CA Recall Candidate Profile: Meet Adam Papagan

Your Name
Adam Papagan

Age (as of Election Day)
33

Town of Residence
Los Angeles

Party Affiliation
No party preference

Family
N/a

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?
No

Education
BA Cultural Anthropology, university of California Los Angeles

Occupation
Tour guide

Campaign Website
adamforgov.com

Previous or current elected or appointed office
None

Voters are being asked to unseat Gov. Gavin Newsom. Why do you think he should be recalled?
Like many politicians, he seems of poor character. Governor Newsom has taken tens of millions of dollars from special interests and I believe that has compromised his ability to act in the best interest of the people of California.

How does your experience — professional or political — make you the right candidate to replace Newsom?
We need regular people in office not career politicians, millionaires, and celebrities. As a political newcomer with something to prove my loyalty would be to our state not campaign donors.

What sets you apart from the other candidates for governor?
I am a regular person with no political agenda apart from wanting to fix California’s many problems and exposing the hurdles put in place by our government to keep people like me from running for office.

Describe one of Newsom’s policies or actions that have not worked, and what would you have done differently in the same situation.

After shuttering thousands of businesses across the state I definitely would not have gone to dinner with lobbyists at the most expensive restaurant in the country.

Are there any of Gov. Newsom’s policies that you approve of, and if so, why?
The governor is more progressive than a lot of politicians but his policies do not go far enough. We need action on housing and climate change now.

How would you try to change or influence California’s political culture?
I’d like to get to the bottom of why government is failing so many people. Money in special interest has a lot to do with it but sir first thing I would do would be to meet with every member of the state assembly to find out why things aren’t working and sharing that information with the public.

What is the single most important thing California must do to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic, and what would you do in your first year to bring that about?
Unfortunately with a patchwork of restrictions across the country the pandemic will be with us for a while. I support increasing under employment benefits and grants to small businesses to help them stay open far beyond on the pandemic.

The best advice ever shared with me was:
Stick with it.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
Instead of complaining about government get out there and run for office yourself. If I can do it you can do it.