Episode 26: Reflection and Projection With Former Senator Scott Wilk.

Former state Senator Scott Wilk joins us on Kabatalks to provide a reflective and candid exit interview, if you will, sharing insights from his 12 years in the California State Legislature. With keen observations on the 2012 term limits change, Scott discusses its impact on legislative stability, while also offering a unique perspective on the shifts in voter sentiment during the 2020 elections. We engage in a comparative analysis of the leadership styles of Governors Jerry Brown and Gavin Newsom, appreciating Brown's intellectual approach and critically examining Newsom's policies.

As we navigate the complex political landscape of California, we explore the potential gubernatorial race between Kamala Harris and Eleni Kounalakis. Opinions differ on Harris's chances, with her celebrity status weighed against her past performance. Our conversation also highlights the challenges faced by the Republican Party in California, including transparency and leadership issues, and the opportunities to connect with Latino and Asian voters. We ponder whether there’s a growing appetite among voters for a third political option beyond the traditional parties.

Broadening our discussion, we celebrate Senator Wilk's political achievements in areas such as education reform, animal rights, and water resource management, while acknowledging ongoing challenges, including the influence of unions and the need for charter schools. The episode concludes on a unifying note, recognizing the shared values of job creation and worker opportunity, underscoring the importance of bridging political divides.

If you would like to connect with Senator Wilk, he can be best reached via "X" using "@scottwilkca".

CHAPTER SUMMARIES
(00:00) Scott Wilk's Exit Interview
Former Senator Scott Wilk reflects on term limits, voter sentiment, COVID-19's impact, and leadership styles in California politics.

(11:33) California Political Analysis and Predictions
Political landscape in California, potential candidacy of Kamala Harris, challenges for California Republican Party.

(16:32) California Political Party Analysis
Challenges and opportunities for the Republican Party in California, including connecting with diverse voters and the dominance of progressives in the political landscape.

(26:09) California Education and Campaign Reform
California's political achievements and challenges include water management, animal rights, foster youth support, education reform, and union influence.

(36:18) Armenian Culture and Political Representation
Armenian culture, heritage, representation, political landscape, family histories, and sacrifices in public service roles.

(42:04) Celebrating Labor Leader's Legacy
A Republican legislator speaks at a labor leader's celebration, emphasizing shared goals of job creation and worker opportunity.

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To learn more about John Kabateck's firm visit Kabateck Strategies
To learn more about Brian's firm visit KBK Law

Transcript

Scott Wilk: [00:00:00] So I think in Sacramento, there's three parties. There's the Republicans, there's the Democrats. And there's the progressives. Clearly the progressives are in charge. So last year, went overnight camping trip, 10 legislators, seven Dems, three Republicans. The Dems all admitted they're voting for policies that they don't support, but if they don't vote for it, they don't get their bills passed.

They may lose a committee chairmanship and they all roll. I think that's really sad. As hard as it. Is being a Republican versus a Democrat in Sacramento, I'd rather be a Republican because I get to do what I think is best for my district.

Brian Kabateck: So welcome back to Kabatalks, this is Brian Kabateck, the older, shorter, funnier Kabateck, and the one who's slightly left of center, although as things change, I'm never sure exactly where that 

John Kabateck: center point is anymore. This [00:01:00] is John Kabateck, Brian's younger brother, might be a little taller, more up to the right, but definitely somebody who enjoys these conversations, these spirited conversations with my big brother and great guests.

John, why don't you introduce our guest today? Got a great guest, an encore performance, a superstar and longtime friend to both Brian and myself, that is former state Senator Scott Wilk. We've known Scott for many, many years. longtime friend, and he has most recently concluded his service in the California State Legislature, 12 years of service.

He actually served four years in the State Assembly, eight in the Senate, during which time he was serving as Senate Republican leader. He represents a portion of Southern California that spans from Santa Clarita to Antelope Valley to a place very special to Brian and me in our early childhood days, Apple Valley.

And Scott's been a great, great fighter on many fronts in legislature, from jobs, [00:02:00] the economy, schools, drug crisis, even animal rights, animal issues. And like I said, just turned out in November. And Brian and I thought this would be a really fun discussion with Scott. I think we shared with him that we, we kind of like to make this a little bit more of an exit interview, Senator Wilk, get your thoughts now that you, not that you've ever been a shrinking violet, but especially now that you're no longer in office, you can really share unvarnished thoughts.

So with that, Brian, I'll kick it back to you. Yeah. 

Brian Kabateck: So Scott, you, you, you came in and that famous class of 2012. And I mean that because it was the. First time the term limits changed. And so many people, including yourself, came out of that and were able to serve with distinction. Some have moved on to other jobs.

Some like you held on the full 12 years. Let's just start with asking you what the, what you see the substantial differences are from the time you arrived until you were termed out, you know, just, just a few weeks ago. 

Scott Wilk: So I would say that I didn't, I didn't really see any differences at all. I think somebody on the other [00:03:00] side, like somebody in the third house, like John.

