Meet Jacqueline McGowan, marijuana lobbyist running in the California governor recall election

Name: Jacqueline McGowan

Political party: Democrat

Residence: Napa

Occupation: Cannabis consultant and organizer

Education: I went straight from high school to work in the finance industry.

Experience: I have been engaged with California’s regulators and legislators on cannabis, small business, and social justice issues since 2014. Before this, I spent 18 years working in finance on Wall Street.

Website: jackie4gov.org

What precautions, if any, should California continue to take to cope with COVID-19 and its variants?

Obviously, at minimum, we should follow the guidelines laid out by the CDC. We also need to increase vaccine availability to our most vulnerable and underserved populations, including low income urban areas, rural counties, and homeless populations.

Protections and support for California’s front line workers, essential industries, and people with disabilities who are unable to vaccinate will be essential in keeping our economy moving until it’s safe for all of us to get back to work.

I will follow the science, not partisan politicization of the issue.

California provided cash support to individuals and small businesses during the pandemic. To what extent should that assistance continue?

The government’s responsibility is to the safety and health of California’s citizens, especially in times of crisis. As governor, until I have the spread of COVID-19 completely controlled I will have a duty to make sure that small businesses and vulnerable citizens have the resources they need they weather these times and safely rebuild afterward.

Businesses also need regulatory relief. Constant moving targets stop businesses from being able to reopen. A restaurant can’t stock it’s fridges if they can’t don’t know how long to keep the food, whether they’ll have staff, or even be able to open the doors tomorrow. We need consistent direction for businesses at the city, county and state level.

What more would you do to address California’s housing crisis?

We need to address root causes of our stalled housing market. On the supply side I will incentivize high density housing and remove unnecessary impediments and costs for construction. I will act to eliminate red tape and NIMBYism across the state keeping our housing market stagnant while our population increases.

What should California do to build up its middle class?

Easing restrictions on small businesses is the first, most important step I will take on Day 1. The regulations meant to keep large businesses and corporations accountable to the community are choking growth of those communities’ own local economy. Cannabis regulation is just one example California crafting an industry where only big money interests can survive the permitting process.

Small, locally owned businesses are key to a resilient economy. Shifting our economic and regulatory incentives to focus on small businesses builds wealth in our middle class, keeps the most wealthy businesses accountable, and makes our whole economy more sustainable.

Would you propose any new policies to address climate change?

I’m not a climate scientist, but I do live on Earth. As the head of the 5th largest economy in the world, I will be committed to updating California’s infrastructure to lead the world in sustainability and resilience.

I will address outdated water policies that don’t reflect the current reality of the impacts of climate change.

I will increase funding to forest management to proactively address the yearly increase in fire danger.

What should California do in the long term to address wildfire and drought conditions?

California needs to develop partnerships in an effort to reduce the ladder fuels that carry fire and reduce overall fuel loads per acre starting at the rural-urban interface. This will result in less intense, more manageable fires and lower risk for our firefighters. This policy will create jobs, save lives and property, and create a healthier environment for Californians.

For 20 years, we have had recurring droughts. We must be proactive. As Governor, I would push to build more water recycling plants, new desalinization plants, and increase rainwater harvesting and greywater.

Though California reservoirs are at 40%, there are no statewide restrictions. Communities in Sonoma County, Mendocino, Siskiyou, and Tulare counties face water shortages while urban areas to the south face voluntary restrictions. Residents of Teviston are forced to rely on bottled water. Our distribution system transports water the length of the state, leaving smaller communities dry.

This story was originally published August 12, 2021 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Meet Jacqueline McGowan, marijuana lobbyist running in the California governor recall election."