Mario Paz
Mario Paz (Republican Party) is running for election to the California State Senate to represent District 33. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2024. He advanced from the primary on March 5, 2024.
Paz completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Mario Paz was born in Norwalk, California. He earned a bachelor's degree from California State University, Dominguez Hills in 1995. His career experience includes working as a CFO. He has been affiliated with AICPA.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: California State Senate elections, 2024
General election
General election for California State Senate District 33
Incumbent Lena Gonzalez and Mario Paz are running in the general election for California State Senate District 33 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | ||
 | Lena Gonzalez (D) | |
 | Mario Paz (R)  | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for California State Senate District 33
Incumbent Lena Gonzalez and Mario Paz defeated Sharifah Hardie in the primary for California State Senate District 33 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Lena Gonzalez (D) | 68.6 | 86,226 |
| ✔ | | Mario Paz (R) | 17.1 | 21,470 |
 | Sharifah Hardie (R) | 14.4 | 18,061 | |
| Total votes: 125,757 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign finance
Endorsements
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Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Mario Paz completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Paz's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I'm seeking political office based on my 30-year accounting career, progressing from a regular accountant to CFO. I prioritize financial responsibility and understanding community needs, particularly safety. I aim to lead our community to prosperity while ensuring residents' well-being. Financial responsibility is vital for good governance, and my accounting background equips me to navigate complex finances. I've handled budgets of various sizes, making informed financial decisions that balance business needs with prudent budgeting. Effective financial management is crucial for sustained development and essential services. Understanding our community's needs is crucial, with safety as a top priority. My experience guides me in making strategic investments in law enforcement, emergency services, and infrastructure to enhance community safety and resilience. I aim to create a secure environment for residents and businesses to thrive. As a political representative, I'll support initiatives for community policing, invest in crime prevention, and enhance emergency response for a safer community. My background emphasizes responsibility, transparency, and accountability—core values in public service. I'm dedicated to open communication, ensuring the community's voice is heard in decision-making. By fostering transparency, I aim to build trust between government and residents, establishing a foundation for collaborative efforts to address everyone's needs.
- Crime affects everyone, no matter their background, so we need a comprehensive plan beyond just punishment. To really reduce crime, we must look at why people turn to crime in the first place. It's important to focus on things like education, mental health support, and community programs. By helping those at risk, we can break the cycle of crime and make our communities safer. With support for law enforcement and residents, working together to achieve this important goal. Building trust and keeping communication open are key to stopping crime. We also need to deal with big issues like poverty to make the conditions that lead to crime better.
- Small businesses are vital to our economy, driving job creation, innovation, and community growth. To boost economic development, we need policies that aid the establishment and success of small enterprises. This involves making affordable loans accessible, simplifying bureaucratic processes, and providing targeted tax incentives. Backing local entrepreneurship not only strengthens the economy but also enriches community identity. Giving importance to small businesses promotes sustainable development, opening doors for individuals to pursue their dreams. Ultimately, this contributes to the overall well-being and resilience of communities.
- Three fundamental reasons — crime reduction, small business support, and parents' rights — emerge as essential components for the overall well-being of our communities. I want to craft a political agenda that addresses these pivotal issues that require a nuanced and comprehensive strategy that understands the interconnected nature of these elements and their profound impact on the social fabric. By fostering an environment where crime is minimized, small businesses flourish, and parents' rights are safeguarded, we lay the groundwork for resilient, prosperous, and harmonious communities.
Education and Parents' rights: Open communication channels between educators and parents foster a shared understanding, enabling constructive feedback and collective decision-making. Through a political dedication to championing parental rights via educational disclosure and openness, we fortify the crucial partnership between schools and families. This commitment creates an atmosphere conducive to the holistic development and success of every child. In our political agenda, education thrives when transparency guides our principles, promoting trust and collaboration for the benefit of all stakeholders.
I looked up my parents; they were a loving couple. They had 8 kids all went to catholic school from k (1st) – 12th . My siblings and I grew up in a traditional family and attended mass every Sunday, receiving all our sacraments. All of us have maintained a spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ, and to me, that is the biggest success.
The road to serfdom by Friedrich Hayek
I am for limited government, reducing the size at the same time reducing taxes.
The government has a fiduciary duty to utilize residents' tax money appropriately. To reduce the spend and stick to a balanced budget.
To safeguard California for future generations, it is crucial to address various challenges impacting the state. Ensuring access to quality education for all Californians will contribute to a knowledgeable and skilled workforce, fostering innovation and economic growth. Additionally, addressing housing affordability and homelessness issues will create stable communities. Collaborative efforts involving community engagement and effective governance are key to securing a thriving and resilient California for generations to come.
My first professional job was in public accounting as a staff accountant for 2 years. I have remained in the field and have been an accountant for 30 years.
The optimal relationship between the governor and state legislature is characterized by collaboration, open communication, and a dedication to serving the people's best interests. Both branches must understand their roles and cooperate to achieve common goals.
Communication is vital. Regular, positive discussions between the governor and legislature help them grasp each other's priorities, concerns, and policy goals. Meetings, briefings, and discussions foster a cooperative atmosphere, leading to well-informed policies.
Mutual respect is key. The governor and state legislature should acknowledge their constitutional roles and respect the separation of powers, preventing unnecessary conflicts. Even with differing beliefs, a foundation of respect allows for productive debates and compromises that benefit the state.
Collaboration in policymaking is essential. The governor proposes legislative agendas, and the legislature shapes, refines, and passes these into law. Cooperation ensures that final policies consider diverse perspectives and address the population's needs.
Transparency is key to public trust. The governor and legislature should be transparent in decision-making, explaining how policies are developed and implemented. This fosters accountability and helps citizens understand the reasons behind certain decisions.
Checks and balances are essential. The state legislature checks the governor's power, ensuring decisions align with the people's will and the constitution. The governor's veto power acts as a check on the legislature, preventing the passage of laws not in the state's best interest.
In conclusion, the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature is a partnership based on shared goals for the state and its residents. Through effective communication, mutual respect, collaboration, transparency, and a balance of powers, these two branches can work together to create policies promoting the well-being and prosperity of the state.
Fiscal responsibility and managing a balanced budget that is the biggest challenge facing the state. Fortunate enough, for the voters, I have three decades in accounting have equipped me with the expertise needed to navigate complex financial landscapes. I have successfully managed budgets of various sizes, allocating resources judiciously and making informed financial decisions that balance the needs of businesses with responsible fiscal stewardship. This skill is particularly crucial in the political arena, where sound financial management is essential for sustainable development and the delivery of vital services.
Yes, the optimal relationship between state legislatures is characterized by collaboration, open communication, and a dedication to serving the people's best interests. Both branches must understand their roles and cooperate to achieve common goals.
Communication is vital. Regular, positive discussions between legislatures help them grasp each other's priorities, concerns, and policy goals.
Calvin Coolidge
Repeal of the gas tax.
Balanced Budget
Moreover, my background has instilled in me a deep sense of responsibility, transparency, and accountability—values that are paramount in public service. I am dedicated to promoting open communication and inclusivity, ensuring that the community's voice is heard in the decision-making process. By fostering a culture of transparency, I aim to build trust between government and residents, laying the foundation for collaborative efforts that address our collective needs.
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.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on January 28, 2024
