By Madi Taylor
Staff Writer
A Manhattan Beach dad changed roles from little league coach to politician on a campaign trail for California State Assembly in the 2014 election.
David Hadley was not politically active in his early adulthood. He claims to have put out yard signs for the candidate he supported and taken part in community issues but was not yet fully immersed in the political world.
“I was living the ‘American Dream,’” Hadley said. “I had a home, started my own company; I was raising my family. ”
Hadley began following politics in the South Bay and became the chairman for the Republican Party in District 66 in 2010, which includes Alondra Park, Gardena, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach, among others.
Hadley said he realized the urgency in needing to change and improve both the education and financial systems in California once he became the chairman for District 66. His ultimate goal as chairman was to produce a Republican candidate that was fit for the 2014 assembly elections.
Hadley and his team looked for candidates for the Republican nomination, but none seemed to fit. According to Hadley, he decided to run himself when three potential candidates urged him to. He now hopes to make a difference in the district and state.
“It is said that the Republican party win for District 66 is so large that it can actually determine the balance of power up in Sacramento,” Hadley said.
Hadley’s campaign for the election focuses on three simple goals. He wants restore a basic level of competition, reliability and integrity in the California legislature.
Hadley hopes to improve the business climate in California by developing one that allows companies to stay in state and contribute to the economic environment.
“The employees and their families of big companies like Toyota should be able to afford to stay and live here,” said Hadley. “They should also be able to achieve the American Dream.”
Education is a factor in Hadley’s campaign. He wants District 66 to maintain local control of schools and allow fair funding for the school districts in District 66.
“Most of District 66’s schools are high-performing,” Hadley said. “Other schools, like Gardena and Lomita, are not as high in performance but could be if control of schools were local.”
Hadley strives to protect Proposition 13, an amendment that the California voters passed in 1978 that does not allow property taxes to go up any more than 2% per year.
“There has yet to be an expiration date on this proposition,” Hadley said. “But proposals to change it have risen.”
Hadley has lived in Manhattan Beach for 18 years, raised four kids who went through the public education system and coached youth sports teams.
“I share many experiences and values with the people and voters of our district,” Hadley said.
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