The lone Democrat

Jill Martinez has her work cut out for her. As the lone democratic candidate for the 24th Congressional District, she’s tasked with defeating long-time Republican incumbent Elton Gallegly — a feat some believe isn’t quite possible.

But Martinez, a former Presbyterian pastor and long-time advocate for affordable housing who believes Central Coast residents need to be educated about housing, health care and economic development issues, said she’s only just begun.

She sat down this week to talk to the VC Reporter about her platform, gay marriage and the need for revolutionary change.

VC Reporter: How does your religious background inform your campaign? Do you consider it an asset or does it create hurdles at times?

Jill Martinez: I have been ordained since 1984, so for all these years I have been communicating with the community where I work, hearing concerns and being accessible to people. As a pastor, I think that energizes you — and I am capable of being accessible to people without trying to force them to accept my views. It’s good training for what maybe our politicians should be like. I’m concerned that the incumbent [Elton Gallegly] isn’t responding to the needs of the people and is voting lock-step with the administration. I’m not sure he’s listening.

What are some of the issues you’ve been focusing on?

JM: My work primarily has been in housing, and primarily in affordable housing. I’ve been very focused on moving forward with various processes. I’ve been saying all along that we have to move away from partisanship and just get things done for the American people. My platform is about quality education, accessible healthcare, housing and transportation as it relates to alternative sources of energy and vehicles running on alternative fuels … I look at these priorities and realize we can’t do them as long as we’re in Iraq. The overarching issue is the war in Iraq. The debt ceiling was established in 1918. In the Bush administration, it has been raised four times. It’s $9.6 trillion. We can’t afford that.

How do you think these issues have affected us locally?

JM: What’s happening in our district right now is that we don’t have an educated workforce and costs are absolutely debilitating for our young people. There have been so many cuts, like cuts in Pell grants, which means more young people can’t go to college. Then the healthcare system issue is so important. The costs are crippling our families financially. Prescription medicine is so expensive. It’s about a $1.2 million median price for a home in Santa Barbara. Who can afford that? … You get to working with people who are losing opportunities and you realize you have to deal with the problems.

What do you say to people who think the 24th Congressional District is a lost cause for the Democrats?

JM: The first thing I say is, “We have no option. We have to change.” We cannot be fatalistic.

What is your tactic in dealing with that?

JM: Well, there are 137,000 registered Republicans, 118,000 Democrats and 62,000 who decline to state. I only need 27,000 decline-to-states to win. I’m focusing on that. I believe I have a strong base and I need to get those swing votes — and, for the last 13 years, I have been working with a lot of Republicans to get housing built. I speak the language of Republicans who hold value in business. When I’m talking about quality education, I’m talking about educating a workforce. The barriers put up for the middle class hurt all of us. We have to change Congress.

What is it like running against someone who basically has refused to participate in public debates?

JM: I think it’s very unfortunate that, so far, he [Gallegly] has chosen not to debate. I think he will get to the point where he wants to debate. He doesn’t want to face the constituency but, if he doesn’t, it will continue to hurt him. I think he will have to face the constituency.

What are your thoughts surrounding the initial confusion about his decision to run?

JM: When I first heard he was withdrawing, I was really concerned about his health. I believed he deliberately and thoughtfully made an informed decision. I took him at his word that he was not well and was very concerned for him and his family. He said it was the phone calls from the president and Karl Rove that really affected him and that he got a clean bill of health from another doctor. I think he needs to explain to the community what his illness is and how he can continue to serve. Everyone is still asking a lot of questions about that because the people he represents deserve that. He needs to answer the questions. If anything about his situation can be communicated, let’s do it and get it done.

What are your views on hot-button issues like abortion and gay rights?

JM: The Presbyterian denomination has been a pro-choice denomination for years and years. There are entities that come to the association to change that stance … As a spiritual person and a spiritual adviser, and being involved in decision-making at that level, I’m aware of the importance of a woman’s right to choose. On gay rights, I have a different experience and background — but the short answer is that it’s a matter of civil rights. These people have lifetime commitments to each other and I think there has to be a way for them to retain their rights. In terms of religious ceremonies, that decision needs to remain with the various religious orders. I think it’s unfortunate that this has become such a divisive issue. In our denomination, [Reverend] Jane Spahr [a Presbyterian lesbian activist] performed two same-sex unions … I also stand with a lot of the leadership in our denomination who say ‘I’m old fashioned in that people who love each other and are committed to each other ought to get married.’ I don’t think it’s for the public arena or about a constitutional amendment. The federal government shouldn’t be in anybody’s bedroom.

Any parting words?

JM: I think it’s important that we change what’s going on. I have no intention of being a career politician — but I want to make change happen now.