Fresh from Sacramento, Ellis says he has hope

Yahoo

15-03-2025

In his first local appearance since being sworn in to represent the 32nd Assembly District two weeks ago, Republican Stan Ellis said he was hopeful about his future in Sacramento.
"This was my second week, and I would tell you that I've been overwhelmed, I've been disappointed, I've been pissed off," Ellis said Thursday evening. "I've been about every emotion that you could have, and yet there is hope."
Speaking to a meeting of more than 50 members of the Greater Bakersfield Republican Assembly, Ellis said his first two weeks have been filled with trying to absorb an enormous amount of information.
Ellis was the first candidate to announce candidacy for the 32nd District, even before there was technically a vacancy for the seat. He handily won a special primary election last month, taking more than 50% of the vote, which under state law elects the candidate to office.
Ellis was sworn in March 3 and on Thursday he had just driven from San Francisco when he arrived at Hodel's Country Dining to speak to the GBRA.
He said his first two weeks had been filled with meeting colleagues and trying to get filled in on myriad complex issues lawmakers are asked to deal with.
A longtime businessman, Ellis addressed the litany of frustrations he and other Republicans have with policies coming out of Democrat-dominated Sacramento on issues such as oil, water and spending.
"There are some really cool Democrats, and I think they're really good people," Ellis said. "However, what happens is they vote the party and they vote the politics. They don't vote, I think, the way they should vote."
The GBRA regularly invites guest speakers, and Ellis had appeared before the group as a candidate, according to Angelo Frazier, executive vice president.
"A lot of things that come down through California are policy driven, and they tend to be center left," Frazier told The Californian. "So what we're looking to do is let's get back to those conservative values."
As members of a super minority with little political muscle, Republicans in the statehouse say their job is to educate their Democratic colleagues on how proposed policies are impacting their constituents.
"I think it's just chipping away at it," Frazier said of Ellis' role in Sacramento. "You got to start someplace and and I think one of his strong suits is his ability to influence."
Ellis told the audience one of his main priorities is oil, and trying to convince his Democratic colleagues of the benefits of domestic production, but he also said another priority, water, is likely outside his grasp.
"I have, probably as an Assembly member, have very little influence over water. It's because it's a federal issue," Ellis said. "But I'm telling you, I will work towards it."
When it comes to seemingly intractable issues such as oil production, Ellis said his strategy is to keep the issue front of mind for Democrats.
"So, to me, it's like keeping it in front of them and saying over and over, 'look we're polluting (by importing oil)," Ellis told The Californian.
"We are the cleanest producing state in the world. Our organic compounds that we emit are so regulated by the (California Air Resources Board) that we could be fined millions of dollars if we're off spec," he said. "We have the most incredible, incredible clean oil in the world."
Ellis said he is willing to work with Democrats on bills that aligned with his values. He'd spoken with area colleague Dr. Jasmeet Bains, D-Delano, and was hopeful about a bill regarding fire safety she was working on.
The Legislature's bill-filing deadline has passed so it's too late to submit any of his own bills, but even if he could, Ellis said he's not ready.
"I'm not smart enough in the policy world. There are some things I certainly want to do, but I'm not ready for it," Ellis said. "So now it's just me understanding and voting. It's actually not a bad position to be in because I'm still so new."