We might, it might have a better feel for it. I mean, obviously the old term limits, you had a maximum of three terms you could do in the assembly, which is only two years and maximum of two terms or eight years in the, in the Senate. When the law changed, when I won my primary in June of 2012, it went from 14 years to 12, but you could stay in the same house.

So I'm assuming that probably brought a little bit more stability to the process. But in, in terms of from when I got there to when I left, I think it just always ran the way it always ran, except that I just don't think we were changing seats as much. 

John Kabateck: How are you viewing voters? You know, and you're looking at the legislature and you know, you kind of feel like it hasn't really shifted much, but voter sentiment, voter thoughts, voter moods?

Scott Wilk: Well, it's interesting, you know, so I ran for the Senate in 2020 and the primary was early. It was in, if you recall, it was on March 3rd. And the reason why. The [00:04:00] Democrats moved it up to March instead of June, as they wanted to give an advantage to Kamala Harris, who was running for president. Of course, she dropped out before it ever got to California.

But on, on March 4th, I was feeling pretty good. I represented a seat, which was a lean Democratic seat. It was plus eight Democratic registration. My 40 percent, because it was mean in three Democrats, if you break 40 percent, you had a good night. Well, I got 53 and a half. Uh, there's a lot of measures, particularly like school bond measures across the state that normally pass, did not pass, and in my own polling, which again, plus eight Democratic seat, Donald Trump in my polling, he was even in terms of favor, unfavorable, Gavin Newsom was upside down 17 points.

So I really thought we were going to have some kind of surge back in 20. And there were long behold on the 16th of March coat, you know, COVID struck and it completely changed the [00:05:00] model. So when I came back in August, we had to do another benchmark poll, obviously, because the environment was so much different.

And, you know, Trump was upside down 12 and Gavin was still upside down, but barely. And, uh, just that changed the whole world. So we'll see what happens. 

Brian Kabateck: You served under two governors or two governors were in office while you served in the legislature, I should say. You know, I'm a big fan of Jerry Brown. I mean, I thought Jerry Brown's philosophy, at least Jerry Brown version two, his philosophy was closer to my own.

I thought that the guy did a really good job. I would tell my conservative friends who would put him down all the time. I said, you're going to be sorry when he's gone. Your thoughts on him versus Gavin. 

Scott Wilk: Well, that's so, Brian, it's so funny that you, you say that because I, you know, I go out and give speeches when Brian was governor and I was, I was happy to look, I agree with him probably about half the time, but he was somebody who wanted to govern.

He spent time with us. I did it with them every year. I was on a couple, you know, working groups. Uh, a couple of times he was looking for my votes. So I had one on one with [00:06:00] him in the governor's office, which was pretty scary. And then he, he was somebody who wanted to govern and I would say nice things about him and then, you know, people like being a chamber of commerce and they're like booing and I go, wait till you see what's coming next.

And so I, so I totally agree. I totally agree with you on that. And then on. Cabin. I don't know. I just kind of feel like he was, I think he just wants to be a celebrity and I just don't know why he doesn't go into modeling and acting instead of doing what he's doing. Sometimes 

Brian Kabateck: I might argue that he actually is.

I mean, I thought Jerry Brown was truly the smartest man in the room. Not a guy who was pretending to be the smartest guy in the room, but I thought he was the smartest guy. Scary smart. 

Scott Wilk: Yes. Yes. No, I remember my first one on one with him was he was looking for votes on cap and trade and it was literally just him and me.

And. There was, of course, he was governor, first time I get vote was in 78 and, you know, he was running for reelection. So, you know, to me, he's very iconic and that was, and that was pretty scary. So going toe to toe with him for about an hour and five minutes [00:07:00] was pretty interesting. And thank God, Nancy McFadden came in and saved me.

Brian Kabateck: Yeah, he was, but he was a very approachable guy, you know, I have, I have many, you know, stories about how he would come up to me in crowds and talk and know who I was. And I remember a couple of times he actually came up to me and would, would throw back recent case decisions from like the California Supreme Court on civil law.

You know, I'm like, really? And he goes, Hey, I'm a lawyer. I read the cases. I'm a lawyer. I don't read the cases. 

John Kabateck: Yeah. Brian, didn't you have a story where you saw him at the LA athletic club one morning and it was at the time that NFIB was opposing his, his big push for the sales and income tax prop 30. You remember that Scott, which was to fund our schools, which were victorious, which was victorious.

But I remember, I think you saw him. We were fiercely opposed to it. And didn't you see him at like six in the morning, he came up to you and said, what's your brother's problem? Absolutely. 

Brian Kabateck: But my favorite story about the athletic club because he would stay there because the L. A. Athletic Club also has hotel rooms and he would stay there and it does have a great gym and he and I, we [00:08:00] know, we know each other.

We work out and then one day he like challenged me to a race because the athletic club has an indoor track, but a 10th of a mile and I beat him. And he looked at me and goes, yeah, you beat me, but you're 20 years younger. I went, okay, well, there's that. I think 25 years younger. Yeah. I didn't beat him by much.

