Dear Neighbors,
As a businesswoman, city councilmember, and a longtime advocate for fiscal reform and limited government, I am proud to announce that I am running for the California State Assembly.
Our state legislature is out of control – burdening small business owners, driving economic opportunities and job growth out of California, and raising taxes that hurt families already struggling to make ends meet. As a local small business owner, I understand the fiscal impacts of burdensome government regulation and taxes on the taxpayers and small businesses. I am a staunch supporter of business and free market principles, reducing burdensome regulation and balancing the budget. I have been a City Councilmember in Escondido since 1998 – I have advocated for fiscal restraint and opposed all water rate and tax increases. I believe it is time to bring this experience to the State Assembly.
I am committed to supporting real reforms that will turn our state around. We need to bring California back to prosperity through smart, business-savvy decisions. My key priorities are clear:
o Support policies that will regain business attraction, retention and growth to our state
o Cut needless government bureaucracy and balance the budget without raising taxes
o Support financial reforms that will stop underfunding our pension liabilities and reduce our debt
My successful experience in both business and politics will help drive this campaign, but I cannot do it alone. I need your help to make this a reality and I would be honored to have your support.
Sincerely,
Marie Waldron
Marie Waldron is a small business owner and Escondido city councilmember running for State Assembly.
As a local small business owner, Marie understands the impact of burdensome government regulations, taxes, and spending on families and small businesses. As a city councilmember, Marie has seen firsthand how Sacramento’s burdensome policies negatively impact our local economy – drive away businesses, and make it harder on families to live the American dream.
The Waldron family has lived in Escondido for 38 years. During the past two decades, Marie has been very involved in the community. As an elected official since 1998, she has fought for fiscal restraint, and against taxes and excessive spending.
Marie and her husband, Steve Waldron have owned and operated Top End Tees Screenprinting and Apparel in Escondido for 15 years. A successful business requires understanding the economic conditions that face our city and Waldron has been a member of the Escondido Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Business Association for many years. She was appointed and served 4 years as California’s Honorary Chairman of the Business Advisory Council which advocated on behalf of small businesses to Congress.
Marie is also active in the local region. She is a founding member of the San Diego chapter of CWLA (California Women’s Leadership Association), is a member of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, San Diego Tax Fighters, Lincoln Club of San Diego and is an alumni of Leadership 2000, a regional leadership training program.
The Waldron’s have a school age son and Steve is the founder of the successful “Cruisin’ Grand” hotrod event held in downtown Escondido for the past 10 years. Marie has a B.S. degree from St. John’s University and has done graduate work at UCSD and SDSU.
Elected Office
City Councilmember, City of Escondido 1998 -current
Vice Mayor, City of Escondido 2002 – 2005
Board of Directors, North County Transit District (NCTD) 1998 – ‘02, Alternate: current
League of California Cities 2002 – current Alternate Representative
Assoc. of CA Water Agencies (ACWA) Representative 2004-current
Regional Solid Waste Association (RSWA) Board Member 2003 – current
San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG)
San Diego North Economic Development Commission
City of Escondido Investment Subcommittee
Appointments & Commendations
Appointed California Honorary Chairman, Business Advisory Council (BAC)
Escondido Rotary Club’s Outstanding Community Service Award 1990
Past Chairman, Californians Against Illegal Immigration
Associations & Political Memberships
American Legion Auxiliary
Lincoln Club of San Diego
North County Chapter of the Lincoln Club
Founding Member, California Womens’ Leadership Association (CWLA)
Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
San Diego Taxpayers Association
San Diego Taxfighters 1998–current
Adam Smith Institute 1998–‘06
Leadership 2000 alumni
Business Associations
Owner, Top End Tees Screenprinting & Driving Styles Apparel since 1994
Downtown Business Association, Escondido 2000-current
San Marcos Chamber of Commerce 2004-06
Escondido Chamber of Commerce 1995-current
Sunrise Lions Club 1990–94
More about Marie’s History…
Budget & Taxes
California state spending is out of control. Despite billions in annual budget deficits, Sacramento politicians haven’t gotten the message: raising taxes is not the answer.
It is time we end the gimmicks and bring real solutions to balance our budget. We must reign in state spending and bring it in line with our revenue – we shouldn’t even be discussing raising taxes. As your State Assemblywoman, I will support a state-spending cap to prohibit spending more money than we bring in. I also support performance based budgeting to ensure state agencies are using our tax dollars effectively and that cost saving measures are rewarded. I also support the creation of a rainy day fund so that our state budget is better prepared to handle future economic downturns.
California taxpayers are among the highest taxes in the country – we do not have a revenue problem. I have signed a pledge to not raise taxes because North County families have to make budget priorities at home – it is time that Sacramento politicians do the same.
Immigration
Illegal Immigration costs California taxpayers billions of dollars every year. It is time to enforce the laws already on the books and end taxpayer-funded handouts to those that are here illegally.
On the Escondido City Council I authored a resolution preventing Escondido from becoming a sanctuary city. I have been an ardent supporter of creating a state boarder police and completing the unfinished boarder fence.
In the State Assembly, I will author legislation to strengthen penalties for businesses that hire illegal immigrants, and fight to prevent our hard earned tax dollars from being spent on services to illegal immigrants.
Transportation
It is time to get San Diego’s freeways moving again. As North County’s population continues to grow, our freeways become more and more congested. Progress has been made in recent years but more needs to be done to improve our highways and roads.
In the State Assembly, I will fight to clear the bureaucratic roadblocks and bring transportation dollars to North County. I will work with regional leaders to ensure that more of our gas tax dollars are returned back to our region.
Public Safety
As an Escondido City Councilwoman, I have been a strong supporter of public safety. I championed the creation of a successful Gang Injunction Program, and have taken a tough stance against child predators. I wrote resolutions to support Jessica’s Law and Megan’s Law to help protect our children and helped collect signatures to place Jessica’s Law on the ballot.
In the State Assembly I will continue to fight to protect our children from gang violence and sexual predators. I will support tougher sentences, including life sentences for one-strike child predators.
