Posted on 10/14/2011 2:18:14 PM PDT by CounterCounterCulture
Good-bye, California, I'm going to Texas
Its hard to say good-bye perhaps au revoir is better (till we meet again).
As some of my friends know, our family has been caring for my aged in-laws, 86 and 82. As with many people who have seen a full life of war and work and raising a family, they need our help. This assistance has consumed our whole family in fact, its the toughest thing and the most important thing weve done, even more so than running for statewide office.
In addition, as with many in the Golden State, I have found it hard to earn enough to support my family. My old aerospace clientele has fled to greener, less-expensive pastures. Combined with the drain on our savings caused by six years of public service in the Assembly, we have come to the reluctant conclusion that it is time to move.
The good news is that there are still other places in America where the taxes are lower and the regulations less onerous than here in California, my home for most of the past 36 years.
One such place is Texas.
It is there, I am pleased to announce, that I have accepted a position as Senior Visiting Scholar for Fiscal Policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. My first order of business is to write a book on the Texas Model of how low taxes and low government spending, a light and predictable regulatory environment, respect for property rights, and a business-friendly legal climate has turned Texas into Americas jobs generating dynamo. (In fact, as part of my research, Ive noted that almost 2 million Californians moved out of the Golden State in the past ten years Texas, with no income tax, having received the largest number of Californians.)
Believe me, with what I know about California, having been the chief Republican on the Assemblys tax writing committee, Texas is a vastly different land in regards to public policy.
As for the campaign for Orange County Supervisor, well be winding that down and refunding the surplus to our supporters. This process will take a month or two, but everyone who contributed should get something back.
Im expecting that a successful businessperson, someone with a strong record in promoting fiscally responsible policies, will soon step forward to run for the important office of Orange County Supervisor. When that person emerges, I expect that youll know who it is and that they have my full support.
Im hoping, that in some modest, tangible way, California today has a bit more economic freedom, a slightly lighter tax burden, a little less government spending, a few less business-killing regulations and more jobs in short, more liberty because of my time in the arena.
California is in a precarious position. Years of overspending, overregulation, and generous payouts to strong public employee unions have left the Golden State gasping for air. Just last week it was revealed that Californias budget revenue is falling some $705 million short of estimates made just a few short months ago in the first quarter of the new fiscal year.
I hope to keep in touch with yall (Im practicing for Texas).
If I dont respond right away to calls and emails, its because I have 200 pages to write and nothing concentrates the mind like a deadline.
I wish you all the best and hope to see the great state of California turn things around and prosper with one-eighth of Americans living in California, America needs a strong and an economically vital California.
All the best,
Chuck DeVore
Sad news ping.
Losing another good Californian.
He’s just setting up a run for the Senate in a state more hospitable to conservative politicians... I hope.
If the NE and Eastern Dems could do it to the West Coast,, turnabout is fair play.
Thanks for standing tall, Chuck. Good luck!
Welcome to Texas Chuck but be aware that Austin (where TPPF is located) is our little slice of California. For the real deal try Dallas or Ft. Worth or, better yet, Amarillo, Midland, or Lubbock.
What happens when there is nothing left in the swamp but leeches?
They start feeding on one another.
Gainesville, Muenster, Nocona, St. Jo are also ‘real Texas’..
The NEW ballad of Jed Clampett
Come and listen to a story ‘bout a man named Jed
Poor oil entrepreneur barely kept his family fed
Then one day he was working for some food,
And up through the town come a bumbling clown
(Brown that is, take a toke, what a joke)
Well the first thing you know old Jed’s taxes are to much to bear,
Kin folk said Jed move away from there!
Said California is no place for you to be
So they loaded up the truck and they moved from Beverly
(gon back to the Hills they are, fishn holes, country and western stars)
Well now it’s time to say goodbye to Jed and all his kin
They would like to thank you folks for kindly dropping in
You’re all invited back again to their new locality
To have a heaping helping of their hospitality
(Redneck Hillbillies, is what the press call ‘em now,
Clingers of bibles and guns and to Obama no bow!
Nice folks Y’all come back now, ya hear?)