I will say that I didn't beat him by much. It wasn't like, it wasn't like, you know, a runaway. He did a pretty good job. He was in good shape for a guy who at the time was probably, you know, in his late 70s, right? 

Scott Wilk: Yeah, so I got a similar thing, Brian, where I'm not going to say his name, but I have a very prominent personal injury attorney in my, in my district, who was suing him under RICO.

And every time I saw him, what's up with that SOB, yada, yada, yada. It was just hilarious. 

John Kabateck: Kind of talking a little, little bit more again about the legislature, Scott. You know, as you're, as we're kind of looking at the future, you know, a little bit of this, I mean, the people that you have served with that are continuing through and you've been reelected or such, but you know, which ones, both sides of the aisle, do you feel are going to be some, some good [00:09:00] conduits for reaching across, could get some things done?

Who do you hold in high regard? 

Scott Wilk: Well, I, it's, it's interesting because I was looking the other day at the roster. There are so many people I do not know. I mean, it's, you know, it's, it's another, it's another type, another title wave, some terms in the Senate, you know, those that were, you know, more moderate and who's willing to work in a bipartisan way, they're gone.

They're, you know, they're, they're gone. So I mean, I'm a big fan, really big fan of she's, she's left a center, but she's very smart. She's got common sense. And she's not really partisan is Angelique Ashby in, in the Sacramento area, big, big fan of hers. And I don't, I don't, there's just so many new players. I really, I really can't handicap it for you at all, but I just, I'm big fan, big fan of hers.

We talk on a regular basis and I hope one day she becomes pro tem because she, I think she's got the right temperament. Cause when you're pro 10, yes, you have to lead your party, but you also have to protect the [00:10:00] institution as well. And I think, uh, you know, pro Tim Atkins did that really well. Pro Tim DeLeon did not do that well.

And so I think that's important. I think she would do a really good job. 

Brian Kabateck: So I want to pivot back to the governor, governor's office. So in a couple of years, there's going to be an election. Gavin's going to be termed out, which will give him more time to model and act. As she said, let's look at the race before we look at the race.

I just want to go on the record. One more time is offering Kamala job at my law firm as a senior associate. I'm willing to, and I'm, I'm very sincere. I'm willing to pay her exactly what she was making as vice president. She won't get a residence from me, but she'll get a, you know, medium sized office, not a partner size office.

So that offer is out there. If you run into her, Scott, just, you know, let her know it's, it's, it's still pending 

Scott Wilk: and she follows me on X. So maybe I will post that. Yeah. 

Brian Kabateck: Yeah. The word that I'm, I'm more than willing to, you know, start her on January 21st. If she wants a week off before she starts, that's okay.

I I'd have trouble with like two weeks. It would be, that's a little much, but let's talk about. The governor's race in [00:11:00] two years. First question. Do you think she runs? Yes. So do I. Do you think she clears the field? Yes. So do I see, we do agree on stuff. 

Scott Wilk: Yeah. Yeah. I predicted that I was at, I was at an insurance conference down in Delmar early October on a panel and we're like wrapping up and they go, okay.

Predictions. And I said, well, you people aren't going to like this, but I'm telling you, Trump's going to win. And then sitting next to me was Steve Bradford, Senator Bradford, who was running for lieutenant governor. And I said, the most exciting race that's going to be in 2026 is a lieutenant governor race because Kamala Harris is going to jump into governor and everybody's going to step back and run for LG.

So if you support Steve Bradford, you need to give him the money now. So you're so you're locked in. And then the other thing I just threw out there is that Jeff Gonzalez, who's a friend of mine, was going to win the Ed Garcia seat in the Coachella Valley, which is a plus 15 damn seat and by God, he won.

John Kabateck: Good call. 

Scott Wilk: Yeah, 

John Kabateck: good call. 

Scott Wilk: Yeah, it's good. She's definitely gonna run. [00:12:00] 

John Kabateck: Interesting. We had Dan Schnur, you know, political strategist, Dan Schnur on our recent Cavitalk, and he wasn't so sure that she'd clear the field, but you're pretty, you're pretty certain that that will. Well, I don't 

Scott Wilk: know about Eleni, cause I mean, you know, obviously she's got unlimited funds, but I mean, 

John Kabateck: I think other than her, 

Scott Wilk: I think the field clears.

Brian Kabateck: Oh, I, I do too. I mean, I think Lainey has, doesn't have anywhere near the name recognition that, that Kamala has, and you know, I've talked to my conservative friends and they say, Oh no, she's done. She's done. I go, no, you don't understand California. You don't understand how California views her. They don't understand how they see her.

They look at her. I mean, you know, Lainey running against Kamala would be like John's band competing with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band in a, in a band fest. Hey, hey, hey. Okay. Well, actually, I think, I think with the big, 

Scott Wilk: I think with the big man, Clarence Clemens gone, I think John's band would do fine.

