Biography - Tony Castro For Fullerton City Council

Tony Castro was Born and raised in the city of Orange in Orange County California. He attended Orange High School and Graduated 20 years ago in 2002. In 1999, Tony attended and graduated from a High School R.O.P program with an emphasis on automotive career. R.O.P. stands for Regional Opportunities Program. During the R.O.P. program, Tony Castro serves his internship at Collins Auto Care in the city of Orange, California. Ruben, the owner of Collins Auto Care, got Tony a job at Ed Dicken's Union 76 after completing the internship. Tony Castro was only 15 years old when he started working full time. John Hanberg, the director of the R.O.P. program encouraged Tony to attend Cypress College's T-Ten program to pursue a career as a computer diagnostic auto technician for Toyota. In 2003, he attended Cypress College and graduated from the T-Ten Toyota Technical Education Network and got hired by North County Toyota. In August of 2004 he returned to Cypress College to study political science. He discovered his strong interest in the study of politics in his introductory American Government class. His enthusiasm for this subject was sparked by a discovery that politics does not have to be about money and power games, but should be about making a positive difference in the world. While attending Cypress College he became the treasurer then became the president of the student government. He was also the founder and president of the scholarship club and the president of the political science club. He also became the co-coordinator for Rescue Education California which successfully blocked the tuition hikes in 2005. His goal was to finish community college, earn his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees in Political Science, become a university professor, and inspire young people to change the world for the better. The tragedy is that this academically promising young man was side tracked from this meaningful goal. After a semester or two, because of unaffordable education costs, and the rising cost of living in Southern California, he was forced to return back to the workforce as a manager for the California Democratic Party in Stanton California, then went to work for the Carpenters Union Local 803 in the city of Orange. Tony Castro was raised in a union home with a union family and with union values. After a decade of working labor intensive jobs, He returned to community college to study computer science at the Digital Media Center at Santa Ana College. He also managed congressional campaigns for progressive, non-corporate democratic candidates. He graduated from Santiago Canyon College in Orange, California from the Web Associate program. He continued his passion for politics fighting for social, economic, and environmental justice and human rights. He was a leader in a campaign that sponsored an initiative to implement an Oil Extraction Fee at the statewide level in California to help fund public education. Tony has fought for education at the state Capitol in Sacramento all as volunteer work. It is now time for him to utilize his two decades of experience to serve the people of Fullerton. Tony Castro refuses corporate donations for his campaign so he can be free to fight for the people. 

Political Philosophy

On the political ideological spectrum, Tony Castro falls to the left of liberals, placing him and his political views as progressive populist. In simpler terms, Tony Castro is a life long democrat and a high propensity voter. He voted in every election he has ever been eligible to vote in. Just to be clear, liberals are democrats, left of the middle of the road, on the political ideological spectrum. Tony Castro's past political hero is the late Professor Paul Wellstone, Senator of Minnesota. He is Tony Castro's hero for getting elected with absolutely no corporate money for his campaign. Tony Castro's present political heroes are Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and Professor Peter Mathews.  They all have a lot in common. But the one thing Tony Castro admires most about all three of his current political heroes is that none of them accepted money from corporate lobbyists for their campaigns. They have all played an important role in grooming Tony Castro's ideology about politics and how government should be run. Political studies show that candidates who accept corporate donations for their campaign. End up voting for their corporate sponsors interest at least 80% of the time and not in the interest of the voters. Tony Castro refuses corporate donation for his campaign so he can be free to fight for the people, union values and small businesses.

About Tony Castro For Fullerton City Council

Tony Castro discovered his strong interest in the study of politics in his introductory American Government class, at Cypress College, in 2004. His enthusiasm for this subject was sparked by a discovery that politics does not have to be about money and power games, but should be about making a positive difference in the world. Since then, he became the treasurer then the president of the associated student body at Cypress College, became the co-coordinator for Rescue Education California and worked for the California Democratic Party in Orange County. He also managed congressional campaigns for candidates who refuse corporate donations, he volunteered to teach elementary and junior high kids about leadership in politics and other subjects like digital media. He has been recognized in several media sources including the Orange County Excelsior, Press Telegram, Fox 40, Univision and other local radio, print and T.V. news media. During his involvement with Rescue Education California, they successfully contributed in blocking the tuition hike for higher education, in 2005. He worked against the Arnold Schwarzenegger special election in 2005 with (V.E.R.F.) the Voter Education Registration Fund. A satellite operation in Orange County formed by the California Democratic Party. In 2011, he participated in an oil extraction fee initiative campaign to bring funding for education in California. The state wide Oil Extraction Fee Initiative on crude oil that he was involved with would have brought new revenue to the state of California. Enough revenue to make California colleges and universities affordable all the way through medical school. He recently managed a non corporate congressional campaign during the 2022 June primary election. He has been politically involved, on the non corporate side of politics, for the last two decades. It is now time for him to apply all his experience and knowledge to help get himself elected against a corrupted and corporate influenced City Council in Fullerton.

