Vicki Nohrden, evangelical director of the nonprofit Wind and Fire Ministries in Carmel, is challenging three-term incumbent Mark Stone (D-Monterey Bay) for the 29th State Assembly District seat in Sacramento in the June 5th primary.
Under new state primary rules, the “top two” vote getters, regardless of party affiliation, run off against each other come November. With only two candidates on the primary ballot, Nohrden’s path to a direct run against Stone in November’s general election is assured, but the primary will reveal how serious her challenge will be.
According to her Facebook campaign page, Nohrden “believes it is time to implement solutions that put a stop to government overreach. She will be a strategic visionary in Sacramento and champion for individual and family rights (and) ensure that families and businesses are given a voice in Sacramento”.
Nohrden cites the issue of prohibiting children under 12 from participating in tackle football as an example of government overreach. “I support parents to make those kind of decisions,” Nohrden told the Press Banner in a telephone interview.
According to Nohrden’s campaign website, most of Nohrden’s local public experience is related to youth –chairing local boards including family outreach for Monterey County Jail and the Juvenile Justice System and the advisory committee of the Monterey County Inmate Welfare Fund. Nohrden served on the Monterey County Grand Jury and also worked as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children (CASA).
“Keep praying for our President Donald Trump,” Nohrden said in an on-line video of her preaching for the Wind and Fire Ministry, “whether you agree with him or don’t agree with him, agree with God- because God chose him.” Nohrden reaffirmed her support of the President in the telephone interview, except for infringing on the protection of Monterey Bay from gas and oil development.
“I do not support oil development in our beautiful Monterey Bay, nor fracking in Monterey County,” Nohrden said.
Nohrden also explained her opposition to SB 54, making California a “Sanctuary State.” Nohrden explained she thought the bill “welcomed lawlessness” and she could not support a policy that puts criminals back on the street.
A graduate of Shalom Bible College in West Des Moines, Iowa with a Master’s in Ministries and Theology, Nohrden’s name was included on a long list of “American Jews Who Support Trump” on the website jewschoosetrump.org.
According to Mark Stone’s statement in the Voter Information Guide, “my priorities have been clear: protecting the most vulnerable Californians and protecting the environment. I am engaged in comprehensive reforms to help foster youth grow up in supportive homes…create a state Earned Income Tax Credit to lift the state’s poorest working families out of poverty, and improving access to justice in the court system.”
According to Stone’s Facebook campaign page, “As an environmental champion, Mark has fought to curb illegal coastal development, reduce plastic pollution, and clean up drinking water supplies. In his capacity as Chair of the Select Committee on Coastal Protection, he has held hearings investigating threats to the Pacific Ocean, oil spill prevention efforts, plastic garbage and offshore fracking.”
As chair of the Assembly Judiciary Committee, Stone recently introduced two measures aimed at protecting victims of workplace harassment by elected officials in Sacramento, changing the law that has helped keep incidents in the State legislature sealed from the public.
The Assembly Judiciary Committee passed SB 54, the so-called Sanctuary State Bill, which Stone supported. Stone pointed out there is a good deal of misunderstanding of the term “sanctuary state,” and said there is really no such thing as “sanctuary”. SB 54 allows local law enforcement to not to perform the duties of federal law enforcement agents, according to Stone. Undocumented immigrants remain fully subject to federal law and enforcement by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), but local law enforcement does not have to perform those federal enforcement actions, Stone explained.
After serving as the 5th District Santa Cruz County Supervisor for two terms, Stone was originally elected to the State Assembly seat in 2012. Due to amendments to the state’s term limit requirements, Stone is exempt from the three, two-year term limit restriction, and will be able to serve for an additional six more years in the legislature.
“For the time being, I just want to focus on my work in the Assembly, and, with the May Revise of the Governor’s proposed budget going on, there’s quite a bit happening. In due time I’ll get more focused on the re-election campaign,” Stone said.