John Kabateck: Thank you. But 

Scott Wilk: yeah, I was, uh, I don't know, sometime last year at the Palm Springs Airport, and she was, must have been there for the weekend, and it was me and [00:13:00] Chad Mazur, the only two people who knew her from the 143 person flight. So, yeah, it'd be, it'd be an uphill battle. I'm just saying she financially has the resources to do it if she wanted to.

John Kabateck: You think there's enough voter amnesia from where Brian and I have a lot of disagreements. I feel that she failed to connect with voters. In fairness, she had a smaller window within which to do so. But you know, do you think that the voters here in California have enough amnesia where they look back and they don't really connect her with the Biden administration or connect her with a, frankly, a governor's administration that has.

failed on crime, homelessness. Oh, here we go. Oh, absolutely, Brian. I mean, people are still very uncertain and he keeps trying to point the finger at, you know, this incoming administration is going to be imperiling business. Are you kidding me? So anyway, do you think the voters have enough amnesia still, Scott, that they would still, there would still be enough energy here in purple to blue, California to vote.

Do 

Brian Kabateck: I get, do I get equal [00:14:00] time, John? Later. 

Scott Wilk: Brian, you can take it now and then I'll clean up. 

Brian Kabateck: I mean, the disagreement John and I have is this failure to connect. I think it's, I keep saying this over and over again. The reason that Kamala lost and Trump won is not one reason. There's many, many reasons. You put the economy at the very top of that.

The other thing I think you have to consider, John, is that your, your philosophy about. Kamala not connecting the governor ship all this kind of stuff. It just doesn't apply in California. It may work in other states This is a very different environment here. It's changing. That's my that's my equal time.

Go ahead Scott 

Scott Wilk: I think she's formidable. I think she most likely wins and right, I Mean John it just just disagreed with you. I think she I think she wins 

John Kabateck: Yeah, I think the arc is bending slowly, but surely in minimum wage, we see retail theft. We see people here who are just, they're just fed up. And I, and look, who's been in power, Scott, your caucus, [00:15:00] unfortunately not the caucus that you ably led.

Scott Wilk: Well, I agree with that, but here, here's, here's the issue. People live their lives. They don't pay attention to this stuff. And I know like when I was running in 20, when I was running in 24 on all the issues, the big issues of the day. The voters in my district were with me, but I barely won. I won by 1. 6 percent because my opponent had a D after his name.

And that's just kind of the way it works. She's got high name ID. She's going to have a D behind her name. She's, she's attractive. I think she wins. 

John Kabateck: Okay. 

Brian Kabateck: John, I just think it's a different world and I think you just have to understand that she's also a celebrity and California is driven by celebrities and she has huge name recognition and there's a fair amount of people in the, in the population who are going to think, you know, Oh, this is going to be great.

We're getting the former vice president of the United States to become our governor. I would say this though, that there is a history in California of former vice presidents losing, losing that, that, that, [00:16:00] that election, just for the record. Not, not that any of us were alive then, but just for the record.

John Kabateck: Hey, you know what, Brian, that's fair enough. I'd like to ask Scott a question about the Republican Party. You know, you know, this is an exit interview. You know, you're, you're moving on and we'll talk more about that, about other next journeys for you and things that you have in store in mind. But what are your thoughts?

I mean, where, where are they now? Even as opposed to a few years ago, this last cycle, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, that doesn't have to be a SWOT analysis, but what are your thoughts? 

Scott Wilk: Man, that, that's, that's really a tough question. I'm not a fan of the California Republican party infrastructure and leadership.

I think it's, it's too insular. There's a lack of transparency. I think there's a lot of people making a lot of money and I don't think they really care whether or not, uh, we win legislative seats as long as friends and family get paid, the legislative leaders typically raise over 80 percent of all the funds that come into the CRP.

When I [00:17:00] was a leader, I wanted all the consulting contracts. I wanted to look at them, right? Cause when you run a business, you look at income, but you also look at expenses. 

John Kabateck: Yeah. 

Scott Wilk: And they would not get, they would not give them to me. I'm raising all the money. They would not give them to me. They wouldn't do that.

I wanted to pay. I wanted to lease their, their fundraising lists to raise money for another pack that I'd set up. Oh, we don't have fundraising lists. You have fundraising lists. So I'm, I'm, I'm just not a fan. So structurally, I hope that changes. We are going to have new leadership there. I don't know who I'm not supporting anybody at this point.

That's one. Number two, a challenge that we had as Republicans is that we're very individualistic. The Democrats, they're more collective and they're much better at politics than we are. And like you look in dc right now They got the majority and you've got eight people that will hold everything up and there's people I don't care They think it's blue and you think it's blue, but they but they want to be contrarian So they you know, [00:18:00] they say it's gray And so I just don't I just don't have a lot of a lot of faith and then the other thing we do we violate one of the tenets that reagan had which is If you can get half a loaf, take half a loaf.

And I remember being in caucus, you know, coming back, you know, with, you know, potential agreements like, wow, we don't get this, we don't get that. Like we're in the super minority, you know, you know, let's, you know, let's take the deal and, you know, you call it a win and move on and. There's just, there's just that strain in, in, in, in Republican.

