Fact check: Jordan Cunningham says Dawn Addis supports huge tax increases. Is it true?
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Fact checks on the Cunningham-Addis Assembly race
Tribune reporter Matt Fountain fact-checked three claims made in the race for San Luis Obispo County’s state Assembly seat.
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Of the local races before voters in the Nov. 3 election, few have become as contentious as that of the 35th Assembly District race between Republican incumbent Jordan Cunningham and Democratic Party challenger Dawn Addis.
Cunningham, who is seeking a third term representing San Luis Obispo and northern Santa Barbara counties in Sacramento, has claimed Addis refuses to debate him to hide that she supports record tax hikes.
Addis, a Morro Bay city councilwoman, has fired back with accusations that Cunningham’s attendance record is among the worst in the Assembly, and that he’s also skipped out on debates that wouldn’t be before a necessarily friendly crowd for a conservative candidate.
Both campaigns’ allegations bear some truth, yet neither are telling the whole story, a Tribune fact check of the race found.
In a district where registered Democrats now outnumber Republicans 37.6% to 34.3% (21.3% of registered voters are No Party Preference), recent campaign finance reports show both campaigns are receiving significant support from the state Republican and Democratic parties and political action committees for labor unions and industry associations.
The influx of more than $168,000 of PAC funding in recent months to Addis shows that left-leaning groups believe they have a good chance of flipping the seat blue for the first time since the district was redrawn in 2011.
Cunningham likewise got a $244,700 boost between July and mid-September from a variety of PACs in what has become a $1.3 million race.
With that influx, district residents in recent months have been bombarded by campaign mailers, radio and social media ads, and robocalls echoing several negative claims against the candidates. The Cunningham campaign, for example, spent more than $430,000 between July and mid-September, and Addis spent even more — almost $466,000 — in the same period.
This is the first in a three-part fact-check series examining the claims made in the 35th Assembly District race.
Tax increases
Claim: Cunningham’s campaign says in ads and fundraising materials that Addis supports tax increases such as the statewide ballot measure Prop. 15.
Rating: Misleading
Details: Addis has not made any public statements directly in support or opposition of Prop. 15, but has voted with her Morro Bay City Council colleagues to routine increases in the city’s tax rate and various fees for services.
Cunningham’s campaign has often claimed in fundraising emails and social media posts that Addis “supports Prop. 15” — what his campaign calls “the largest property tax increase in state history” that will “devastate families and small businesses.”
In official mailers sent to registered voters, the Cunningham campaign does not specifically name Prop. 15, simply saying instead that Addis “supports an $11.5 billion property tax increase.”
The independent Legislative Analyst’s Office says Prop. 15 would increase property taxes on commercial properties worth more than $3 million to provide an estimated $6.5 billion to $11.5 billion in new funding to local governments and schools.
Though Addis’ professional background is that of a classroom teacher and educational program developer — she has been endorsed by the California Federation of Teachers, the second-largest teachers union in the state, which urges a Yes vote on Prop. 15 — Addis has made no public statements in support or opposition to the measure.
She told The Tribune editorial board that she would refrain from commenting publicly due to her position in city government.
Cunningham’s campaign points to an interview Addis gave on The Dave Congalton Show in December 2019, in which she’s asked about the possible repeal of long-standing Prop. 13 — which Prop. 15 would do.
Addis first says, “I don’t know about dismantling” Prop. 13, but that she wants more money going toward schools. She later says she “would want to see the details” of repealing Prop. 13, before says she “can see” repealing Prop. 13 protections for businesses only, according to a transcript of an edited portion of the interview provided by the Cunningham campaign.
Cunningham has touted his endorsement from the California Teacher’s Association, which is also a proponent of Prop. 15.
Generally speaking, Addis has supported tax increases, in that she voted alongside her Morro Bay Council colleagues in raising the city’s business tax rate in May 2019. The Cunningham campaign also noted in response to Tribune questions that Addis voted to raise various city fees for services, such as adopting the city’s proposed Master Fee Schedule in October 2019 and voting to increase garbage and waste fees by 20.5%.
Each increase was at the time recommended by Morro Bay city staff
Check out our Voter Guide
Still deciding how to vote on this race? In The Tribune’s Voter Guide, we’ve compiled information about both candidates as well as their responses on a number of key issues. You can also compare candidates for your local city council, community service district or school board.
Find The Tribune Voter Guide at sanluisobispo.com/voter-guide.
This story was originally published October 14, 2020 at 11:45 AM.
