. And so you know, all of these, all of these issues that we care so deeply about that they're just they're not going the right way in California. And you know, I have some success of of bringing some folks together and as I said, getting results, wouldn't that be something. Well, here's a rubber meets the road issue for you. And California's roll out of the vaccine has been awful, but as I am a fair man, I will point out it's been awful around the globe.
Any thoughts on how to streamline it and get it
get shots into arms, well that's exactly it. And you know the fact that we are the most innovative state I'm a little bias obviously in the country, but the fact that we were so woefully unprepared for the vaccines when they came out, and so you know, one of the biggest things and why you've seen that that that real anger in California is because we continue to have not just the conflicting COVID rules with open and cloths and businesses with no science behind it, but the fact
that we were one of the worst states in the country, the worst in the country of a rollout because we did not have the planning, the preparation and the logistics. We all have the same goal, let's get those needles in everybody's arm. But the fact that it was so slow in California, the bureaucracy, it's just unacceptable. Yea, to quote the clip we played from old Gavin uh Quit doing the same thing, Are you're going to get the same result? Former San Diego mayor Kevin Falker running for
governor the most populous state in the Union. I'm sure we'll have more chances to talk. Kevin. Good to talk. Thanks