So 

Brian Kabateck: I don't know. I, you know, I think that the Republican party here has a great opportunity in California. And I keep saying this, I think they're keep, they continue to blow it. I think that there are plenty of people there, Latino voters who, who would lean Republican. There are plenty of Asian voters who would lean or, or heavily lean Republican.

I think that they, this is my opinion. You know, you can disagree guys, but I think that they need to. Get away from some of the crazy stuff that goes on in D. C. And the rest [00:19:00] of the country. I think they need to focus on the things that really matter to people. The economy. Yeah, border security is important.

But, you know, on the other hand, California, I think, has a very different view on illegal immigration because We have so many folks here whose, you know, status is questionable that are part of our society and that help us I I just think they almost need to look at themselves as like a Separate entity and I think they could do well in California, you know I I don't know could they win it could they win a constitutional office in California?

No, maybe I told John maybe the best chance they ever might might have not this cycle coming up It might have is Yeah. 

John Kabateck: And pick up a few more seats. You know, I think there is hope there, you know, for sure. 

Scott Wilk: Yeah. Right. Brian, I completely agree with that analysis and also running Paul Fudd candidates that look, look like the electorate, you know, when I ran for Senate, I wasn't, that was not on my game plan, but, uh, my predecessor, we had health issues.

She decided not to run. And I remember going into her main district and my district, 40 percent [00:20:00] Latino, 12 percent Asian. Half my constituents are on Medi Cal, and when I went into the, the main district office, she had five people there, all white, no Spanish speakers, and three of them went to high school with her, and you, you can't govern like that.

So when I was campaigning, I said, look, I'm going to have a staff that looks like you, and you know, we did that, and when I won in 24, the reason why I won, when we first, on first blush go, thank God for the, you know, Republicans in San Bernardino County. But when we went back and did a precinct analysis, we realized that I won middle class Hispanic families in L.

A. counties where I won, because even though we were upside down in registration. I ran, I ran even, and you know, cause I blew Trump out in 24. So yeah, I think there's opportunities there. I just hope we're smart enough to, to, you know, take advantage of that. I'm just not that confident. 

Brian Kabateck: Let's go after the democratic party 

John Kabateck: for a little while [00:21:00] here.

You know, what, what can they do better? What are they doing wrong? And that's a great pivot, Brian, but are they, are they necessarily getting stronger in California? 

Scott Wilk: Well, so here's my frustration. So I think in Sacramento, there's three parties. There's the Republicans, there's the Democrats. And there's the progressives, clearly the progressives are in charge.

So last year went overnight camping trip, 10 legislators sat in Dems, three Republicans and Dems all admitted they're voting for, they're voting for policies that they don't support, but if they don't vote for it, you know, they, they don't get their bills passed. They need to lose a committee chairmanship and, and, and they all roll.

You know, I think that, I think that's really sad as hard as it is being a Republican versus a Democrat in Sacramento. I'd rather be a Republican because I get to do what I think is best for my district. 

John Kabateck: Yeah. The issues in this last election that, you know, This last cycle, we saw voters at least become, I think, a little more deep [00:22:00] purple than blue.

I agree with you guys. I'm not dumb here. I know that it's going to be a Democratic led state for many years, but do you feel people are hungry and yearning for that, that third rail? Not the progressives. They're looking for another avenue. 

Scott Wilk: Well, the, the way the rules are set up, you're not, you're not going to have a third side.

I mean, that, I mean, that, that's the problem for better or worse, it's a two party system. And, and, uh, you know, I know there's all these little efforts out there, but I just don't think they're going to garner any momentum. And if they do, they'll be co opted by one party or the other. I mean, that's been the history, you know, historically nationally.

So it's a two party system. I know my wife, uh, the day after I was out of, out of office, she, she registered declined to state because she's like going, you know, playing on both their houses. And I think a lot of people are doing that, or frankly, they're moving out of state. 

Brian Kabateck: Yeah. Fastest growing party in California is declined to state.

Yeah. It's, I mean, my view of the, the [00:23:00] Democrats is, is probably different than others, but I, I think they, in California, they, they, they, just like the Republicans need to, you know, move towards the center and. Focus on issues that people care about there's plenty of Democrats in California. That's got to move, you know away from the left I mean, it's some some of these elections are the moderates versus the far left in the Democratic, you know, Democratic Party That's that's the contest and I don't think they're helping themselves by Continuously having these, you know far left woke Candidates that's not what people want.

That's part of the reason one of the many reasons why they lost the national election And they were able to tie Kamala to that. So I just think they need to do a, a better job of getting their message out. But you know, good luck, right? I mean, it's about as it's, it's about as successful as getting the California Republican party to appeal to more 

John Kabateck: of the electorate.

Until, and until recently, I feel that the Democratic Party has been tone deaf until recently to affordability, the issue of affordability. I think this last cycle [00:24:00] they saw heard loud and clear with minimum wage defeat, some other things locally that, you know, we got to put food on the table and feed our families.

