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Tony Castro For Fullerton City Council Is In The Orange County Register

Tony Castro is the Non-Corporate, Pro-Union, Progressive Democrat, Candidate, running for Member of The Fullerton City Council in District 5.

Tony Castro, Fullerton District 5 City Council candidate, Election 2022 questionnaire

The questionnaire is part of The Orange County Register's Voter Guide.

Ahead of the November elections, The Orange County Register compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below, with responses only edited for grammar and punctuation.

MORE: Read all the candidate responses in our Voter Guide

Name: Tony Castro

Current Job Title: Digital Media Artist

Age: 37

Incumbent: No

Other political positions held: Manager For Voter Education Registration Fund in 2005

City where you reside: Fullerton

Campaign website or social media: www.TonyCastroForCityCouncil.com

How can the city best meet the demand and mandates for more housing, including at lower prices, while also preserving the quality of life for existing neighborhoods and residents?

Rent control and ending homelessness with housing first is my No. 1 issue on my platform. I recently refused a corporate donation and a corporate endorsement from the Fullerton Apartment Association, an organization of rich landlords, developers and wealthy investors. (He’s been told) that rent control doesn’t work, hasn’t worked, and will never work, anywhere in the United States. I replied, “It will work great for the renters in Fullerton!” I am the leader in rent control and ending homelessness for the city of Fullerton. Rent control has been working great for renters in Oakland, San Francisco and other cities in California. Funding mechanism: close corporate tax loopholes, end corporate tax welfare, implement an oil extraction fee on crude oil, find waste in the city budget such as slush funds.

What can the city do better to fund and address aging roads and water and sewer systems and prepare for future infrastructure needs?

Our infrastructure was built over a century ago and requires immediate attention and updates. The first pipes were built in 1920. Fullerton needs to convert into a smart city infrastructure system. To better fund and address aging roads and water and sewer systems, I would work with our congress person and state legislature to close corporate tax loopholes, end corporate tax welfare to the super wealthy, implement an oil extraction fee on crude oil being pumped out of active oil wells in Fullerton, and remove wasteful spending in the city budget such as slush funds. If congress and state legislature won’t help, I will write initiatives for my funding mechanisms to be voted on in a special election.

How should the city balance paying off debts, such as pension liabilities, and building reserves all while meeting residents’ needs? Should a solution involve finding new revenue, trimming the budget, or something else entirely?

To balance paying off debts such as pension liabilities and building reserves and still meet residents’ need. I would implement new ideas to find new revenue. These ideas would include closing corporate loopholes, ending corporate tax welfare and adding an oil extraction fee on crude oil. I would also look for wasteful spending in the city budget such as slush funds.

In your opinion, what is the biggest need your city faces, and how would you address it?

In my opinion, the biggest need Fullerton faces is ending homelessness, rent control, and repairing our infrastructure. I would address homelessness with a housing first policy, like the state of Utah model. House homeless people first, then address their mental health and substance abuse issues. I would implement a strict rent control policy to make renting affordable and realistic. Our infrastructure is in need of repairs and upgrades. I would initiate a smart city infrastructure project.

Why would you make a good leader, and how would you represent the diverse communities of your city?

I am the non-corporate, pro-union, progressive-Democrat, candidate for Fullerton City Council. I am the best candidate to represent my district since I refuse corporate donations for my campaign, I am free to serve the people. Fullerton needs a leader who will not be influenced by special interest and wealthy investors. I pledge to never accept money or donations from corporate lobbyists or special interest. I am not for sale and I cannot be bought by big corporations. I believe that these types of contributions corrupt and have a negative impact on a politicians policy making decisions. Once a candidate accepts money from corporations or special interest lobbyists, those donors will then feel entitled and expect favors in the future. Tony Castro wants to be free from any influence on his decision making. That way he can be free to deliver his platform and promises to the voters in his district. My campaign is people powered to power the people!

General Election November 8, 2022

Tony Castro is running for Member of The Fullerton City Council to represent District 5.