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In KPIX Interview, Former California GOP Chairman Launches Campaign For U.S. Senate

SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX) -- Saying "California needs some things fixed and we're gonna fix them," Thomas Gerard F. "Tom" Del Beccaro, who served as chairman of the California Republican Party from 2011 to 2013 announced on Sunday he was entering the race to succeed Barbara Boxer in the U.S. Senate.

In an interview with Phil Matier on KPIX-TV, Del Beccaro pledged he would, if elected, work to implement a flat tax and would craft a comprehensive water plan to alleviate the effects of California's drought.

 

"I think it's time for a new generation of ideas when it comes to economic policy, certainly water policy and also foreign policy" Del Beccaro said.

When asked by Matier about his position on abortion, Del Beccaro said "I'm pro-life."

On another controversial issue, same-sex marriage, Del Beccaro was more evasive, saying "I supported Prop. 8 but I expect the Supreme Court to use the 14th Amendment to end this issue..."

Del Beccaro made it clear that tax reform would be a key issue in his campaign.

"We need a flat tax to get away from giving out political favors," he said.

On the subject of marijuana, Del Beccaro said that -- although he personally opposes legalizing pot -- states' experiments should be allowed to play out. "Then maybe in five to ten years we can take a look at it and say 'well, maybe that was a good idea or it wasn't a good idea.'"

Pressed to provide a specific plan to deal with the West's devastating drought, Del Beccaro focused on recycling waste water.

"Municipalities in this state should, within the next twenty years, be one hundred percent on recycled water ... the technology exists. So my plan, which will come out during the campaign, will be to emphasize things like that that we can do -- use recycled water -- to help solve this problem," he said.

A 53-year-old attorney from Walnut Creek who has never run for a statewide office, Del Beccaro is the second Republican to enter the 2016 race, joining 2-term assemblyman Rocky Chavez of San Diego. California attorney general Kamala Harris -- the only Democrat in the race to succeed Boxer -- is considered the overall favorite.

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