So Brian, I think one area we have agreed upon is the affordability challenge and crisis in California. And I think the Democrats are slowly but surely kind of turning that corner and at least embracing and appreciating it. Would you agree, Scott? Scott. 

Scott Wilk: Well, that remains to be seen, but that's, that's one thing that was always really fascinating to me is that you would have these legislators of color representing districts of color, and then they're voting to implement a rich white man's agenda, particularly when it's in, in the green space.

I think there's climate change. I'm not a climate change denier at all, but we're not addressing it properly and we're harming a lot of people during, during the process. So that's always been very perplexing to me. So we'll, you know, got a whole new crop in. Um, maybe this last election was a wake up call and we'll see if they shift to more common sense policies.

I'm hopeful. I'd like to, I mean, [00:25:00] born and raised here, I hope they do, but don't know. 

John Kabateck: You really have that reputation all of the years that Brian and I have known you and others in Sacramento have worked, working both sides, working on both sides of the aisle, reaching across, really getting it, speaking honestly.

Bipartisanship, consensus building. Let's, looking at Washington, if we can pivot to that for a while, I mean, you know, I know, I know your politics, but I know as we're looking at the Trump administration coming in, do you feel that, and obviously we're seeing the opposite over there and kind of a one party rule for the most part, is there going to be an ability to get things done or is the one party rule?

I'm going to work to the disadvantage. 

Scott Wilk: I have no idea. You know, it seems to me that like Trump has calmed down from before, but maybe I'm just gotten more acclimated to him. I don't, I just, I just don't know. And then you still have all these rogue actors, particularly in the, in the house that could, you know, provide a monkey wrench, John Thune, who's the new Republican leader in the Senate.

He's somebody I know. I used, I, I spent about two and a half [00:26:00] years doing a startup company in. South Dakota, 25 years ago. So I've known, I've known him 25 years. He's a good man. He's very measured. And so hopefully we have some, have some sanity there. 

Brian Kabateck: Let's go back to California. What would you say is your proudest achievement?

Scott Wilk: Well, Brian, that's, that's one of the things I get. My wife gets mad at me because, you know, the Tea Party movement and I'm not necessarily Tea Party, but I believe in more limited government, you know, they were very successful in 2010. I'm running in 2012. I was the, actually the third largest giver to the Republican caucus during that 2012 cycle, because I was told we were going to pick up seats.

And of course we lost, I think we lost three seats that year. So internally, locally, I did, I did a new water agency where we combined two water agencies into one, which has been able to allow us to better manage the watershed. Also got rid of a lot of duplication and they've. They projected to save like 12 [00:27:00] million over 10 years.

And they've like already done over 14 over the last five, very active in, in animal rights issues. Foster youth, one of every three foster youth in LA County resides in my district. And those are just heartbreaking stories. And it was, you know, you know, active in there. And then, you know, as the principal coauthor of the film in television, you know, tax credit is not controversial now, but back then in 2013, you know, it definitely was, but for me, it was not an economic issue.

It was actually a quality of life issue. Because when I was, when I ran the first time I was running against my congressman's wife, so people didn't want to give me money. So I was definitely underfunded. So we relied a lot on house parties and invariably there'd be somebody there and their spouse was somewhere else, Georgia, North Carolina, Canada, because of runaway film production.

And so that's. Made a big impact on, on, on families in [00:28:00] my area. So I was saying those probably my proudest. 

John Kabateck: Let me tag onto that, Scott, in terms of unfinished business, you know, had there been a few more years, had there been the opportunity for a little more time to see some things through that just you haven't yet, or you'd like to see this new class carry through what's on your mind and what was important to you?

Scott Wilk: So, you know, for me, I mean, most of the time I, Republicans don't like to sit on this committee, but I said most, most of my career on education. And I just, I just think we're failing, they're failing their kids. One of the things I did with Senator Portantino, which I am proud of, is that most states do, but California was not screening first graders to see if they have dyslexia.

If you look at the data, one of the data points that demographers use in projecting future prison population is third grade literacy rates. So you are damning people to prison if they can't read by third grade. And we weren't doing it. So this year, so this past, they're, they're going to begin implementing it this year.

I think that's [00:29:00] important. I just, you know, sitting on that committee was just so frustrating because the teachers union, they never had a proposal about improving education or helping students. It was just always about themselves. And when people came forward with issues. They would always say, no, I remember Bill Dodd from Napa had a proposal to allow community colleges to offer teaching credentials.

And the reason for that, you know, there's 115 campuses throughout the state. So it's, you know, easy access. We've got a teacher shortage crisis going on and they were just saying, no, we can't do, we can't do it. And while I'm sitting there, I Google, cause I'm familiar with South Dakota, South Dakota, South Dakota has like 700, 000 people.

And they have seven public colleges and or universities and, and, you know, my district of, you know, a million people had none, had two private Christian colleges. And right outside was CalArts, uh, private, but, you know, [00:30:00] none. And we just needed, need to do a better job, particularly the world is shrinking in this global economy.

