U.S. Senate candidate Carly Fiorina made a cameo in Santa Cruz today as part of a series of campaign events throughout northern California.
The Republican candidate is best known as the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Hewlett-Packard Company (from 1999 to 2005) and is the only woman to lead a Fortune 20 company.
“I’ve had the great opportunity to travel all over the world,” Fiorina who lives in the Los Altos hills said. “And only in America is it possible for a medieval history major, law school drop-out and former receptionist to run for the United States Senate.”
Fiorina said she wanted to run because she is troubled by “the state of the state.”
“Washington and Sacramento sometimes forget that it’s our money they’re spending,” Fiorina said. “There needs to be a lot more accountability and transparency within government.”
The more than 200 people in attendance—including Cabrillo College president Brian King, Capitola Mayor Sam Storey and the bigwigs of the Santa Cruz Sentinal staff like editor Don Lane and publisher Michael Jung—dined on lunch at the Coconut Grove on the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz.
Outside protestors held signs condemning her for mismanagement and lack of leadership during her reign at Hewlett-Packard.
“I know I’m a true politician now since I have my own protestors,” Fiorina said with a laugh.
In 2008, Fiorina was the top economic advisor to Republican presidential candidate John McCain. The recent breast cancer survivor has also made current headlines for slamming Senator Barbara Boxer as idle and hyper-partisan.
“I’m a conservative because I’m an optimist. I think people make better choices for themselves,” said Fiorina, who would not comment directly about her personal standings on social views, specifically Proposition 8, which denies same-sex couples the right to marry.
In terms of the controversial health care bill, Fiorina said she did not think that it will improve the quality of care.
“It does not put forth the objectives that Obama wants, which I agree with,” she said.
Fiorina’s recent water and agriculture talks have been well-received by the Silicon Valley.
Fiorina said she disagrees with her new political opponent, former Silicon Valley Rep. Tom Campbell profoundly. She touted Campbell — who dropped out of the California governor’s race today to join the GOP primary contest to unseat Boxer — as someone who wouldn’t hesitate to raise taxes.
It’s clear that Fiorina plans to use her business savvy to push her political career. She said that true leadership is about seeing possibilities.
“People are getting tired of career politicians. There is so much talk, yet so little gets done,” Fiorina said. “Being a CEO requires balance and career politicians do not know how to do this. I think people want more common sense and problem solving.”
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