MONTEREY, Calif. & BAY AREA, Calif. & SANTA CRUZ, Calif. & SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - AussieJournal -- This is my personal opinion but know that I do have a dog in the hunt.  I'm Chairman of the Monterey County Republican Party.  I've seen some less-than-stellar candidates over the years, including late-to-the-party amateurs.

Thankfully, Pete isn't one of them and that's why I unequivocally offered my support to his campaign.

First, let's take quick stock of Verbica, the candidate.  Then, we'll look at the current incumbent and why change is so drastically needed for a nearly bankrupt California which has the middle class and businesses moving out in droves.

First, the candidate.  Peter Coe "Pete" Verbica is a Certified Financial Planner®, business owner, and father of four who believes public service should reflect common sense and real-world experience.

For decades, Pete has helped families and small business owners navigate inflation, rising costs, and economic uncertainty. As a financial professional and entrepreneur, he understands how federal policy directly affects working Californians — from taxes and retirement security to small business growth.

Pete believes Congress should reflect the practical center of California voters: fiscal discipline, secure and transparent elections, fairness in women's sports, and careful oversight when it comes to irreversible medical decisions involving minors. Compassion and guardrails are not opposites — they are both necessary.

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Grounded in experience and accountability, Pete Verbica offers steady, thoughtful leadership focused on fairness, responsibility, and restoring trust in government.

Why change is needed.  We need a Common-Sense Standard for Congress.

Most Californians are practical. They believe in fairness, equal opportunity, and compassion — but they also believe in guardrails.

On several high-profile issues, statewide polling shows majorities favor reasonable safeguards.

In Santa Cruz, Monterey, and Santa Clara counties, the press routinely frames liberal incumbents as rule-minding Santa Clauses, while discounting the market discipline that actually generates growth and opportunity.

For better or worse, this perspective is not reflected by other candidates in the field, especially the current incumbent. Let's look at the facts.

Women's Sports

H.R. 28 (119th Congress, 2025) – Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act

Purpose: Restrict participation in women's sports at federally funded institutions to individuals whose sex at birth is female.

Rep. Jimmy Panetta reportedly voted "No."

(See U.S. House Roll Call Vote No. 12, 119th Congress, 1st Session — Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives; Congress.gov bill record for H.R. 28.)

Statewide polling in California has shown majority support for requiring athletes to compete based on sex assigned at birth.

Voter Identification / Proof of Citizenship

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H.R. 22 (119th Congress, 2025) – Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act

Purpose: Require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.

Rep. Jimmy Panetta reportedly voted "No."

(See U.S. House Roll Call Vote No. 118, 119th Congress — Clerk of the U.S. House; Congress.gov bill record for H.R. 22.)

Statewide surveys in California have shown strong majority support for voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements.

Gender-Affirming Care for Minors

H.R. 3492 (118th Congress, 2025) – Protect Children's Innocence Act

Purpose: Criminalize certain gender-affirming medical procedures for minors.

Rep. Jimmy Panetta reportedly voted "No."

(See U.S. House Roll Call Vote No. 412, 118th Congress — Clerk of the U.S. House; Congress.gov bill record for H.R. 3492.)

Public opinion polling in California on youth medical transition policy is mixed, with some surveys showing majority support for age restrictions, though views vary by region and party.

Let's be clear.  The record shows that the current incumbent is clearly out of touch with a majority of Californians.  Let's make a change for the better.  Let's get Pete Verbica elected to CD19.

(Photo credit of Point Lobos: (c) 2019 by Peter Verbica.)

Paid for by Verbica for Congress.