And, you know, I just, I just came back from, from China and pretty interesting. And I, I'm concerned that we're not going to remain competitive if we don't do a better job laying 12 system. 

John Kabateck: It's school choice. is an important issue. I know charter schools is not the only answer, but it's an important option.

Do you think that has made, even with the most powerful union, public employees union, the teachers union, California Teachers Association being in charge, do you feel that there has been more warmth on both sides of the aisle to advance? Charter schools, or is that still facing? 

Scott Wilk: No, no, no sad and the thing that you 

Brian Kabateck: that's a big issue the teachers union They don't like charter schools, you know go after candidates that are charter school.

Yes. 

Scott Wilk: Yes. Yeah, Brian's exactly right So you do like go on I don't know if they still do it. They probably do it's on there So on the Sacramento B website, they have a thing where links are voting records [00:31:00] With campaign donations in two of my years, I was vice chair of that committee. And the chair was Ben Allen 

John Kabateck: and Ben 

Scott Wilk: Allen is for students.

And even though he voted probably with the teachers union, I don't know, 85 to 90 percent of the time. Zero campaign contributions to Ben Allen because he wasn't with them a hundred percent of the time And that's why I think you're only going to see Reform through a revolt or through an initiative process because it's not going to go through the legislative process 

Brian Kabateck: It's not a teacher union issue, but it's a union issue and you know for us lawyers We're sitting there right now with a terrible shortage of court reporters and people don't want to become court reporters anymore.

It's very hard to become a court reporter. It's a very grueling educational process. And there's something now called digital electronic recording that perhaps you guys have heard about. And the union just sits there and says, absolutely not. We're not going to allow that in courts. We're not going to allow courts to do that.

It's not in there making up reasons. I mean, it's literally like sitting [00:32:00] there going, talking pictures are never going to take off. It's, it's never going to work and I just think that these unions, I mean, you know, and, and my, my former organization organization, I was president of the trial lawyers, the consumer attorneys are super pro union, but this is one where we just don't see eye to eye with them and they just won't budge.

And we keep saying, where are the court reporters going to come from? Where do they think they're going to come from? And they just make up reasons. 

Scott Wilk: Hey, you share that, share my pain. That, that happened on education committee every week. 

John Kabateck: On that note, you know, you both have excellent policy knowledge and also you're a political animal, Scott Wilk, but understanding the nuances of both sides of that, where is there still opportunity and hope in California for political and campaign election reform?

Are there areas you still feel that this, you know, this quote unquote special interest still have a lot of And the voters have, don't have as much, you know, say there's opportunity to change, [00:33:00] to turn that tide. Where can that be fixed? 

Scott Wilk: Hmm. Well, one of the things that I'm, I've supported every session that never went anywhere and will continue and we really need it is to have the legislative analyst's office as opposed to the attorney general write the ballot statement for the various initiatives.

There's been a lot of gamesmanship on that terms of financial disclosures. I think we've done pretty well. I I've, I've supported almost all of them. I mean, I've been honored by common cause, which I'm sure killed them to honor me. And by the clean money campaign, you know, because you know, because of those efforts, we did some cleanup this year on curing ballots.

That was an issue for me. We, you know, we lost one of our Senate races by 13 votes. And everybody had a different deadline and when they wanted the, the, the cured ballots returned. And we had a situation where we turned in 14 ballots in Fresno County on a particular day. And he said, Oh, it had to be here at noon, not before five.

And we turned in [00:34:00] 14 and we lost by 13. So, and you know, I, I don't really think that was on, I don't think that was partisan. I just think it was incompetence. And so having standardized rules that everybody has to follow, I think, again, leads to, you know, trust in the system. Cause if you, if you don't have trust in the system in campaigns, you're not going to have trust in the system when government's producing policy.

So, 

Brian Kabateck: yeah. So Scott, let's, we've been going a while here and you've been kind with your time. Let's let's talk about what's next for you. 

Scott Wilk: Well, honestly, I'd like to retire, but Vanessa said I can't. So I'm doing some public policy stuff, not, not in Sacramento. I'm banned. And honestly, I'm not really interested in that anyway.

So I'm doing some stuff regionally, some housing issues. I think I'm going to be doing some stuff. I'm on work, workforce development, still, still having conversations there. So an interesting thing, we'll see, and we'll see what happens on this. So I was giving a speech, I don't know, like two months ago. And this guy came up to me afterwards and he gives me his [00:35:00] card and he's a talent agent.

And he says, you've got it. He goes, I want to, I want to work with you. And so I've signed with the talent agency. I think on Christmas day, I signed, I signed the contract. So we'll see, we'll see what happens with that. I just, I'm just doing it for fun, but you never know. 

John Kabateck: Is it possible you may be doing some co modeling with a certain chief executive?

Scott Wilk: Yeah, I'm not, I'm not. When I took photos with Brown, I would post them. I I've taken photos with. With Newsome, they're on my phone, but I've never posted any of them because 

John Kabateck: I 

Scott Wilk: do not like comparison. 

John Kabateck: You're pretty active on social too, so. 

