Comments
INTERVIEW -
Former Democratic legislator who served as California Senate Majority Leader believes it’s time to take the country in a better direction.
In a free-wheeling interview that covered the current presidential race as well as examining the soul of the California Democratic Party, former legislative icon Gloria Romero has officially left the Democrats for greener pastures as a reform Republican concentrating on the issues closest to her heart which begin with school choice, charter schools and opportunity scholarships for the poor and disadvantaged.
In a press conference earlier this month, Romero made it official by re-registering with a party that has been in the political wilderness for the better part of two decades.
While more interested in policy reform than elective office, Romero did not rule out another run as a Republican.
“Never say never,” noted the veteran Sacramento legislator.
For the core issues of crime, public safety and school choice will remain at the top of her political agenda.
Romero has officially endorsed former President Donald J Trump and met him recently for a few moments to discuss her party switch and his race for the White House.
Calling him a “blue collar billionaire,” Romero described Trump as chatty and quick-witted, and seems to be constructing a different Republican Party.
Romero was highly critical of the special interest influence of the teacher union lobby within the Democratic Party and sees it as the primary detriment to educational reform in California as well as the rest of the nation.
Describing the current Democratic Party as a collection of “coastal elites,” versus a coalition for the working class, Romero believes Democrats are controlled by Hollywood money and high tech, while Republicans are far more representative of average American workers and the middle class.
Romero noted her humble roots, and believes education is still the best ticket to economic prosperity. A retired professor emeritus at Cal-State Los Angeles, she sees herself as a classical, old school liberal in the image of Robert F Kennedy and his brother, former President John F Kennedy.
A former ACLU board member, Romero is pro-choice and believes today’s Democratic Party left her.
Describing her frustrations in the same vein as former Democrat and US Representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, now a Trump surrogate; Romero would be interested in serving in a federal capacity within the Department of Education if offered in a second Trump White House.
Romero noted that 50% of all state spending is on education, but things are not improving here in California.
“Investing in public education is investing in America. We need to end this senseless grift of tax dollars.”
Romero’s own political transformation began in 2022 during the California gubernatorial recall election that saw her endorse talk radio personality, author and attorney Larry Elder, an independent conservative.
Romero referred to the recent non-endorsement by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union evidence that workers are reevaluating political allegiances once reserved for Democrats.
“60% of union members are ignoring the preferences of their leadership which makes a Republican rebound possible.”
While making no predictions, Romero observed that the political ground game for Republicans needs to improve.
“Early voting has changed campaigns and Republicans need to adapt to the rules.”
Saying she will do her part to build a new GOP, Romero noted that Democratic party registration is also on the decline.
Regarding the election for the US Senate, Romero has not endorsed anyone to date and expects Representative Adam Schiff to win handily.
“I know Adam and I believe we served together in Sacramento. He’s a nice person.”
Regarding Proposition 36, Romero is an advocate for the initiative that amends and adds sections to the Health and Safety Code and the Penal Code, that reforms laws that have dramatically increased homelessness, drug addiction and theft throughout California.
“The current system does not work.”
In the battle for Los Angeles District Attorney, while no endorsement or outreach has occurred, she described the incumbent George Gascon as a “disaster and failure.”
Regarding Gascon’s opponent, Nathan Hochman, a 2022 GOP candidate for California attorney general and now a registered independent, Romero observed that the challenger is running a viable race and should win come November 5th.
But Romero left her biggest criticisms for Vice-President Kamala Harris, who served as a US Senator and California Attorney General.
Describing her as “unimpressive,” Romero viewed the Harris record as AG lacking “any reasonable reform.”
In fact, Romero referred to her prison reform policies as actually targeting the poor, Latinos and African-American women.
Regarding public education, the level of proficiency and truancy was never addressed and accused Harris of pitching herself to teacher unions and not being a leader for educational reform.
Romero was highly critical in the way Harris assumed the Democratic Party’s nomination for the US presidency after the abrupt decision by President Joe Biden to drop his bid for a second term after a disastrous debate performance with Trump last June.
Calling the presidential primary process “invalidated,” Romero stated Democrats were “no longer the party of democracy.”
She described the nomination switch from Biden to Harris as “ballot obstruction,” and thought the process was similar to a third world, banana republic, a last minute selection that lacked any credibility.
This sentiment coming from a former delegate for Jesse Jackson in 1984 and a twice selected delegate for President Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012.
Romero also served as a California co-chair to Obama’s reelection.
And while still politically engaged, it is public education reform and bolstering the charter school movement that keeps the Malibu resident hopeful for the future of California and the country.
According to her Wikipedia profile, Romero is a former California State Senator from 2001 until 2010 and was the Democratic majority leader of the California State Senate from 2005 until 2008, and was the first woman to hold that leadership position. Romero grew up in Barstow, one of six children. Her father worked in the railroad yards and her mother, who left school after sixth grade, stayed home and raised the kids. Romero received her associate's degree from Barstow Community College before going on to earn a B.A. and an M.A. from California State University, Long Beach and a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of California, Riverside.
She taught at state universities and served as a trustee and vice president of the board of trustees of the Los Angeles Community College District.
Romero was elected to the California State Assembly in 1998 and to the Senate in 2001. She represented the 24th district, which included East Los Angeles, as well as a major part of the San Gabriel Valley, including the cities of Azusa, Baldwin Park, Covina, Duarte, El Monte, City of Industry, Irwindale, La Puente, Monterey Park, Rosemead, West Covina and Whittier.
In 2008, Romero stepped down as Majority Leader and became chairman of the Senate Education Committee. In that position she authored and guided to passage a fiercely contested, ‘parent trigger’ law which allows a majority of parents in a "failing school" to vote on a method to restructure the district.
Romero’s daughter is Soledad Ursua, a member of the Venice Neighborhood Council and longtime local activist on the issues of public safety and homelessness.
(Nick Antonicello is a thirty-one year resident of California and covers the politics of the Westside of Los Angeles and specifically Venice. Have a take or a tip? Contact him via e-mail at [email protected]).