Top Three Priorities When Elected To Fullerton City Council

Tony Castro's top three priorities when elected are:

1. End homelessness with Housing First. A program that permanently houses homeless people first then addresses mental health and substance abuse issues.

2. Rent Control to avoid more homelessness, poverty, and crime in Fullerton and surrounding areas.

3. Infrastructure in Fullerton needs to be repaired and updated to advance Fullerton into a smart infrastructure city. It is desperately needed and overdue. The first pipes in Fullerton were built in the early 1900's. Tony Castro has a bold funding mechanism that would bring new revenue to the City of Fullerton. Which does not include increasing property or sales taxes.

Addressing Pensions And Other Post-Employment Benefit Costs

In 2019, Fullerton had a $31,000,000 surplus in the citywide budget. Three years later, In 2022 it plummeted to a whopping $5,000,000 surplus. Some would blame it on the pandemic. What a  convenient way to hide corruption at the local level. The citywide budget is higher today than it was in 2019. So where did the money go? That is something Tony Castro would immediately investigate when elected. Tony Castro would first address rising pensions and other post-employment benefit costs by properly using the current budget and eliminating waste such as slush funds, if the Fullerton City Council does receive slush funds. On top of that, Tony Castro has a bold funding mechanism that would immediately bring new revenue to the City of Fullerton. Tony Castro found active oil wells in Fullerton being pumped by Breitburn Operating LP Corporation. Tony would implement an oil extraction fee on crude oil being pumped out of Fullerton's soil. He would propose a 25% oil extraction fee and restrict thee corporations from passing the cost on to the consumer. This would bring new revenue that some how never got addressed by the Fullerton City Council. How did the Fullerton City Council miss this? Are they receiving oil money contributions for their campaigns? Is it possible they are influenced by corporations through corporate donations to their political campaigns? Since Tony Castro refuses corporate donations, He Is free to fight for the people and best interest of Fullerton. 

The Best Way To Build More Affordable Housing In Fullerton

Fullerton needs Rent Control to address needed housing. Rising rents will only cause more homelessness, poverty and crime in and around Fullerton.

How Fullerton Should Deal With Homelessness

Tony Castro would follow the Housing First model in Utah. It seems to be working efficiently and cost effectively. "Housing First" means permanently housing homeless people first then addressing mental health and substance abuse issues.

Tony Castro Is Not Satisfied With The Level Of Police Accountability In Fullerton

Tony Castro's plan for the Fullerton Police Department is to: demilitarize the police, implement community based policing, and implement a civilian review unit. Demilitarize the police does not mean defund the police. It means they should not have military grade weapons and equipment. Community based policing means to hire police officers that live within and around the community. Take them out of their cars and have them walk around the city and talk to the community and be friends with the community. Fullerton would have to hire people that live in Fullerton to police the city. Fullerton would also need to hire people who live in neighboring cities to reduce corruption within the Police Department. A civilian review unit would be more effective than Internal Affairs. Since Fullerton's Internal Affairs Agency is a sergeant who works for the Fullerton Police Department. The current Fullerton Police Department system has shown us that it cannot be trusted.

Should Fullerton Bring Back Redevelopment Agencies

Community redevelopment agencies may or may not work depending on who is running them. If it is developers running the agency, it will not work. If it is the people running the agency then it might work. Tony Castro's solution is to work with the State Legislature and Congress to bring emergency federal funding from Washington D.C. for urban renewal in Fullerton.

Tony Castro's Campaign Promise That His Opponents Cannot Make

Tony Castro's promise to Fullerton is to never accept money from corporations or special interest lobbyists for his campaign so he can be free to help the people.

Tony Castro Is A Fighter For Social, Economic, Environmental Justice And Human Rights

Qualifications

Tony Castro discovered his strong interest in the study of politics in his introductory American Government class, at Cypress College, in 2004. His enthusiasm for this subject was sparked by a discovery that politics does not have to be about money and power games, but should be about making a positive difference in the world. Since then, he became the treasurer then the president of the associated student body at Cypress College, became the co-coordinator for Rescue Education California and worked for the California Democratic Party in Orange County. He also managed congressional campaigns for candidates who refuse corporate donations, volunteered to teach elementary and junior high kids about leadership in politics and other subjects like digital media. He has been recognized in several media sources including the Orange County Excelsior, Press Telegram, Fox 40, Univision and other local radio, print and T.V. news media sources. During his involvement with Rescue Education California, they successfully contributed in blocking the tuition hike for higher education, in 2005. He worked against the Arnold Schwarzenegger special election in 2005 with (V.E.R.F.) the Voter Education Registration Fund. A satellite operation in Orange County for the California Democratic Party. In 2011, he participated in an oil extraction fee initiative campaign to bring funding for education in California. The state wide Oil Extraction Fee Initiative on crude oil that he was involved with would have brought new revenue to the state of California. Enough revenue to put every college student in California through tuition free college and universities all the way through medical school. He recently managed a non corporate congressional campaign during the 2022 June primary election. He has been politically involved, on the non corporate side of politics, for the last two decades. It is now his time to apply all his experience and knowledge to help get himself elected against a corrupted and corporate influenced city council in Fullerton.

