The California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED) board of directors interviewed Honorable Sheriff Chad Bianco about his positions and proposals on a range of economic issues facing the state. Bianco was elected Riverside County Sheriff in 2018 and was re-elected in 2022. He is running as a Republican to become California’s next governor.
This meeting resulted from CALED’s outreach to all major party candidates to meet with its leadership and discuss their positions on economic development issues faced by local communities. Bianco is the third candidate to participate, and meetings with others are anticipated over the next few months.
The sheriff described California’s businesses as “the lifeblood of any community,” and emphasized his plan to reduce regulations, support workforce development programs and give more control to local governments.
“We are by far the most business-regulated state in the country,” said Bianco. “Control has to be given back to cities and counties. All of the regulations that are different than those in other states are preventing businesses from coming here, or are driving businesses to other states.”
Bianco, who has spent 32 years in public safety, presented himself as a champion of deregulation and someone who will work quickly to cut red tape at the state level. He spoke of his own difficulties in getting the attention of state lawmakers to help solve issues in his county, and expressed frustration that he and Riverside County needed to hire lobbyists to advocate for their constituents.
“The regulations that have been put in place, the power that’s been taken away from local government and taken to the state, is truly harming Riverside County government’s ability for economic development,” said Bianco.
“The state is not supposed to be running local government, but it has that umbrella of the overall economic tax money that, when it has to help, it can,” added Bianco. That’s how government was designed and how people expect government to operate.”
While on the campaign trail, Bianco said he has spoken to many small business owners who are struggling to find skilled workers. He expressed support for state-matched grants to fund local community investments, workforce development initiatives and to see manufacturers return to California.
“We no longer train welding, electrical skills or building trades in our educational system,” said Bianco. He advocates for more vocational training programs that treat students as “future employees.”
“It’s not that businesses don’t like California, it’s that they don’t like the policies,” said Bianco. “They don’t like the government. They don’t like the regulations. They don’t like the taxes. If we don’t fix those issues, we are never going to bring more manufacturing into our state. We’ll just drive more out.”
In response to a question about housing, he called the term affordable housing a “misnomer.” Bianco argues that the reason homes are so expensive in California is that state and local laws drive up the cost for builders to build homes in the state, and that cutting restrictions will lower the cost of homes.
On homelessness, Bianco described himself as a “unique” candidate because of his law enforcement leadership experience. “Skid Row…will be gone within four years with me as your governor,” pledged Bianco, who proposed addressing drug addiction and mental illness as root causes and then shifting spending to redevelopment efforts.
Bianco concluded his thoughts on the benefits of local economic development. “Some communities don’t have any development, and they truly should. That’s how we’re successful, that’s how you grow and how you make your local [community] better. It’s what brings in more people to make you the best.”