‘Best Legislator’ Mike Morrell Sets Sights on State Senate

Assemblymember Mike Morrell (R – Rancho Cucamonga), voted the People’s Choice Best Legislator by the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, is in the March 25 race for a seat in California’s Senate District 23. Morrell, first elected as 40th District Assemblymember in 2010, seeks the seat left vacant by Sen. Bill Emmerson (R – Redlands) covering San Bernardino County areas from Rancho Cucamonga, Wrightwood and Big Bear Lake, including parts of Redlands and San Bernardino and some portions of Riverside County. The constituency is approximately 1 million residents. “It’s a duty to leave the Inland Empire a better place for future generations,” Morrell said. He hopes to achieve four goals: job creation, reduction of government regulation in business, raising state educational standards and the elimination of early release of convicted felons. “I view government or politicians as really not the job creators, but entrepreneurs are,” said Morrell, a business owner of 25 years. “The only thing I can do as a politician is move government out of the way, because what stops businesses from opening is usually government – too [many] regulations or high taxes.” Morrell maintained he works to help his constituents. He explained he and his staff have created programs to establish small businesses and create jobs in his District, including a hotline where businesses can contact Morrell directly concerning hindrance of business establishment or expansion. Morrell also wants to raise state educational standards. This year Morrell and his staff worked with the San Bernardino City Unified School District to re-establish federal funding for the school district’s special education programs and re-hire over 400 employees laid off due to budget cuts. “Returning decision-making power to local districts, as we took steps to do this year, will help improve the mess created by Sacramento and Washington, D.C.,” Morrell said. He jointly sponsored Assembly Bill 51, which would offer California State University students studying STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and math) the opportunity to earn bachelor’s degrees for $10,000.“But at the same time, I believe our problems require a return to basic foundational principles,” Morrell said. “We must lay the groundwork for mastering effective writing and public speaking — all skills necessary for a well-rounded and prepared workforce. Most importantly, we must also become champions of parental involvement.” Additionally, he’s vocal against early release for criminals. In December 2013, findings were published by non-partisan Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) regarding public safety realignment and statewide crime rates. Realignment sentenced lower-level offenders to county jails rather than state prisons, shifting responsibility for parolees from the state to its counties. The report found California’s crime rates increased between 2011 and 2012, with violent crime rising by 3.4 percent and property crime by 7.6 percent. The rates vary across the state with the state’s 10 largest counties generally seeing greater increases in crime than the state overall, according to the study. In response, Republicans in the state Assembly introduced over 10 reforms to this policy. Morrell said the report “further proves that realignment poses a serious risk to communities across the state, and particularly here in the Inland Empire. With the study suggesting that any additional transfer of felons to our streets is expected to have even greater impacts on crimes, the majority party and Governor can no longer ignore the problem and continue to play wait-and-see, while more crimes are committed. To do so would be inexcusable and irresponsible. It’s time to take action and make our neighborhoods safe again.” Morrell also emphasizes recognition of community members and organizations working to improve their areas, including active women and local veterans. In 2013, Morrell proposed Assembly Concurrent Resolution 94 to applaud the Boy Scouts for its commitment to youth. The commendation came in the wake of controversy surrounding the organization’s denial of membership based on sexual or religious views were made public. Morrell’s resolution was killed by vote but an alternative bill authored by Assemblyman Mike Feuer (D – Los Angeles) commending the organization but urging it not to discriminate was passed. “One wise man once said that you can accomplish a lot if you don’t care who gets credit for it,” Morrell said. “I think the thing is that there’s a lot you can do … you’ve got to be prudent, pick your spots.” Other candidates running for the Senate seat are Libertarian Jeff Hewitt, Mayor Pro Tem of Calimesa, who views “the most pressing issue in the state” as the “inability of the legislature to roll back the regulatory shackles that have been amassed over the past 40 years,” as well as realignment, which Hewitt said has overwhelmed local law enforcement; and Democrat Ameenah Fuller, a government and health care consultant in Rancho Cucamonga, who seeks to reduce unemployment rates “through effective policies that promote small businesses, retraining of displaced workers, and supporting veterans,” and sees a “new direction” in healthcare that “will open a window of opportunities pertaining to retraining by earning certificates in technical fields and increasing the marketable of workers.”