Tony Castro Was Raised In A Union Home, With A Union Family, With Union Values

Tony Castro was a Union Carpenter for the Carpenter's Union Local 803. His Father retired from the Laborer's Union Local 652. Most of Tony Castro's cousins and uncles are union construction members. His grand father, great grand father and great uncle were all union members. A vote for Tony Castro is a vote for Union Values. Tony Castro is the Pro-Union candidate for Fullerton's City Council seat in District 5.

Tony Castro For Fullerton City Council in District 5 on November 8, 2022

Tony Castro For Fullerton City Council is a Fullerton resident, community organizer, volunteer, an outstanding citizen and is recognized for excellence in the community by the O.C. Register’s Excelsior. Tony Castro’s research on climate change and affordable Colleges and Universities is mentioned in a published book called “Dollar Democracy On Steroids” by Professor Peter Mathews. Tony Castro was a Co-Coordinator for Rescue Education California, a grassroots organization that successfully blocked tuition increases in 2005. Tony Castro also worked for the California Democratic Party's Voter Education Registration Fund to fight against Arnold Schwarzenegger's special election in 2005. Tony Castro has a completely progressive, pro-union, and non-corporate platform with a realistic and bold funding mechanisms.

Tony Castro Was Raised In A Union Home, With A Union Family, With Union Values

Tony Castro was a Union Carpenter for the Carpenter's Union Local 803. His Father retired from the Laborer's Union Local 652. Most of Tony Castro's cousins and uncles are union construction members. His grand father, great grand father and great uncle were all union members. A vote for Tony Castro is a vote for Union Values. Tony Castro is the Pro-Union candidate for Fullerton's City Council seat in District 5.

The Non-Corporate, Pro-Union, Progressive Candidate For Fullerton City Council

Tony Castro is the non-corporate, pro-union, progressive candidate for Fullerton City Council. Tony Castro refuses corporate money and special interest lobbyists donations for his campaign. Tony Castro believes that these types of contributions corrupt and have a negative impact on a politicians policy making decisions. Once a candidate accepts money from corporations or special interest lobbyists, those donors will then feel entitled and expect favors in the future. Tony Castro wants to be free from any influence on his decision making. That way he can be free to deliver his platform and promises to the voters in his district. Tony Castro pledges, to his voters and his district, to never accept corporate money in his career as a public servant.

Tony Castro comes from a legacy of unionized working class Americans. Tony Castro worked as a union carpenter for the Local 803 Carpenters Union based in Orange, CA. His father recently retired from the Laborers Union local 652 and most of his uncles and cousins are union carpenters and union laborers. Tony Castro believes that unions represent the best interest of working class Americans. Without unions, corporations are free to exploit and take advantage of their employees. Tony Castro believes that unions are necessary to help build a bigger middle class.

Tony Castro Supports Small Businesses And Small Business Owners

Tony Castro believes that small businesses, not including big corporations, should receive some type of tax incentive to help pay their employees a higher minimum wage. Tony Castro also believes in a $25 an hour national minimum wage. He knows that small business owners cannot afford to pay their employees a $25 minimum wage on their own and will need some help. That's when the Federal Government/Congress should step in and help small businesses pay their employees a higher minimum wage. Tony Castro does not believe in helping big corporations with any kind of tax breaks, loopholes or tax incentives. Instead, we should give small business owners tax breaks to help them pay their employees a higher minimum wage. Small businesses provide over two thirds of the jobs in the United States, therefore Congress should step in and help small business owners and stop helping big corporations. Big corporations had enough help, it's time to help the underdog.

Tony Castro Does Not Support Big Corporations

Big corporation have been getting away with not paying their fair share in taxes and still receiving hundreds of billions of dollars in tax returns and tax breaks since the early 1970's. This is also known as corporate tax loopholes and corporate welfare. When only 27.5 billion dollars was paid in welfare to aid the poor, large corporations were receiving 300 billion dollars a year in corporate welfare; according to the I.R.S. This is a result of money in politics and corporate donations to political candidates. Tony Castro refuses money from corporations for his campaign so he can be free to put an end to corporate tax loopholes and fight for the people, the working class and small business owners of Fullerton.

Free BBQ Every Saturday Sponsored By Tony Castro For Fullerton City Council

Meet the candidate every Saturday at the Free BBQ At The Park event. Every Saturday, Tony Castro For Fullerton City Council sponsors a Free BBQ for the community at different local parks in Fullerton.

Fullerton City Council General Election Race

Elect Tony Castro For Member of the Fullerton City Council on November 8, 2022. Tony Castro is the only candidate who is dedicated to refusing corporate donations for his campaign so he can be free to fight for the people of Fullerton.