Mayes, Kotyuk Compete In California’s 42nd Assembly District

COACHELLA VALLEY, CA — The race California's State Assembly District 42 pits incumbent Chad Mayes (Rancho Mirage) against San Jacinto Mayor Andrew F. Kotyuk (R), and the race is tight.

Mayes, who is listed on the ballot as No Party Preference, was the front runner in the March 3 Presidential Primary Election. He captured 42,717 votes or 35 percent of ballots cast, compared to Kotyuk who garnered 40,893 votes or 33.5 percent. The two beat out Democratic challenger DeniAntionette Mazingo who trailed only slightly with 38,492 votes or 31.5 percent.

All three candidates vied for the seat in 2018, with Mayes and Mazingo becoming the two front runners following that year’s June primary.

The 42nd State Assembly District includes the cities of Banning and Beaumont, stretching from Yucaipa and Hemet in the west to the Twentynine Palms region and western Coachella Valley in the east.

Mayes, who first won the 42nd State Assembly District seat in 2014 as a Republican, bills himself as a lawmaker who can work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle. On the environment, for example, his campaign bio emphasizes that he “has been a strong advocate of environmental policies that strike the proper balance in not only California’s renewable portfolio, but also in the development of emerging technologies that create high paying jobs. As evidence of his ability to strike the proper balance, Chad has earned the respect of both the business and environmental communities.”

Homelessness is another area in which the Mayes campaign contends the candidate strikes balance.

“Chad believes that it falls on society as a whole to give those in need a hand up, and to ensure the support does not become a barrier to independence. Chad authored the voter-approved, “No Place Like Home” measure to help our homeless veterans, and helped secure $10 million for Palm Springs agencies helping to solve the homeless crisis in Western Riverside County,” according to his campaign website.

Education, government waste and shared social responsibility are among other Mayes’ campaign talking points.

In December 2019, Mayes left the Republican party and filed as an Independent. Prior to his GOP departure, he told the Desert Sun, "I think it's abundantly clear that in California, the Republican brand has a negative, toxic connotation to it. Republicans need to wise up to the fact that we have a toxic brand."

Kotyuk, who was elected to the San Jacinto City Council in 2010, is now serving his third term as mayor. He’s a small business owner and Navy veteran.

On his campaign website, Kotyuk points to his work on the city council. For example, he “required government employees — for the first time — to contribute to their own retirement and he was instrumental in increasing the city’s retirement age. Additionally, he worked not only to revive San Jacinto’s economy, but he also established the San Jacinto Power utility that has resulted in lower electricity rates for residents,” his campaign website states.

Kotyuk also touts himself as a “regional transportation leader,” having served as past board chairman of the Southern California Regional Rail Authority Metrolink, past chairman of the Riverside Transit Authority, and as a Riverside County Transportation Commission member.

Education, homelessness solutions, and water management are among other issues he advocates for, according to his website.

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