California State Assembly District 1 candidate surveys, 2022

Elections in California, 2022

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This article shows responses from candidates in the 2022 election for California State Assembly District 1 who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.

• Click here to see candidates and election results.
• Click here to see Candidate Connection survey responses.

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for California State Assembly District 1

Incumbent Megan Dahle defeated Belle Starr Sandwith in the general election for California State Assembly District 1 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Megan Dahle (R)	62.1	129,527
		Belle Starr Sandwith (D)	37.9	79,068

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 208,595
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Belle Starr Sandwith (D)

Forest Health to protect towns, forests and watershed/water rights

rural broadband internet as an Emergency Alert Network

reexamination of the California "Fair Plan Insurance" to offer reasonable coverage to those in Fire Zones

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Belle Starr Sandwith (D)

I want to make meaningful changes to the Mental Healthcare services available to Californians. The States' mental healthcare system is non-existent. There are very few For Profit Mental healthcare facilities for people in rural areas. Luckily, counties have stepped up for the poor. Homelessness and suicide have been an ever increasing problem. The pandemic has taken a huge toll on our mental health.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Belle Starr Sandwith (D)

I am greatly influenced by both of my Grandmothers. I am very lucky to have had such strong female role models. My fathers mother came out to California as a Dustbowl refugee. She then went to work at Mare Island shipyard during WW2, doing a mans job to keep her family and country secure. My maternal grandmother was the first child in her Kansas family to attend grade school. Later, becoming the first female to hold elected office in Anderson County- Clerk Recorder. She raised 3 strong women, all attending the University of Kansas. Being surrounded by so many strong women growing up, I really never thought there was nothing woman couldn't do, I would like to take this strength and use it to represent District 1.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Belle Starr Sandwith (D)

I have been greatly influenced by the works of Kurt Vonnegut. His writings have led me to think of myself as a Humanist. I try to make my decisions based on what is best for the human race. I am currently rereading "Slapstick" to motivate me.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Belle Starr Sandwith (D)

The believe that I have many qualities that would make me a successful officeholder. I am used to working in a team while also having personal responsibilities. Running my cafe gave me leadership skills and budgeting. It also required a bit off salesmanship. I specialize in learning as I go. I believe that we should never stop learning. I truly believe it is necessary to be the change you want to see in the world.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Belle Starr Sandwith (D)

I don't have 1 favorite book. I love books by Kurt Vonnegut. I love audio books by Carrie Fischer. I wish that in High School we had been assigned Maya Angelou's "I know why the caged bird sings" instead of "A Seperate Peace".

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Belle Starr Sandwith (D)

California has already been exposed to extreme weather/climate change. We must act preemptively to protect California. A comprehensive Forest thinning plan must be made for public and private lands. It is absolutely necessary to protect the forests from further ravaging damage. Raging wildfires change the soil so rainwater is no longer absorbed. The natural aquifer is not replenished, reducing water rights. Less water rights is less agriculture. We must protect the forests to protect our economy.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

Belle Starr Sandwith (D)

Gerrymandering is an unconstitutional practice. It needs to be outlawed at a National level. Redistricting needs to be done so communities are fairly represented by their peers.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Belle Starr Sandwith (D)

Compromise, acceptance and respect are going to be necessary to get us through the mire that has been created by the last years of divisive politics. There has been too much extreme Black and White thinking with no Grey area. The time for extremes is past. We must work together if we are to go forward.

See also

More about these elections:

• California State Assembly elections, 2022

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