Scott Wilk: Yeah, I've never posted anything with him because like, yeah, I don't want to post that.

John Kabateck: Anything you got in the works or any way people, you'd like people to connect with you? And then people who want to kind of connect, how they can do that? 

Scott Wilk: Yeah, I mean, probably through, through access the best at Scott Wilk CA. Okay, and that's probably the probably the best way. 

Brian Kabateck: Hey, John. I really want to commend you today for not [00:36:00] bringing up the special session on the 25 slash 35 million dollars.

I, congratulations. I think you did a great job, Matt. I, I think keeping that, nope, nope, nope, that was not an invitation. It was just a congratulatory remark. 

John Kabateck: Brian wanted to turn this into a drinking game. The past couple, uh, podcasts we've done have, I'm just, my blood's already boiling, but I can't, this, this special session, I'll stop, I'll stop.

No drinking, no drinking, but thank you, Brian. I'm, I'm, I'm keeping my cool. A couple little wrap up here. You, you married up big time, Scott. Absolutely. A nice Armenian girl. And for the listeners who don't know, Brian and I, our dad married a nice Armenian girl and she passed about a year and a half ago.

What are some of the, I mean, you know, are more Armenian than I do, you and Brian combined, and you've obviously seen Armenian more. What are some of your favorite Armenian dishes and parts of the culture? That you love the most. 

Scott Wilk: So, you know, January 6th is Armenian Christmas, which was on Monday. So we actually went, I normally go to a regular non denominational church.

We went to the Armenian [00:37:00] church service this last Sunday and it was, I mean, it was long, I'm not going to lie to you. It was like two, two, almost two and a half hours, but it's really, it's beautiful. And it's, it's just, it's just really beautiful. And then really all, all the traditions that community has sustained over the years.

And, you know, it's very much like, you know, the Jewish people and it's just, it's really, it's really beautiful in terms of food. I mean, honestly, I love it all, but the first time when I was dating Vanessa, I got invited to Thanksgiving dinner. So they got this big plate, you know, all the RMOs everywhere.

And look around the table, like there's no, there's rice pilaf and no mashed potatoes. I'm like, where's the mashed potatoes? And like, well, we don't eat mashed potatoes and now we don't eat mashed potatoes for, for Thanksgiving. So it's pretty, pretty funny, but love it all. Yeah. You know, and, and, 

Brian Kabateck: and not to pivot back to policy or, or politics, but I'm, I'm just bothered by the fact that I don't think in the Capitol now we have a single [00:38:00] elected Armenian.

Scott Wilk: Yes, we 

Brian Kabateck: do. Oh, John Harabian. John Harabian. Yes, yes, you're not elected. You're absolutely right. Yeah, yeah, John's a good guy. I'm, I'm, yeah, 

Scott Wilk: yeah, yeah, really, really good guy. 

Brian Kabateck: Similar problem in the judiciary, which is very few Armenian judges in the state of California. You know, it's, it's just, I've tried in the past to try to encourage the Armenian Bar Association to encourage young, young lawyers to look to become judges.

I think that we should work harder to try to get. young Armenians from both parties to run, um, both locally and state, you know, there's, I think by best estimates, 750, 000 people in California identify as at least partially Armenian. So it's sort of a shortage and it's a shortcoming to the community. Hey, you have been awesome today.

Thank you so much. And more importantly, thank you so much for your service. You've done a lot for the people in California. Yeah. Like I said in an email to you, oftentimes we don't think about the sacrifices that you guys make, but you make tremendous sacrifices. I've been on plenty of those Thursday night Southwest flights.

And, uh, those are [00:39:00] hard and arduous. So thank you for everything you've done. 

Scott Wilk: Thank you so much, Brian. I really, really appreciate that. You even cut me a check a time or two. 

Brian Kabateck: Absolutely. Because you guys, you, you were one of the few people who reached across the aisle. We didn't talk a lot about that today, but you reached across the aisle.

You, you wanted to make deals and you were a common sense guy and we need more common sense. And that's what I think people in the United States want. They're not party politics. They just want people to help them and make things better. 

Scott Wilk: Yeah, yeah, this this coming Saturday, I'm speaking at a celebration of life for a labor leader, and I don't think it's too many times a Republican legislators invited to speak at a labor leaders service, but I was I was honored to be asked 

John Kabateck: to quote Smokey Robinson.

I second that emotion. Brian, I can hear Brian's eyes rolling, but Scott, seriously, you have been a great advocate for small business. You know, I'm partial to that, but I think job creation and, and again, uh, across workers, you know, Brian [00:40:00] and I can agree. We want to make sure workers have opportunity and consumers and you, you, you kept all of the Californians in mind without compromising your, your values and appreciate 

Scott Wilk: that gentlemen.

See you all soon. 

John Kabateck: A chobak chun. Good luck in Armenian. You looked that up, didn't you, John? I did not. I did not. I did not. I really didn't know that. All right, folks. Thanks so much. Thanks for listening to KabaTalks. If you liked what you heard, give us a positive review, a thumbs up, a high five, whatever.

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