Posting this just so Texas knows what they’re gaining... :-)
From 2004 to 2010, Chuck represented almost 500,000 in the California State Assembly in much the same territory. He was the Vice Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation.
In 2010, Chuck competed for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, earning more than 450,000 votes and raising more than $2.5 million.
Chuck has been honored as the Legislator of the Year by seven groups: the California Veterans of Foreign Wars, the California chapter of the American Legion, the California State Commanders Veterans Council, an umbrella organization of 19 veterans groups, the Southern California Contractors Association, the Young Republican Federation of California, the California College Republicans, and the Republican Party of Orange County. United Way of Orange County recognized Chuck in 2006 for his legislation improving childcare. In 2010, the Americanism Educational League named recognized him with their American Spirit Award.
Chuck worked in the aerospace industry for 13 years and was vice president of research before leaving work to begin serving as an elected official.
Chuck served as a Reagan White House appointee in the Pentagon from 1986 to 1988. As Special Assistant for Foreign Affairs his duties included working with Congress to advance the President’s foreign and military policy.
From 1988 to 1990, Chuck served as Congressman Chris Cox’s Senior Assistant.
From 1991 to 1996, Chuck served as a City Commissioner for the City of Irvine. He was Chairman of the city’s Community Services Commission.
In 1983, Chuck enlisted in the United States Army Reserve. He earned an ROTC scholarship that allowed him to attend Claremont McKenna College where he graduated with honors with a degree in Strategic Studies in 1985 and was commissioned an officer. He also studied overseas at the American University in Cairo, Egypt. After more than 24 years of active reserve service, Chuck retired from the Army National Guard. He is now a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army (retired) Reserve. A graduate of the U.S. Army’s Command and General Staff College, his awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster, and others.
Since age 19, Chuck has been an active volunteer for the Republican Party, serving in the leadership of several organizations. He was elected to the Orange County Republican Party Central Committee in 1992 and was reelected four times. Chuck was Chairman of the Ethics Committee.
In 2004, The Claremont Institute named Chuck a Lincoln Fellow.
Chuck and his wife Diane were married in 1988. They have two daughters. Diane is a credentialed teacher and a member of the Federation of Republican Women.
You all need to come to Missouri :)
I’m a Realtor and could find you property with acreage....lots and lots of acreage. At a reasonable price.
Time for us to start solidifying a solid, geographical area.
Would send this to Chuck Devore..but he’s not a freeper is he?
Any place but Austin. San Antonio is also a fine place to live.
Garden variety assembly members make $95K. Cry me a river, Chuck!
Too bad, but it left a sour taste in my mouth. I could have given him some whopper ammo.
He’s already accepted a position in Tejas, but thanks anyway. :-)
I wish him the very best.
I was in the aerospace industry (alluded to in the statement/letter) up until 1993. CA was rocking in that industry and then...
Lord how times change. One of our sales reps lived in San Diego area (Mission Viejo sp) back then but he got out around 1995 and moved here to Missouri. He saw the writing on the wall.
Read an article a few years ago that the Porn industry took over many areas that were formerly aerospace real estate. Disgusting. Mr DeVore is wise in leaving. We might as well forget CA; it’s officially a lost cause.
Ouch! “Texas Public Policy Foundation” is in Austin. Is our friend a bit of a redneck? I have RN friends in Austin, and there are some righteous places to live around the outsides of Austin if you know where to look...Austin is the San Fran of Texas.
Chuck DeVore, a Perry supporter, was pro-Trans-Texas Corridor superhighway from Mexico into Texas, and like Perry, does not support a common sense border fence.
DeVore wrote in September:
Last weeks Republican Presidential debate confirmed one thing: Texas Governor Rick Perrys main challenge in winning the Republican nomination will be his ability to explain his record on illegal immigration as governor.
____________________________________________________________
Guess what Mr. Devore, Perry lost is butt due to pandering to illegal aliens, and will never be elected President of the U.S.
8 years of Bush’s open borders was quite enough.
Maybe Mr. Perry will give Mr. Devore a job counting illegal aliens, when Mr. Perry is sent back to Texas for good.
Good luck!
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