Michael Gates, the previous Huntington Seashore metropolis legal professional who spent his tenure as a staunch antagonist to California’s liberal politics, is operating for state legal professional common as a part of a slate with Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton.
Gates, 50, introduced the launch of his marketing campaign for the state’s high legislation enforcement job throughout an occasion on the Huntington Seashore Pier on Wednesday flanked by Hilton, former state Senate Majority Chief Gloria Romero, who’s operating alongside Hilton for lieutenant governor, and a trove of supporters.
“California has the best price of dwelling and the best taxes, that are crushing households, and Sacramento elites preserve scheming for tactics to lift our taxes whereas leaving our streets unsafe for our households and our companies,” Gates stated. “Sacramento has confirmed that it’s utterly out of contact with on a regular basis Californians.”
Gates’ speech launching his marketing campaign struck an identical tone to the messaging he employed in his position as Huntington Seashore metropolis legal professional, the place he positioned himself in direct opposition to the state’s Democratic leaders, together with Gov. Gavin Newsom and present Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta.
Bonta this week introduced he was operating for reelection, opting to not run for California governor. As legal professional common, Bonta has sued the Trump administration greater than 50 occasions, calling the president’s insurance policies “vicious, inhumane, illegal” and, in lots of circumstances, unconstitutional.
Gates, a lifelong Republican, was first elected as Huntington Seashore metropolis legal professional in 2014 and was reelected twice. He held the position till final yr, when he was appointed as a deputy assistant legal professional common within the Division of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. After a 10-month stint with the federal authorities, Gates introduced he had resigned the put up so he may spend extra time together with his household. He was rehired to work as an assistant metropolis legal professional in Huntington Seashore.
Throughout his tenure with town, Gates engaged in authorized tussles with the state over voter identification, housing mandates, immigration and different points with combined outcomes.
Lately, town efficiently sued the state to recoup tens of millions of {dollars} in redevelopment company mortgage cash from a waterfront growth and an inexpensive senior housing undertaking.
However authorized fights over voter identification and housing have been much less fruitful. Final yr, the 4th District Courtroom of Enchantment struck down Huntington Seashore’s legislation that might require residents to indicate an ID to solid their poll in native elections.
The town’s authorized battle over housing necessities was additionally delivered a blow final yr when the state Supreme Courtroom refused to evaluation an appellate courtroom ruling within the state’s favor compelling town to stick to state mandates for inexpensive housing. Huntington Seashore had argued its designation as a constitution metropolis exempted them from the state’s directives.
“This man, Michael Gates, he’s the fighter we want for California,” Hilton stated on Wednesday, drawing cheers from the group. “ higher than anybody as a result of he led that revolution proper right here in Huntington Seashore.”
