Ahead of the June primary election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.
Name: Mike Cargile
Current job title: Small Businessman
Age: 61
Political party affiliation: Republican
Incumbent: No
Other political positions held: None
City where you reside: Pomona
Campaign website or social media: CargileForCongress.com
From voter ID to war powers and from immigration to tariffs, Congress has tackled many issues over the past year. What do you, though, see as the top three issues impacting Californians, and what specifically could you do as a lawmaker to address these issues? (Please answer in 250 words or less, and keep your response to future proposals.)
Election integrity is the cornerstone of our republic and is therefore of premier importance. Many of the legislators currently engaged in the destruction of our state were “selected” and not legitimately “elected.”
Additionally, our state languishes under unbelievable fraud and corruption with zero accountability to the voters. We have the highest taxes in the nation and the lowest quality of life. Our educational system is a laughingstock, and we are drowning under historic crime rates and homelessness while our legislators continue to spend like drunken sailors (no offense to my friends in the Navy). In short, I will work diligently on all of the above and much, much more.
Speaking of voter ID, the president has implored Congress to approve legislation that would require people to show proof of citizenship in order to vote. What role do you believe the federal government plays in telling states how to conduct their own elections, as dictated by the U.S. Constitution? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
The SAVE Act (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act) perfectly illustrates the proper role of the federal government in federal elections. It amends the NVRA (National Voter Registration Act of 1993) to require proof of citizenship to participate in federal elections. The ability to exert power on the states in regard to elections is derived from Article 1, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution: “The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations.”
If you are not a citizen of the United States, you should not participate in our elections. If you do, it is a felony offense, and you will never become a citizen of our country.
What, in your opinion, should the federal government focus on when it comes to immigration policy? For example, do you place a priority on border security, visas for high-skilled workers, refuge for asylum seekers, etc., and why? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
Everything changed the day the Trump administration offered to pay illegal aliens to return to their country of origin, not just free airfare, but money in their pockets upon arrival. After that, anyone still here illegally must be seen in a hostile light. The same way you would look at someone who trespassed onto your property, broke into your home and refuses to leave, even if you offered to pay for an Uber and give them some extra cash. You would call the police and demand that they remove the trespasser.
It’s no different for our country. This is our home. You have no right to be here if you were not invited and didn’t use the front door. You need to leave. Those who refuse to self-deport will be deported forcibly and without prejudice. The rule of law must be restored and enforced before any further immigration reforms can occur.
It’s been over a year since Gov. Gavin Newsom asked the federal government for supplemental disaster aid to help Southern California communities rebuild after the devastating Palisades and Eaton wildfires, but neither President Donald Trump nor Congress has acted. What would you do to push for the funding, besides writing letters to the Trump administration or the leaders of Congress? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
I would absolutely push for additional funding, but only after the governor and the legislature demonstrate that this funding will go directly to the victims and not one of the hundreds of non-profits they have set up to defraud taxpayers. There must be rock-solid safeguards in place before we can ask the U.S. taxpayer to fund any recovery efforts. Gov. Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass are directly responsible for much of the pain and suffering caused by those horrific fires. We cannot let them anywhere near the money that will be used to rebuild these areas.
Do you support a ban or restriction on congressional lawmakers and their families from buying or selling individual stocks? Why or why not? And what would you propose to ensure lawmakers aren’t using their positions to engage in insider trading? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
Yes, I would support such a ban. Unfortunately, we already have federal securities laws and the STOCK Act on the books, and almost no enforcement by congressional ethics offices and the DOJ of those laws. Our constitutional republic can only survive under the leadership of moral people. Sadly, there is currently an enormous vacuum of anything resembling morality in Washington, D.C.
Do you support stronger regulations on pollution and carbon emissions? If so, how would you ensure those regulations aren’t overly burdensome on small businesses or lower-income families? And if not, how do you propose lawmakers protect the environment and curtail the impacts of climate change? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
No. I would not support more or stronger regulations on pollution and carbon emissions. The laws and regulations we currently have in place are more than sufficient. Regarding climate change, I would immediately push the cessation of all efforts at geoengineering.
President Donald Trump has significantly increased spending for the U.S. Department of Defense. Would you, as a member of Congress, approve additional dollars for the military if the president were to ask for more funding? How would you ensure that any military spending does not end up putting the American people or national security in harm’s way? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
The job of the Department of Defense is to ensure the safety of the nation and its people. I would give the commander-in-chief whatever support he felt he needed to achieve that.
However, I do think we need to re-focus our role in global affairs. I would work to push the Western Hemisphere as more of a priority and less in other parts of the globe. We must be America First (United States) in our efforts, but the “America” part of that phrase would also include our neighbors to the North and South, as well as all the others of Central and South America.
Under what specific circumstances do you believe the U.S. should engage in a war? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
When the safety, security and prosperity of the United States are threatened.
Do you believe a president should seek congressional approval before engaging in military action overseas? Why, or why not? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
No. Every president before Trump has engaged in military action overseas without congressional approval or oversight. Did Biden need congressional approval before the catastrophic and humiliating withdrawal from Afghanistan? The safety and security of the nation is vested solely in the president because you cannot conduct armed conflict by committee. This is a blatant power grab by lawmakers who want to subvert our current president.
Additionally, these same Democratic lawmakers have shown themselves to be incapable of handling sensitive national security issues. Why on earth would we allow them to help conduct the affairs of our military?
Congress, in theory, is supposed to serve as a check on the president through budgetary, legislative and oversight powers. Do you believe Congress has fulfilled that obligation during the past two administrations, with one being a Democrat and the other a Republican? Why or why not? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
Our Congress (both Houses) is, and has been, an epic failure in every possible measure. These immoral legislators are reprobate, fraudulent leeches who need to be removed immediately. I would support a complete reset of both the legislative and the judicial branches. We are a laughingstock to the rest of the world and an absolute embarrassment to our forebears.
Governments around the world are increasingly considering an age ban or other restrictions on social media use among young people, citing mental health and other concerns. Should Congress adopt such restrictions? If so, what specific restrictions do you propose? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
Absolutely yes! I would push for an immediate removal of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which is the primary law all the social media companies have been hiding behind. They are responsible for the content they curate, and they should be liable for their decisions. This will fix much of the problem. Additionally, age-appropriate and venue-appropriate restrictions are something I would support.
Statistically, violent crime rates in California are on the decline, yet residents still don’t feel safe or at ease in their communities. How do you see your role in Congress in addressing the underlying issues that make Californians feel unsafe in their own neighborhoods? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
Violent crime is only going down in California when you redefine what constitutes “violent crime,” as was generally done with Propositions 47 and 57. The people who live and pay taxes here know exactly what is going on, and it is far from being a safe state.
That’s why I have been so vocal in my support of Sheriff Chad Bianco for governor. He was one of the chief proponents of Proposition 36, which passed overwhelmingly by California voters who were concerned about public safety. We need to restore law and order, and who better to do that than a Sheriff of one of the largest counties in the nation?
There are term limits to serve in the California Legislature, but none to serve in Congress. Would you advocate for term limits for House members? Why or why not? If you support term limits, how many years maximum should a House member be allowed to serve? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
I am an absolute fan of term limits for both the House and the Senate. Our Framers never envisioned an institution created to facilitate career criminals. I would advocate for two six-year terms for senators and four two-year terms for representatives.
What’s a hidden talent you have? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
I love to play guitar.